Ho Chi Minh City against climate change: [2] People caught in ‘vortex of disasters’

Growing climate cost

People in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) are bearing an increasing “climate cost,” from electricity bills and healthcare expenses to losses caused by flooding and extreme weather.

For millions of residents, climate change is no longer only about shifting weather patterns. It is creeping into daily meals, sleep, and work, placing direct pressure on livelihoods, health, living expenses, and the ability of urban residents to remain in the city.

At dawn on a day in mid-May, Nguyen Thi Thanh, an environmental sanitation worker in An Lac ward, had already begun her shift under oppressive heat, even before sunrise. By the afternoon, a sudden downpour flooded the boarding house near Nuoc Den canal where she lives, with water rising nearly halfway up motorcycle wheels.

“Now the weather is too unpredictable. It’s scorching in the morning, then the city is flooded by rain in the afternoon. Workers like us hardly have time to react,” Thanh said.

Reports from HCMC’s health sector show that hospital admissions for dehydration, heatstroke, and respiratory illnesses tend to increase during prolonged heatwaves.

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Ho Chi Minh City against climate change: [1] A megacity vulnerable to climate shocks

According to Dr. Le Thi Tuyet Lan, Chairwoman of the Society of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology HCMC, rising temperatures not only affect the elderly and children but also place heavy pressure on workers regularly exposed to outdoor conditions.

“Prolonged heat increases the risk of exhaustion, dehydration, heatstroke, and respiratory disease. Low-income workers are the most vulnerable because they have almost no means to avoid the heat,” Dr. Tuyet Lan said.

This reflects a broader reality for many HCMC residents. Climate change is no longer merely a warning but has become part of everyday life in this megacity in recent years. The city is simultaneously affected by multiple hazards, including extreme rainfall, tidal flooding, landslides, storms, prolonged heatwaves, and rising sea levels.

According to the Hydrometeorological Observatory - Southern region, the number of heavy rain events in HCMC has increased over the past decade. Many extreme downpours occur within short periods but trigger widespread flooding. Rainfall exceeding 100 mm is no longer as uncommon as before.

The city still has dozens of flood-prone locations caused by rainfall and tidal surges, concentrated in low-lying areas or places with incomplete drainage systems. These flood hotspots heavily affect residents’ daily lives. Prolonged heatwaves also drive up electricity consumption and living costs. Sudden heavy rains cause traffic congestion, interrupt work, damage property, and reduce income for many small businesses.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation, electricity demand in the city often rises sharply during prolonged heatwaves due to increased use of air conditioners, fans, and cooling devices. This not only pressures the electricity supply system but also significantly increases living costs, especially for low-income workers living in cramped rental housing with limited greenery and natural ventilation.

Beyond heat, air pollution has become another major burden for the city of more than 14 million people. HCMC has repeatedly appeared among cities with poor air quality in surveys by international organizations. During hot, low-wind days, many areas experience unhealthy air quality, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

“Heavy rain following long periods of heat places enormous pressure on infrastructure and public health. High tides combined with heavy rainfall increase the risk of deep flooding. Meanwhile, the urban heat island effect further reduces quality of life,” said Dr. Ho Long Phi, former Director of the Center of Water Management and Climate Change at Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City.

Vulnerable groups pushed into “climate lowlands”

The impacts of climate change do not affect all groups equally. In HCMC, those most vulnerable are often low-income workers, who have limited ability to choose safer housing, better living conditions, or more secure jobs amid extreme weather.

They are typically concentrated in riverside and canal-side areas where infrastructure remains weak, population density is high, and flooding, tidal surges, or landslides occur frequently. Many also depend on outdoor jobs such as street vending, motorbike taxi, construction work, delivery services, or seasonal labor - occupations easily disrupted by heatwaves or heavy rain.

Along canals in areas such as Phu Dinh, Nha Be, Binh Thanh, and Gia Dinh, it is common to find low, cramped rental housing with corrugated metal roofs and frequent flooding during heavy rain or high tides. The city still has more than 34,700 houses located along rivers and canals, areas considered the city’s “climate lowlands.”

Besides flooding, many riverside communities face growing landslide risks. Statistics from the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Environment show that the city currently has 43 dangerous and highly dangerous landslide sites along the Saigon River, Nha Be River, and major canals. In some locations, heavy rain, high tides, and landslides can occur simultaneously, increasing safety risks.

Climate change is affecting not only housing and income but also daily routines. Many small businesses have adjusted operating hours because of extreme heat or unusual storms. Freelance workers reduce outdoor working time to avoid exhaustion. Some suburban households have even considered relocating due to persistent flooding and increasingly severe tidal surges.

In response, HCMC is accelerating programs to relocate and redevelop tens of thousands of houses along rivers and canals to improve living conditions and reduce disaster risks. However, many experts argue that the biggest challenge is not only relocation itself but ensuring livelihoods, employment, and long-term adaptation capacity for residents after resettlement.

During June 4 - 6, 2026, in Cua Lo ward (Nghe An Province), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee, will organize a series of communication events responding to World Environment Day (June 5), World Oceans Day (June 8), the Month of Action for the Environment, and Vietnam Sea and Islands Week 2026.

1. National Forum on Environment and Climate – From policy to action

- Time: 8:00 a.m., June 5, 2026

- Venue: Vinpearl Cua Hoi, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

- Online participation: ID: 942 6837 3034 | Passcode: KH0605

2. National Workshop: “Improving institutions and policies to promote sustainable marine economic development”

- Time: 2:00 p.m., June 5, 2026

- Venue: Vinpearl Cua Hoi, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

- Online participation: ID: 934 2999 5099 | Passcode: HT0506

3. Art program: “Vietnam’s Sea – A journey toward blue spaces”

- Time: 8:00 p.m., June 5, 2026

- Venue: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

4. National launch ceremony for World Environment Day, World Oceans Day, the Month of Action for the Environment, Vietnam Sea and Islands Week 2026; launch of the campaign “All citizens join hands to protect the environment for a green, clean, and beautiful Vietnam”

- Time: 6:00 a.m., June 6, 2026

- Venue: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

5. Exhibition: “Blue Marine Economy – Sustainable Agriculture and Environment”

- Time: June 4 - 6, 2026

- Venue: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province