According to the municipal Department of Construction, the city will shift from tackling individual flooding incidents to integrated flood risk management across 23 drainage basins during 2026-2030.
Authorities have identified 50 locations where floodwaters reach at least 30cm and remain for more than 30 minutes. These include 24 sites in the former HCM City area, 10 in former Thu Duc City, nine in former Binh Duong and seven in former Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Around 65-75 per cent of the expanded city's land lies below 1.5 metres in elevation, leaving it vulnerable to heavy rain, high tides and reservoir discharges.
Land subsidence has further worsened flooding, with ground levels sinking by 2-5cm annually and up to 7-8cm in some commercial areas.
Despite having more than 7,200 kilometres of drainage pipes and 971 kilometres of major drainage canals, the city's infrastructure remains poorly connected. Encroachment on waterways and incomplete flood barriers also restrict water flow.
Residents wade through floodwaters during heavy rain in HCM City. (Photo: Nam Anh)
During the 2026-2027 period, HCM City plans to complete 54 projects worth VND 69.35 trillion (USD 2.64 billion) to eliminate 33 flooding hotspots.
Nine projects are scheduled for completion in 2026, with another 45 expected by the end of 2027. Priority areas include Thao Dien, Thu Duc Market, Go Vap, Tan Son Nhat Airport and several major roads.
The city's VND 10 trillion (USD 380 million) tidal flood control project is about 93 per cent complete and is expected to be finished by 2027, protecting approximately 6.5 million residents across 570 square kilometres.
From 2028 to 2030, another 33 projects costing VND 72.99 trillion (USD 2.78 billion) will target the remaining 17 hotspots.
Planned measures include upgrading drainage systems, building pumping stations and underground reservoirs, and relocating around 20,000 households from canal-side areas to restore drainage corridors.
The city will also coordinate with Tay Ninh and Dong Nai on reservoir operations and hydrological data, while using artificial intelligence and digital monitoring systems to improve flood management.
Authorities also plan to restrict groundwater extraction to slow land subsidence and mobilise additional investment for long-term flood prevention.
