Hanoi Floodwaters Recede Slowly as Bùi and Tích Rivers Stay Above Alert 3

Published 22 September 2026 · Residents & Travellers · Hanoi

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Flood conditions in Hanoi's western and south-western outskirts are easing, but they are not over. Official disaster-management data for 07:00 on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 showed both the Tích and Bùi rivers still above Alert Level 3, the highest of Vietnam's standard three alert thresholds.

The key point for residents and travellers is that a falling river does not immediately mean dry roads. Low-lying communities can remain cut off or waterlogged while river levels recede, and local conditions can differ sharply from central Hanoi.

Where river levels stood on 22 September

At Kim Quan station, the Tích River measured 8.67 metres at 07:00, which was 0.27 metres above Alert Level 3. At Yên Duyệt, the Bùi River measured 7.60 metres, 0.60 metres above Alert Level 3.

Those readings were lower than the previous day's levels. The disaster-management authority forecast that both rivers would continue to fall slowly over the following 12–24 hours, while remaining above Alert Level 3. That makes this a recovery phase rather than an all-clear.

Trần Phú remains heavily affected

A field report from Trần Phú commune on Tuesday morning described the community as entering its fifth day of inundation. At 08:00, the Bùi River at Yên Duyệt was reported at 7.58 metres, still 0.58 metres above Alert Level 3.

By the morning of 21 September, local authorities had evacuated 572 households involving about 2,150 residents to safer locations. Although rain had stopped and Tuesday morning was sunny in the commune, prolonged high water was still affecting travel and everyday life.

The figures refer to a particularly affected outer-Hanoi locality and should not be read as a citywide evacuation count. They do, however, show why high river levels remain a meaningful local safety issue even after the heaviest rain has passed.

What this means for getting around

Most visitors staying around the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm, Tây Hồ or the main central sightseeing areas are well away from the worst river flooding described here. The practical concern is for journeys into low-lying western and south-western outskirts, rural communes and roads close to the Bùi and Tích river systems.

If your route involves Trần Phú, Chương Mỹ-area communities, Thạch Thất-area communities or other places close to the affected rivers, confirm road access shortly before travelling. A road that appears usable on a map may still be flooded, restricted or require a long detour.

For tours, drivers and private transfers, local operators are likely to have more useful road-by-road information than a general city forecast. Avoid treating a clear sky in central Hanoi as proof that outer-district access has returned to normal.

Safety advice while water recedes

Do not walk, ride or drive through deep or fast-moving floodwater. Water can conceal damaged road surfaces, open drains and strong currents, and the depth can change over a short distance. Follow barriers and local directions even when another vehicle appears to have crossed successfully.

Residents returning to flooded properties should continue to follow local civil-defence and commune guidance. Travellers with accommodation, family visits or appointments in affected outer areas should contact the destination directly before setting out.

What happens next

The official outlook issued with Tuesday morning's readings was for the Bùi and Tích rivers to continue falling slowly while remaining above Alert Level 3 during the next 12–24 hours. Conditions should therefore improve gradually rather than instantly.

Because water levels and road access can change during the day, this article records the verified morning situation rather than presenting those measurements as live readings. We will update the story if authorities publish a material change in the flood outlook or access conditions.

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