Floods Swamp Northern Vietnam as Heavy Rain Disrupts Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh and Hanoi

Heavy rainfall has triggered flooding across several parts of northern Vietnam, submerging homes, farmland and schools and disrupting travel, with conditions expected to persist through Thursday.

Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh provinces were among the worst affected, where state television footage showed floodwater sweeping across roads and into houses, swollen rivers and wide stretches of inundated fields. Aerial views captured the scale of the flooding, with buildings and school grounds left under water.

In Ninh Binh, residents living near the Hoang Long river said the deluge is a familiar feature of the monsoon season. One local resident, Tran Ngoc Tai, said the community has grown accustomed to the annual flooding and keeps supplies on hand. "The flood happens every year. We are used to it and even if it is going to rain more, we are prepared with food and fresh water. We can manage," he said.

In the capital, Hanoi, torrential rain during the early morning rush hour left several roads under water, causing severe traffic congestion as commuters struggled to reach work.

The rain began on Tuesday and is forecast to continue until the end of Thursday. Authorities have warned that further downpours could raise the risk of additional flooding and landslides in low-lying and mountainous areas.