Four hours of relentless rain and a rising tide left large parts of Hai Phong under water on Tuesday morning, with floodwaters reaching up to half a meter deep.

Starting around 5 a.m., heavy rain swept across the northern port city, overwhelming the old drainage system and flooding major roads such as Cau Dat, Tran Hung Dao, Luong Khanh Thien, Da Nang, Hoang Dieu, Hang Kenh, Van Cao and To Hieu. The deepest floods, up to 0.5 meters, were recorded along Tam Bac Street under the Lac Long Bridge, at the Nguyen Tri Phuong-Hoang Van Thu intersection near the city's central post office, and along Cau Dat Street. Several vehicles stalled in the rising waters.

With the tide peaking around 10 a.m., water could not drain out to the sea and instead flowed into homes and shops. Traffic police and drainage workers were deployed to redirect traffic and set up warning signs at flooded intersections.

According to Hai Phong's Department of Construction, the city's drainage network was built during the French colonial era and, despite upgrades, remains outdated and fragmented, serving mostly central districts. Suburban areas still lack complete drainage planning, leaving 16 flood-prone "black spots" where water drains slowly. The agency said any rainfall above 50 millimeters in 24 hours can trigger widespread flooding across the city.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said a weak cold front combined with easterly winds from the subtropical high-pressure ridge is bringing rain to northern Vietnam from Oct. 13 to 15. Rainfall from 7 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday in the northeast averaged 20-40 mm, though some areas saw extreme rainfall: Phinh Ho station in Quang Ninh Province recorded 123 mm, Thai Thuy in Hung Yen 169 mm, Kien Xuong in Hung Yen 159 mm, and Thai Ninh in Hung Yen 157 mm.

Meteorologists forecast continued rain until the end of Oct. 15, with the Red River Delta expected to receive 30-70 mm and localized downpours exceeding 130 mm. Mid- and northeastern mountainous regions may see 20-40 mm, with some places over 80 mm.

Vietnamese city overwhelmed by flooding as outdated drainage system falters - VnExpress International