Ho Chi Minh City High-Tide Flood Warning, September 28-30

Separately from the Central Vietnam rain system around Hue and Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and the wider Mekong Delta are bracing for a high-tide flooding peak driven by the September 28-30 full moon, with forecasters warning of near-record river and canal levels in low-lying districts.

Why This Is a Separate Event

This is a tidal event, not a rain event — it’s driven by the lunar cycle pushing river levels up, and it compounds with any rain that falls during the same window rather than being caused by it. As of September 25, water levels at Phu An and Nha Be were already at 1.35-1.40 meters (warning level 1), and at Thu Dau Mot 1.51 meters. Forecasters expect levels to peak during the September 28-30 full moon at Phu An and Nha Be (around 1.58-1.63 meters, near or above warning level 3) and even higher at Thu Dau Mot (1.75-1.85 meters, up to 0.25 meters above warning level 3), with daily peaks around 6-8am and 5-7pm.

Where Flooding Is Most Likely

Low-lying parts of Ho Chi Minh City have already seen flooding and gridlock this week around Ba Son Bridge, Hang Xanh Roundabout, and the Thu Duc Market area, with continued heavy rain adding to the tidal effect. If the pattern holds into the September 28-30 peak, expect similar flooding at these and other low-elevation intersections, particularly during the morning and evening peak-tide windows.

What Travelers Should Do

If you’re in Ho Chi Minh City or the wider Mekong Delta between September 26 and 30, build extra time into any trip that crosses low-lying areas, especially around the morning (6-8am) and evening (5-7pm) tide peaks. Waterproof footwear or sandals are worth having on hand for wading through ankle-to-shin-deep water on affected streets. Motorbike taxi and rideshare apps may show longer wait times or route around flooded streets during peak hours — build in slack rather than cutting connections close. This is a recurring seasonal pattern in Ho Chi Minh City rather than a one-off disaster, so normal city life continues around it, but it’s worth planning for if your hotel or itinerary sits in a low-lying area.

Sources

tiin.vn, September 25, 2026; VnExpress International, September 22, 2026.