Hanoi Residents Seek Relief as Heatwave Triggers Power Cuts

Photo courtesy of VN Express

A severe heatwave in Hanoi, Vietnam, is prompting residents to seek refuge in hotels and air-conditioned venues as repeated power outages disrupt daily life. As temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius, neighborhoods like Thanh Xuan Ward face nightly power cuts, leaving families struggling to cope with the sweltering heat.

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The ongoing heatwave, which began on May 23, is the second this month for northern and central Vietnam. Many regions, including the northern delta and areas from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue, are seeing temperatures regularly exceed 38 degrees Celsius. On May 26, areas like Thanh Xuan and Tu Liem experienced multiple blackouts, forcing residents like Minh Thu to flee to cooler accommodations.

The outages result from surging electricity demands, pushing households to rely excessively on cooling devices, according to officials from Ba Dinh Power Company. Overloaded transmission lines and substations are causing the power supply to become unstable, exacerbating the issue.

Families with young children find the conditions particularly challenging. Ngoc Ha of Me Tri Ward, used a rechargeable fan to cool her two-year-old daughter, but eventually sought temporary refuge at a relative’s home due to persistent outages. Many residents are turning to malls or apartment buildings with backup power to escape the heat.

Electricity demand peaked in northern Vietnam on May 25 and 26, with Hanoi recording a new high of 6,203 MW at 9:30 p.m. on May 25. This surpasses the previous demand record by 3.5%, and average consumption has escalated 2.4% over last year’s peak.

With outages expected to continue, residents like Nhat Mai are left waiting for power to resume, resorting to public spaces for relief. While some find temporary refuge in parks or convenience stores, others seek cost-effective options amid the enduring high temperatures.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 28 May 2026