Heavy rain late on November 4 inundated major streets including Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao and Tran Hung Dao, disrupting travel for residents and visitors.
Bui Vien in Ben Thanh Ward, normally a lively nightlife hub, turned unusually quiet. Dark water spread across the road as many tourists walked through ankle-deep floodwater.
A section of Bui Vien was heavily flooded, prompting authorities to put up barriers and warning signs to restrict vehicle access for safety.
By about 1 am, the water remained high as many residents wearing raincoats waded home through the night.
The usually bustling Bui Vien West Street was reduced to the sound of heavy rain and reflections of streetlights shimmering on flooded asphalt.
Local resident Hai Yen said: “Most years, rain only floods this section once. But this is the first time the water rose high enough to stall motorbikes.”
Many tourists struggled to wade through water to catch a taxi, while traffic crawled in the rain.
At the junction of Nguyen Cong Tru and Cong Quynh, water rose nearly to knee level, hampering movement.
Along Nguyen Cu Trinh Street in Ben Thanh Ward, branches and rubbish were washed across the road.
Thu Huong commented: “I have never seen the rain last this long at night. I thought Ho Chi Minh City was not affected by the storm. Usually, heavy rain still floods the walking street like this.”
According to the Southern Hydrometeorology Station, rainfall in Ho Chi Minh City on November 4 ranged from 50-90mm, with some areas exceeding 100mm. The tropical convergence zone, linked to Typhoon Kalmaegi east of the Philippines, intensified thunderstorms across the southern region.
Forecasters warned that from now until November 7, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to see moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms, with total precipitation possibly exceeding 130mm. Residents are advised to watch for tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong gusts during storms, and remain alert to flooding in low-lying areas, urban centres and riverside neighbourhoods.