Central Vietnam is grappling with some of the most severe floods in its recorded history after record-shattering rainfall submerged entire cities, cut off vital infrastructure, and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and tourists. The deluge, which began over the weekend and persisted through Tuesday, has left iconic sites like the UNESCO-listed city of Hue and the ancient town of Hoi An underwater, while experts warn that the situation could get worse before it gets better.
According to Vietnam’s meteorological department, the central city of Hue experienced a staggering 1,085 millimeters (42 inches) of rainfall in just 24 hours by late Monday, October 27, 2025—an all-time national record. The environment ministry confirmed that three measuring stations in Hue recorded between one and 1.7 meters (up to five feet seven inches) of rain during that period, shattering the previous 24-hour record of 0.99 meters set back in 1999. As reported by AFP and Associated Press, this relentless downpour caused rivers such as the Perfume, Huong, and Bo to swell dramatically, with water levels in the Huong and Bo rivers peaking at 5.25 meters (17.2 feet) on Monday afternoon, surpassing even the highest marks set in 2020.
By Tuesday morning, October 28, Hue’s Perfume River stood at 4.62 meters (15 feet), leaving much of the city and its historic palace grounds submerged by more than a meter of murky water. Residents described the flooding as unprecedented. "This was the biggest flood I have experienced, with water levels in my house about 40 centimeters higher than that of 1999," said Tran Anh Tuan, a 56-year-old resident of Hue, in comments to AFP. He added, "My ground floor is under about two meters of floodwaters. We had moved all essential furniture upstairs. We have been in the dark over a day as power was cut off."
The impact on daily life was immediate and dramatic. State media and France 24 reported that homes and businesses were inundated, major streets became impassable, and residents resorted to boats and makeshift rafts to navigate their neighborhoods. Images circulating in the press showed people in rain ponchos wading through knee- and waist-deep water, while others piloted small motorboats down what used to be busy city streets. Even hospitals were not spared, with at least one main hospital in Hue pictured with floodwaters covering its floors and patients seated on gurneys above the waterline.
Tourism, a cornerstone of the region’s economy, ground to a halt. The ancient town of Hoi An, another UNESCO World Heritage site, saw the Hoai River rise nearly two meters (6.5 feet), prompting authorities to evacuate some 40,000 tourists by boat to hotels outside the flood zone. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a hotelier near the Thu Bon river in Hoi An, told Associated Press, "The flood was rising so fast and we had to quickly relocate our guests to other hotels outside the flooding area for their safety." He added, "We could only secure the doors of the hotels and evacuate the flooded premises." State media published photos of tourists and locals alike navigating the city’s narrow, picturesque streets by boat, with authorities working tirelessly to move people to safety.
Elsewhere, the relentless rain triggered landslides and further isolation. On Tuesday morning, a massive landslide of red mud—about three kilometers (1.9 miles) long—struck coastal Quang Ngai province, leaving approximately 1,700 people cut off and damaging local crops, as reported by AFP. Meanwhile, around 1,000 people in rural pockets of Thua Thien Hue province, including 200 children under the care of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, were isolated by floodwaters and landslides.
The scale of the disaster prompted a massive response. More than 8,600 people in four central provinces were evacuated to schools and public buildings since Saturday, October 25, according to the environment ministry. Schools in Hue and Danang were closed, and authorities warned that rain and flooding could persist until at least Friday, October 31. Power outages added to the hardship, with over 306,000 households and businesses in Hue, Danang, and Quang Tri provinces left in the dark, often for more than a day.
Vietnam’s vital north-south railway, which links the capital Hanoi with the southern business hub Ho Chi Minh City, was suspended after floodwaters threatened key infrastructure. On Monday evening, railway authorities placed 19 carriages laden with 980 tons (1,080 U.S. tons) of heavy stones on a bridge to prevent it from being swept away by the current, according to state media. The disruption left thousands of passengers stranded and highlighted the vulnerability of the country’s transportation network to extreme weather.
The recent floods come on the heels of other natural disasters that have battered Vietnam in 2025. Typhoon Bualoi, which struck in September, left at least 13 people dead and 20 others missing, while earlier typhoons in October caused severe flooding in the mountainous north and capital Hanoi. According to the General Statistics Office, natural disasters—primarily storms, floods, and landslides—have resulted in 187 deaths or missing persons and economic losses exceeding $610 million in the first nine months of this year. More than 240,000 hectares (590,000 acres) of crops have been destroyed and 38,000 houses collapsed or sustained damage.
Scientists and experts consistently warn that the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events are increasing due to human-driven climate change. Warmer oceans, fueled by global warming, provide more energy for tropical storms, resulting in heavier rainfall, more powerful winds, and unpredictable precipitation patterns across East Asia. Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, told a government website, "The level of natural disaster risk due to flash floods and landslides is at the highest level." The Associated Press echoed these concerns, citing expert consensus that Vietnam’s vulnerability is exacerbated by climate change, with nearly half the country’s population living in flood-prone areas.
As the region braces for more rain and flooding, the resilience of central Vietnam’s people is being tested once again. The hope is that, with coordinated response and growing awareness of climate risks, the country can weather this storm and prepare more effectively for those that are sure to come.
