Record-breaking rainfall has caused severe flooding in central Vietnam, submerging homes, farmland, and major tourist sites including the historic cities of Hue and Hoi An.
The city of Hue received 1,085 millimeters (42 inches) of rain in 24 hours by late Monday, marking the highest rainfall ever recorded in Vietnam, according to the country’s meteorological department. The Perfume River in Hue rose to 4.62 meters (15 feet), while waters in Hoi An’s Hoai River reached nearly 2 meters (6 ½ feet), forcing the evacuation of around 40,000 tourists to safer hotels.
Local authorities used boats to rescue residents in submerged neighborhoods, and major streets in Hue were impassable. The rail line connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was temporarily suspended, affecting thousands of passengers. In an emergency measure, 19 train carriages carrying 980 tons of stones were placed on a bridge to prevent it from being washed away.
About 1,000 people in rural areas of Thua Thien Hue province, including 200 children under the care of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, remain isolated due to flooding and landslides.
Experts link the increasingly intense storms to global warming, as warmer oceans fuel stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia. Vietnam remains highly vulnerable to floods, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas.