Ho Chi Minh City battles rising floods as climate change worsens risks
Heavy rain and high tides flooded Ho Chi Minh City's streets on Sept. 30, highlighting the city's growing vulnerability to climate-related flooding.
When heavy rain met high tides on Sept. 30, the Saigon River overflowed, flooding streets in Ho Chi Minh City and forcing locals to conduct business in water up to knee height. Residents such as 63-year-old Vo Dang Thi have adapted by raising home floors, while street vendors keep stalls open despite the inundation. Scientists link the worsening situation to sea-level rise, intensified rainfall, rapid urbanisation and subsidence caused by groundwater extraction.
Nearly half of the city lies below one metre above sea level, and its colonial-era drainage network struggles to cope with the expanding megacity. In response, authorities unveiled a $13 billion programme to improve drainage, upgrade canals and create green spaces, targeting 159 flood-prone sites by 2030, complemented by a climate action plan through the same year.
Why it matters
The story shows how climate change and urban growth are making floods a regular threat to a major Asian metropolis.
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