Hà Nội Gears Up for 2025 Storm Season with Flood Resilience Measures

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As the monsoon season looms, Hà Nội’s preparations to combat the perennial problem of urban flooding have come into sharp focus. The Vietnamese capital, often beset by submerged streets during heavy rains, is intensifying efforts to bolster its flood defences and build a resilient city infrastructure.

The city's existing drainage system, designed for modest rainfalls of up to 50mm over two hours, has struggled to keep pace with increasingly intense and erratic weather patterns. Urban expansion, which has seen natural water bodies filled and more land concretised, exacerbates flooding risks. Low-lying areas such as Nguyễn Chính and Thụy Khuê suffer the most during heavy downpours.

Efforts to mitigate flooding include ongoing upgrades to the drainage infrastructure. However, experts warn that these measures still fall short, as storms grow less predictable and more severe. This situation mirrors challenges faced by major urban centres globally.

Flooding impacts extend beyond inconveniences, bringing environmental hazards and public health risks due to sewage overflows and disrupting economic activities, especially in inner-city locales. Forecasts for 2025 predict complex weather dynamics, with the potential for strong, unpredictable storms and multiple flood events.

Meteorological insights from Associate Professor Mai Văn Khiêm of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting suggest climate unpredictability poses significant forecasting challenges. Despite identifying critical dike points needing repair, comprehensive upgrades remain incomplete.

The Hà Nội Sewerage and Drainage Company stands on high alert during the rainy season, with 2,000 staff operating around the clock at pumping stations and retention lakes. Nevertheless, drains often become clogged with debris, and while regular cleaning occurs, heavy rain quickly overwhelms the system, bringing in fresh waste.

Financial and human resource constraints pose significant challenges to implementing essential infrastructure projects. Upgrading key facilities like the Đông Mỹ pumping station and building the Liên Mạc drainage hub require substantial investment, surpassing available budgets.

In response to these hurdles, Hà Nội has advanced both infrastructural and non-infrastructural strategies. The city is constructing retention lakes in districts such as Thanh Xuân and Long Biên, easing pressure on drainage systems and enhancing ecological spaces. Projects to enhance river basins and pumping capacity are being fast-tracked, while the Hữu Hồng dike has undergone improvements for flood control and transportation.

The expansion of green spaces aims to naturally absorb significant rainfall, and digital tools like the HSDC and iHanoi apps offer real-time flooding updates and administrative support, allowing residents to navigate and avoid hazardous areas more effectively.

These initiatives reflect Hà Nội’s commitment to creating a more flood-resilient city capable of withstanding the mounting challenges posed by climate change and urbanisation.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Vietnam News 2025-05-29