The Hanoi Department of Construction announced on July 31 its latest efforts to implement flood prevention measures across the capital. According to the department, 10 urgent investment projects under Phase 1 have been largely completed and are now in operation, helping reduce flooding during recent rainfall events.

The projects include five retention lakes - Phu Do, Dong Bong 2, Yen Nghia 1, Yen Nghia 2 and Thuy Phuong - along with five drainage infrastructure projects: upgrading the downstream section of the Kim Nguu River; improving the Thuy Phuong Canal to connect with the To Lich River; upgrading the pumping station and drainage system along Thang Long Boulevard; addressing flooding in the Ngoai Giao Doan, Resco Ecohome and Tay Ho Tay areas; and adding a pumping station to the To Lich retention lake system.

Two Phase 2 emergency projects - the Chem retention lake and Lien Mac 1 retention lake - are currently being developed through private investment.

After more than four months of construction, the 10 emergency flood control projects, together with the Phu Thuong pumping station, the Cu Khoi retention lake and other works, have been largely completed, put into operation and have begun delivering positive results.

According to the Department of Construction, water levels in the Vo Chi Cong, Resco, EcoHome and My Dinh areas now reach only around 15-20cm and recede within about 30 minutes after rainfall ends. Drainage capacity has also improved along Thang Long Boulevard and in the Ngoai Giao Doan, Tay Ho Tay, Resco, EcoHome, Ciputra and An Khanh areas.

During the heavy rain on July 27, flooding still reached 20-25cm at the La Pho–Thuy Khue slope and 35-40cm in Alley 42 Giang Van Minh (connecting to Alley 100 Doi Can). Authorities attributed the flooding to ongoing underground drainage construction at the Thuy Khue and Ngoc Ha canals.

To strengthen preparedness for storms and reduce flooding during the rainy season, the Hanoi People's Committee has issued its 2026 drainage and flood prevention plan. The plan assigns specific measures for each flood-prone location while integrating the newly completed projects with the existing drainage network to minimize urban flooding across the city.

Accelerating 12 drainage projects

To further reduce flooding, Hanoi will speed up 12 drainage projects included in the city's master plan. For delayed projects, authorities will review and address obstacles related to funding, land clearance, investment procedures and construction implementation.

The city will prioritize investment in key infrastructure such as retention lakes, pumping stations and drainage canals across the Ta Nhue, Huu Nhue, Long Bien, North Hong River, Ha Dong and western districts, with particular attention to major drainage corridors along the Nhue River, Cau Bay River and Day River.

In the longer term, Hanoi will study additional measures aligned with the Capital Master Plan's 100-year vision through elevation and drainage planning. The city will also gradually apply the "sponge city" model to new projects, moving beyond a conventional drainage-focused approach toward one that retains, infiltrates, regulates and reuses rainwater.

Thanh Hue