By 4:30 pm, water began rising on Tran Xuan Soan Street beneath the Tan Thuan 2 Bridge in Tan Thuan Ward.

By 5:00 pm, the tide from Kenh Te Canal had inundated nearly the entire street.

Motorcycles stalled, vehicles swerved to avoid collisions, and water spilled onto sidewalks, leaving many unable to distinguish the road from the sidewalks.

The flooding coincided with the late afternoon rush, creating chaotic scenes as workers and schoolchildren trudged through crowded, waterlogged streets.

Some residents fell when they misstepped, while others struggled to push stalled motorbikes.

“This happens every year around this time. Just yesterday the road was flooded, and now it’s under water again,” said Hieu, 37, a local resident.

“Every time a truck passes, the water splashes into my house.”

Floodwaters had yet to recede as of 6:00 pm the same day.

Authorities said tide levels at Phu An and Nha Be Stations may remain at 1.52-1.57 meters through Thursday, near or above level-three flood alerts, adding that the combination of high tide and heavy rainfall could worsen flooding in low-lying areas, disrupting traffic and daily life.