From 15 to 17 September, a broad band of heavy rain swept the northern and north‑central provinces of Vietnam, prompting a cascade of warnings and emergency actions. The National Center for Hydro‑Meteorological Forecasting reported rainfall of 100‑250 mm in most areas, with localized totals exceeding 400 mm in Bắc Ninh, Hòa Bình and parts of Hưng Yên, Ninh Bình, Phú Thọ and Thanh Hóa. In Hanoi, rain reached 100‑250 mm, raising urban flood concerns.
River Gauge Readings
River gauges showed rapid rises: on 16 a.m., the Bôi River at Hưng Thi (Phú Thọ) hit 13.83 m, 0.83 m above warning level 3; the Hoàng Long River (Ninh Bình) reached 3.81 m, 0.19 m above; the Bưởi River (Thanh Hóa) peaked at 16.67 m, 0.67 m above; and the Âm River (Thanh Hóa) rose to 50.49 m, 0.49 m above level 2. Several rivers in Hanoi, Ninh Bình and Thanh Hóa also surpassed level 3, threatening dozens of communes.
Government Response
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ordered the provinces of Phú Thọ, Ninh Bình and Thanh Hóa to monitor conditions, issue timely alerts and evacuate residents from low‑lying, riverside areas. By 16 September, 191 households (734 people) had been moved to safety in Thanh Hóa, while 1,550 homes in Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An were reported flooded. A total of 613 households across seven villages in Thanh Hóa faced water ingress, and nine houses were damaged in Lao Cai and Thanh Hóa.
Agricultural Impact
Agricultural losses amounted to 9,020 ha of rice and other crops, with the heaviest impact in Ninh Bình (6,492 ha). The authorities continue to deploy personnel, equipment and sandbags to reinforce vulnerable dikes and mitigate further landslides and flash floods as rain persists across the region.
Traffic police warned drivers to reduce speed to no more than 40 km/h, use low‑beam and fog lights, keep safe distances and avoid overtaking on slippery, narrow roads.