From 11:00 AM on July 11, Hoa Binh Hydropower Company will open 1 bottom discharge gate according to Telegram No. 7561/CD-BNNMT of the Minister of Agriculture and Environment to regulate reservoirs according to the Inter-reservoir Operation Procedure in the Red River basin.
Previously, at 13:00 on July 10, the upstream water level of Hoa Binh Lake was at an elevation of 104 m, the downstream water level was 12.1 m, the water inflow to the lake reached 4,377m3/s, while the total discharge flow downstream was 2,840m3/s.
Along with the reservoir operation order, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also has a document requesting the People's Committees of provinces and cities Phu Tho, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Hung Yen and Ninh Binh to notify people, businesses, waterway transport units, ferries, aquaculture facilities, sand and gravel mining units and riverside works to proactively take safety measures during the reservoir discharge period.
In the afternoon of July 12, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters recorded in the area at the foot of Hoa Binh Hydropower Dam, water flow from the discharge gate poured downstream with a large flow, creating white foam. Many people came to the riverside area to observe and take pictures of the time when the hydropower reservoir discharged floodwater.
Mr. Pham Van Chung (Hoa Binh ward) said that this is the first time in 2026 that water from the discharge gate flows down with a large flow, swirling and creating white foam.
The water flowed very strongly, the scenery was quite impressive, so many people came to watch. However, everyone stood far from the dangerous area according to the instructions of the functional forces," Mr. Chung said.
According to data from the reservoir management and operation monitoring system at 11:00 PM on July 12, the upstream water level of Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir reached 104.55 m, 12.45 m lower than the normal water level of 117 m.
The water flow to the reservoir reached 4,007m3/s, while the total discharge flow reached 4, 510m3/s, about 503m3/s higher than the water flow to the reservoir. In which, the reservoir discharged 1,557m3/s through the spillway and 2,953m3/s through the plant, maintaining 1 flood discharge gate.
Mr. Dang Dinh Son - Vice Chairman of Hoa Binh Ward People's Committee - said that the locality has strengthened propaganda and warned people not to swim in the river, not to approach the fast-flowing area during the time Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant operates flood discharge.
The Ward People's Committee has assigned the police force to regularly patrol and remind people in riverside areas, and at the same time put up warning signs at points with risk of drowning to limit accidents" - Mr. Son said.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Hoa Binh Hydropower Company will continue to closely monitor the developments of rain and floods, water flow to the reservoir, upstream and downstream water levels, and the safety status of works to promptly report to functional agencies, ensuring safe and efficient reservoir operation.
Hoa Binh Hydropower Lake is a water storage facility supplying water to Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant. This is the largest artificial water reservoir in Vietnam, located on the Da River. The capacity of the lake is about 9.45 billion m3. The lake is 230km long from Hoa Binh to Son La. The main dam of the lake is located in Hoa Binh ward, Phu Tho province.
