Northern Vietnam heavy rain brings Hanoi traffic jams and floods

A sudden downpour during the morning rush hour on 26 June dumped heavy rain on Hanoi, causing severe gridlock on major streets such as Nguyễn Trãi and Tố Hữu. Motorists piled onto sidewalks to find a way through, and commuters reported being “stuck for longer than any other day” as the rain hit at the peak of traffic.

The same weather system spread across northern Vietnam, delivering intense thunderstorms that produced more than 100 mm of rain in places like Nậm Ban 1 (Tuyên Quang) and Thông Nông (Cao Bằng). The National Hydro‑Meteorological Center warned of landslide risks in several districts of Lai Châu, Lào Cai and Lạng Sơn. In Cao Bằng, floodwaters rose over one metre, inundating about 150 homes, flooding rice and flower fields and causing an estimated VND 70 million in damages.

These rains broke a multi‑day heatwave, bringing cooler temperatures to the north. Forecasts predict continued showers and thunderstorms through the end of the week, with daily highs generally falling to the low‑30 °C range, while the central and southern regions remain under scorching conditions.