Environment

Flooding in Hanoi has affected more than 15,500 residents and inundated nearly 2,650 homes as water levels remain high after days of heavy rain.

Floodwaters from the Ma River carried large amounts of timber, tree trunks and rubbish onto beaches in Sam Son Ward, Thanh Hoa Province, after days of heavy rain.

Hanoi authorities have ordered inspections and strict enforcement against hundreds of illegally built workshops and sheds encroaching on the Nhue River corridor.

Dozens of tonnes of debris have washed up on Nhat Le Beach in Quang Tri Province after days of heavy rain and flooding, prompting a large-scale clean-up operation.

Authorities in Quang Ninh have detained five fishing boats after they were caught using prohibited bottom-dredging gear to illegally harvest shellfish in Ha Long Bay.

An endangered elongated tortoise found in Quang Tri Province has been handed over to a wildlife rescue centre at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park for care before a possible release into the wild.

Three earthquakes struck at midday on September 17 in Tra Giap, Tra Tan and Tra Tap communes, Danang City.

Authorities in the central province of Ha Tinh have destroyed more than 20,000 traps and other devices used to capture migratory birds as part of a stepped-up crackdown on illegal wildlife hunting.

Heavy rain from the night of September 16 into the morning of September 17 left many streets in Hanoi deeply flooded, disrupting traffic across the capital.

Quang Ninh authorities have warned residents and tourists after Chrysaora jellyfish, which can cause painful skin irritation, were spotted at a beach in Hon Gai and nearby waters.

Air quality around Long Thanh International Airport has improved in 2026 as construction nears completion and dust levels fall, according to Dong Nai's Department of Agriculture and Environment.

Heavy rain triggered a landslide that left two hillside homes tilting in Thanh Hoa Province, forcing authorities to evacuate 64 residents from nearby properties.

Heavy rain has submerged bridges and low-water crossings in Nghe An Province, isolating more than 3,000 residents and disrupting access to two schools.

El Nino is forecast to become very strong in the final months of 2026, raising the risk of unusually intense tropical depressions and storms despite fewer systems being expected to affect Vietnam.

Heavy rainfall has caused flooding at a reservoir and submerged key roads in Nghe An Province, forcing authorities to close several transport routes to ensure public safety.

HCM City plans to spend about VND 140 trillion (USD 5.3 billion) on 87 flood-control projects between 2026 and 2030, aiming to largely address flooding at 50 of its 159 flood-prone sites.

Traditional fishing and eel trapping provide seasonal livelihoods in the Mekong Delta region, while local communities are also turning the annual floods into a tourism attraction.

Dense haze blanketed Ho Chi Minh City on September 16, obscuring high-rises and reducing visibility, while air quality was warned unsafe.

Heavy rain is forecast to continue in Hanoi until September 17, with some areas of northern Vietnam expected to receive more than 200mm of rainfall.