High tide, heavy rain flood Ho Chi Minh City streets at rush hour

On Tran Xuan Soan Street in Tan Thuan Ward, floodwaters rose to half the height of motorbike wheels under the Tan Thuan 2 Bridge around 4:30 pm, just as traffic volumes surged. 

By 4:45 pm, the rain had intensified, worsening the flooding and causing traffic jams and stalled vehicles.

"Water rose to the sidewalks, making it hard to tell where the road ended. It's especially dangerous now that students are back to school," said Hoang Minh, a local resident.

In Binh Tri Dong Ward, flooding on Ma Lo Street also made it difficult for parents and students to get home.

In some areas, water reached halfway up motorbike wheels, forcing riders to push their bikes or detour onto sidewalks.

Authorities said tide levels in the Saigon and Dong Nai river system could peak between Tuesday and Thursday at 1.48-1.53 meters, nearing the second-highest warning level.

The highest tide is expected between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm.