Ho Chi Minh City's streets proved incapable of dealing with their first rain on May 16 after a long dry spell.

The rain lasted for two hours, the heaviest spell since the dry season started and was welcomed by many people.

However, as the city is still struggling to deal with flooding its streets are still easily submerged in water, causing severe congestion in many locations. The congestion got worst along the main routes to the city's centre including Hanoi Highway and Rach Chiec Bridge as rush hour approached.

Heavy rain of over an hour also fell on Bien Hoa City on the same day and submerged the streets. Some sewers overflowed due to high volume of rainwater.

In early May, HCM City authorities have approved an anti-flooding plan for the 2016-2021 period including the use of USD400 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In addition, the city called for an additional USD37m to build six water quality monitoring stations and embankments along the Tham Luong, Ben Cat and Nuoc Len canals.

Heavy rain in HCM City

The rain lasts for over two hours

Flooded streets

Motorbike engines died on the way leading to Rach Chiec Bridge

Congestion in Bien Hoa City