On October 12, schools across the city announced changes to their schedules to help pupils get home before water levels rose, reducing travel difficulties and safety risks in flood-prone areas.
Nguyen Huu Tho Secondary School in Tan Hung Ward said parents could collect their children from a secondary gate from 3 pm. Meanwhile, Dinh Bo Linh Primary School in Phu My Ward encouraged parents to pick up their children from 3.30 pm on October 12 and 13, about an hour earlier than usual.
To Thanh Liem, principal of Dinh Bo Linh Primary School, said high tides were expected to peak between 4 pm and 5 pm on both days, coinciding with the usual school dismissal period. The school urged parents to arrange their schedules to collect their children early and avoid difficulties caused by flooded roads. Pupils whose parents could not arrive early would continue following their normal timetable.
In southern Ho Chi Minh City, Huynh Tan Phat Secondary School in Tan Thuan Ward moved dismissal to 4.10 pm, 40 minutes earlier than its usual time of 4.50 pm.
Pham Huu Lau Secondary School also arranged for pupils to leave about 30 minutes early, depending on their grade. Dismissal times were set at either 3.10 pm or 3.45 pm. To keep lessons on schedule, the school removed breaks between classes. Pupils whose parents had not arrived were to remain under the supervision of school staff until they could be collected.
In Nha Be Commune, Le Van Huu Secondary School revised its timetable so that nearly 2,000 pupils would leave between 3.45 pm and 4.15 pm. Instead of the usual 45-minute lessons, classes were shortened to 30 minutes to allow pupils to leave before the tide rose.
School leaders said the surrounding area was frequently severely flooded, particularly in narrow alleys that made travel difficult for pupils. The school was therefore prioritising earlier dismissal while monitoring conditions and adjusting arrangements as necessary.
According to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Centre, the high-tide cycle in the early ninth lunar month was expected to peak on October 11 and 12. Water levels at the Phu An and Nha Be monitoring stations could reach 1.70-1.80 metres, with daily peaks forecast between 4 am and 6 am and between 4 pm and 6 pm.
At Thu Dau Mot station, water levels could reach 1.90-1.95 metres, with peaks expected between 6am and 8am and between 6 pm and 8 pm.
The meteorological agency warned that high water levels combined with afternoon and evening showers or thunderstorms could increase flooding risks in low-lying areas and along rivers, canals and waterways.