On the morning of August 26, heavy rain submerged Hoa Bang Street in Cau Giay District, Hanoi, under more than one meter of water. The flooding inundated homes, destroyed property, and forced residents to pump water continuously in a desperate effort to save their belongings.

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The downpour that began in the early morning turned many streets into rivers, with vehicles stalling en masse as they attempted to cross deep waters. Some residents were forced to push their motorbikes back, seek alternate routes, or shelter temporarily under roadside awnings.
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The most heavily flooded areas, such as Hoa Bang, Nguyen Khang, and Van Phuc streets, saw water levels reach up to a meter deep. Water breached homes and shops throughout these areas.
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Nguyen Ly, a long-term tenant in the area, said severe flooding happens often and the water recedes very slowly. 
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“By 7 a.m., the water had reached nearly one meter in my neighborhood. By noon, it had only dropped about 20 centimeters. I had to buy a second pump because one wasn’t enough to keep up,” he said.
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Nguyen Thi Quyen, who recently rented a house on Hoa Bang Street to open a bánh mì shop, shared her distress. “I asked around before moving in and was told flooding hadn’t been an issue here for a year. But around 6 a.m. today, the rain was torrential and the rising water swept away the sandbags I had placed at the door. My commercial oven, worth $5,100, was submerged despite turning off the circuit breaker. I’ll have to wait until the flood recedes to assess the damage.”
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Not only businesses but households also suffered extensive damage. A resident named Dang reported that the entire first floor of his house was flooded, with some areas submerged more than a meter. “Even though I turned off the power, the area around the sockets was still live and gave off mild electric shocks. It’s very dangerous. I had to move upstairs and wait for the water to go down before cleaning,” he said. His bathroom has become unusable due to the flooding.
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Many residents attempted to bail water out of their homes with buckets and bowls, while others resorted to using mini water pumps. Furniture and household items floated throughout flooded homes. Some were unable to move their vehicles in time and had to watch as cars and motorbikes were submerged.
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Residents in deeper alleys were trapped, unable to leave as floodwaters reached knee- to waist-level. Vehicles parked along major roads were also affected. Some motor scooters had to have their batteries removed and engines dismantled for drying and repair.
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In some areas, power outages compounded the situation.
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At Giang Van Minh Street, residents used four large drainage hoses to siphon water from the neighborhood. Local authorities were present to manage traffic and help residents evacuate or relocate safely.
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According to the Hanoi Drainage Company, certain districts experienced extreme rainfall, including up to 270mm in Yen Son, 267mm in Hai Ba Trung, 257mm in Yen Nghia, and 230mm in Tay Mo.

Thach Thao