Saigonese struggle as seasonal tides peak

By Quynh Tran November 6, 2021 | 07:12 am PT

Cars were stalled and motorbike drivers fell off the streets as HCMC was hit by the year's highest tides Saturday.

Vehicles struggle to wade through a 200-meter flooded section on Luong Dinh Cua Street in Thu Duc City as many motorbikes broke down. From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, the tide measured at 1.68 meters at the Phu An Station on the Saigon River and 1.72 meters at the Nha Be Station on the Dong Dien River. This was considered as the highest tide of the year so far. Many low-lying areas such as Tran Xuan Soan in District 7, Ton That Thuyet in District 1 and Le Van Luong in Nha Be District looked like lakes.

A 200m flooded section on Luong Dinh Cua Street in Thu Duc City.
From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., the tides rose to 1.68 meters on the Saigon River and 1.72 meters on the Dong Dien River, the highest level this year.
Many low-lying areas such as Tran Xuan Soan Street in District 7, Ton That Thuyet in District 4 and Le Van Luong in Nha Be District were also heavily flooded.

A car manages to go through on Luong Dinh Cua Street

A car creates water splashes on Luong Dinh Cua Street.

A woman falls off her motorbike while riding on Luong Dinh Cua Street.

A woman falls off her motorbike on Luong Dinh Cua.

I have to struggle to go through this road every day as work on the street expansion project has not yet been finished though construction has lasted for nearly a decade, said Bay while walking with her motorbike. Im afraid of hitting rocks or falling into potholes. Im tired, she added.

"I have a hard time driving on this road every day as an expansion project has dragged for nearly a decade," said Bay while walking with her motorbike.
"I'm afraid of hitting rocks or potholes. I'm tired," she added.

People push a stalled car in the flooded area.

People push a stalled car on a flooded street.

As the water level rises, Quy helps passers-by push their motorbikes through the flooded street, regulate traffic and guide people to drive in the safe direction.I witnessed many people fall from their motorbikes and get injured when passing there. The road was very bad and when it is submerged, many people would easily fall as they could not see the potholes, Quy added.

Quy (L) helps push motorbikes through a flooded street, regulate traffic and guide people away from potholes.
"I saw many people fall from their motorbikes and get injured. The road is very bad and when it is submerged, many people could not see the potholes," Quy added.