Watching water and waiting for guests
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chang, who runs a grocery store in the Binh Thuy market area, said that since October 17, the high tide has quickly flooded the road leading to the market in the morning and evening. Faced with this situation, Ms. Chang's family had to use tools to prevent water from entering the house as well as rush to clean up and place goods on high places to avoid damage.
“This year the water level was higher than usual, the whole road was submerged, some sections were deeper than half a wheel, many vehicles stalled, people had difficulty moving. My shop could not sell anything because there were no customers. At that time, I could only sit and wait for the water to recede so I could bring out my goods to sell,” Ms. Chang shared.
Falling into a slump during the days of high tide, trader Nguyen Thi Dao sadly said that usually from 6-8am is when she does her best business because there are many people going to the market.
But since the road leading to the market has been flooded for the past few days, she has been sitting and waiting for customers all morning. “Now I just hope the water recedes quickly so that people can come to the market to sell their fish. I don’t know what else to do,” said Ms. Dao.
People struggle to move
Struggling on her bicycle, Ms. Phan Thi Nguyet (Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City) said that she did not dare to run, only walked and at times almost fell into the sewer because the water was so deep that she could not see the road. According to Ms. Nguyet, the tide this year was very high, the floor of her house was raised but the water was still about to overflow.
“The road to the market is deeply flooded, but because I have to go home to look after my children so I can go to work, I have to wade through the water to go to the market. I only dare to stop by the stalls in the less flooded areas to shop,” said Ms. Nguyet.
Groping her way through the flooded road, Ms. Ngo Thi My (Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City) shared that she had to wait for the water to recede before daring to go to the market: "Going to the market like this with the flood is very boring, partly because it is difficult to move and partly because water can be splashed on you by fast-moving vehicles."
Reporter's notes at the entrance to Binh Thuy market on days of high tide:
