As soon as weather reports warned of Typhoon Matmo forming over the East Sea, Nguyen Dinh Tu, a resident of Hanoi’s An Khanh Commune, began looking for an inflatable boat in preparation for possible flooding.
Many Hanoi residents have purchased inflatable boats in case of flooding
Tu discovered a wide range of compact, easy-to-store inflatable boats. After careful consideration, he decided to purchase a two-person model with a maximum load capacity of 180 kilogrammes.
Tu lives with his wife and two children in a flat on Hoang Tung Street, near Thang Long Avenue, an area that has suffered repeated flooding for years.
Flooding often reaches ankle to knee depth, but after heavy rain, it can exceed a metre. A busy intersection 300 metres from Tu’s home is the area’s most flood-prone spot.
The other end of the street, near temporary barriers for the Ring Road 3.5 Junction, is also a low-lying area where water rises 50-60cm during heavy rain, turning Tu’s apartment complex into an island.
Living in a low-lying alley in Xuan Phuong Ward, Nguyen Cuong has bought a small boat for easier travel through narrow and winding areas.
After each prolonged downpour, flooding in Cuong’s neighbourhood often lasts five to six days before the water recedes. If the Nhue River rises, the inundation can last even longer.
When the alley floods, Cuong parks his bike on the main road, wraps his belongings in plastic bags, and wades home. At times, he borrows small aluminium boats or makeshift rafts made from wooden boards and styrofoam to reach his house.
The inflatable boats Hanoi residents are buying as flood precautions are small, lightweight watercraft made from durable materials, such as PVC, Hypalon, or coated fabric. Unlike rigid boats, they’re easy to fold, carry, and store.
An inflatable boat
Inflatable boats are sold on e-commerce platforms at prices ranging from VND 300,000 to VND 800,000, with premium models costing up to VND 3-10 million. They’re advertised to carry 2-10 people of a total of 180-600 kilogrammes.
According to a representative of a shop specialising in imported inflatable boats in Hanoi, more customers have recently inquired about boats for getting around flooded areas during torrential rains in Hanoi.
