In a document sent to the City People's Committee, the Department of Construction identified the outdated master plan as a primary reason for Ho Chi Minh City's frequent flooding, especially after its administrative boundaries expanded.
Over the past two decades, Ho Chi Minh City's (former) flood control strategy relied on four major plans. Two key pillars were the overall drainage system master plan (752, approved in 2001) and the irrigation plan (1547, approved in 2008). These plans established a multi-layered defense structure, including outer control, internal drainage, and rapid response solutions like forced pumping.
However, many objectives set forth have not been achieved, from investing in and upgrading the inner-city drainage system to constructing surrounding tide-prevention culverts.
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Flooding on Quoc Huong street, Thao Dien ward, October 2025. Photo: Thanh Tung
According to the Department of Construction, these plans, approved long ago, use outdated parameters for rainfall, tides, and sea-level rise. Additionally, rapid subsidence of 20-50 cm, particularly in the former Ho Chi Minh City area, has lowered ground levels, reducing the effectiveness of the existing culvert, dike, and pumping station systems.
The older plans also inadequately integrated factors such as climate change, sea-level rise, and erosion. They lacked comprehensive risk assessments for inter-provincial river basins. Therefore, the specialized agency recommends an urgent and comprehensive review and update of the master plan to ensure regional synchronization and adaptation to new climate scenarios.
Furthermore, a lack of investment resources is a major reason why the flood control challenge remains largely unresolved, especially with increasing extreme rainfall, high tides, and subsidence. The current budget only meets approximately 30% of the required funding, causing delays in many projects. Capital allocation remains fragmented, and mechanisms for socialized investment lack flexibility.
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The Muong Chuoi tide-prevention culvert, part of the unfinished project addressing tidal flooding in Ho Chi Minh City with climate change considerations - phase one. Photo: Thanh Tung
Following the expansion of its administrative boundaries, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 159 regular flooding spots. The former Ho Chi Minh City area accounts for 76 spots, Binh Duong for 52 spots, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau for 31 spots.
To address this, from now until 2030, the city needs to implement approximately 157 flood control projects, with an estimated total capital of 348 trillion VND. For 2026 alone, the capital requirement is about 38 trillion VND to execute 24 projects and tackle 29 flooding spots.
The Department of Construction also stressed the urgent need to complete the unfinished phase one of the flood control project for Ho Chi Minh City's tidal areas, which considers climate change. It also highlighted the importance of fully enclosing the protective scope of tide control culverts as outlined in irrigation plan 1547.
Giang Anh
