The downpour, which lasted about an hour from around 5.30 pm, inundated parts of the city, including Ba Trieu Street and the frontage road along National Highway 22 in Hoc Mon Commune.
Floodwater reached nearly half the height of some motorbike wheels, causing several vehicles to stall. Many riders were forced to push their motorbikes through flooded sections.
Traffic slowed significantly as vehicles queued through waterlogged streets.
Residents said flooding frequently occurs in the area during heavy rain, with runoff from higher roads flowing into low-lying sections near an ongoing construction site on Ba Trieu Street.
The Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Centre forecast increased thunderstorm activity across HCM City and southern Vietnam through June 19, with moderate to heavy rain, lightning and strong winds possible in some areas.
Rainfall is expected to ease after June 20, although scattered afternoon and evening showers are likely to continue.
