Proactively respond to high tides and heavy rains
On the afternoon of November 6, the high tide on the Saigon River system rose, exceeding alert level 3. Previously, at the end of October, water levels in many places reached historical levels, causing low-lying areas, along rivers such as Binh Quoi - Thanh Da, Tran Xuan Soan, Huynh Tan Phat, Nguyen Van Khoi streets... to be deeply flooded for a long time.
According to Mr. Hoang Phuc Dung - Deputy Head of the Technical Infrastructure Department (HCMC Department of Construction), HCMC has increased repair and renovation of drainage culverts, dredged manholes, organized rain duty, and collected garbage at water intakes.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City operates 388 tide-prevention valves at the floodgates, coordinating with units to handle damage to limit high tides over the banks. Along with that, 17 mobile pumping stations along with 10 pumping stations and large tidal control culverts are operated synchronously to support flood reduction, ensure process and safety.
The Department of Construction requires investors to speed up the progress of key projects being implemented or preparing for investment, in order to soon promote the effectiveness of flood reduction in high-risk areas in the city.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City requests the Urban Infrastructure and Transport Project Management Boards to urgently complete irrigation works along the Saigon River such as upgrading the right bank irrigation system from Cu Chi to Tra canal, preventing landslides on Thanh Da peninsula, and reinforcing dykes from Tra canal to Vam Thuat river. At the same time, wards and communes must review vulnerabilities and proactively respond to response plans in the last months of the year, especially during the 2026 Binh Ngo Lunar New Year.
The mindset of "smug city" - living in harmony with nature
Mr. Erick Contreras - Vice President of the European Business Association in Vietnam ( EuroCham) - said that Vietnam, like many other countries, is suffering the consequences of extreme weather from floods to tropical storms.
In Europe, we have learned how to live with water through the sponge city model. They design infrastructure connecting from industry to urban areas through green solutions, capable of absorbing, regulating and adapting to natural flows, instead of finding ways to combat or prevent them. Imagine if that mindset were applied here. We build adaptability through innovative solutions - Mr. Erick Contreras said.
Sharing the same view, Mr. Michele D'Ercole - Chairman of the Italian Business Association in Vietnam (ICHAM), commented that Ho Chi Minh City is a city of rivers and canals - a valuable natural asset that needs to be placed at the center of a sustainable development strategy. He suggested that Ho Chi Minh City should learn from the model of a city of snails, integrate a green corridor, a water park, water-absorbing surfaces and preserve important ecological areas such as Can Gio mangrove forest.
Proactively responding to and investing in flood prevention infrastructure is extremely urgent. The city needs to speed up large-scale flood control projects, including tidal gates, dykes and modern drainage systems, in parallel with building an early warning system based on data and sensors to help people and businesses proactively prevent risks.
According to Mr. Kim Nyoun Ho - Chairman of the Korean Association of Commerce in Vietnam (KOCHAM), the rapid urbanization process has caused Ho Chi Minh City to face the problem of water supply and land subsidence due to excessive groundwater exploitation. Mr. KOCHAM proposed the application of advanced water supply technology and management systems in Korea, such as smart water filtration technology, leak detection and modern water supply network management. These solutions help Ho Chi Minh City aim to increase water supply capacity, while gradually reducing groundwater exploitation and encouraging the use of clean and safe water sources.
