Typhoon Yagi swept through Hanoi on Sept. 7 with maximum wind speeds of 102 kph, causing widespread destruction. Many trees broke or were uprooted, littering the streets.
As of Friday, over 40,000 fallen trees have been reported, mainly in central areas. Additionally, eight districts Phu Xuyen, My Duc, Thuong Tin, Long Bien, Chuong My, Bac Tu Liem, and Phuc Tho have yet to fully report the extent of the damage.
One of the most striking scenes is at Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake, a symbol of Hanoi, where a large flamboyant tree lies uprooted, blocking the pedestrian path.
The area, typically bustling with tourists, is now inaccessible along the lakeside road.
Two ancient trees on Nha Tho (Church) Street in front of St. Joseph's Cathedral which were uprooted on the night of Sept. 7 remain on Friday. Although authorities have trimmed the branches and moved them to the sidewalk, the roots remain unattended.
Among the 40,000 fallen trees, over 13,600 are classified as urban trees—those planted on sidewalks, streets, medians, and other public areas managed by the city. Of these, 10,589 were uprooted, while 3,069 had broken branches or trunks. Trees managed by districts, towns, state agencies, and companies account for more than 26,300 of the fallen.
On Hang Dau Street, tourists have been forced to walk on the road due to cluttered sidewalks.
Despite mobilizing all available workforce and equipment, including support from the armed forces and neighboring provinces, the sheer number of damaged trees has overwhelmed removal efforts, according to Hanoi's Department of Construction.
A century-old tamarind tree on Hang Trong Street has blocked the frontage of four businesses, forcing residents to park on the road, which has affected traffic and pedestrian movement
The intersection of Hang Ma and Hang Can streets has become a gathering point for tree branches, disrupting nearby businesses.
On Hang Cot Street, a large tree has been cut into pieces but not yet cleared, limiting the street to one lane instead of its usual two-way traffic.
In other parts of the city, such as Thanh Nien Road between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, several uprooted trees remain along the sidewalks. As in this photo, a fallen tree landed on three public bicycles.
The Hanoi Green Tree Park Company is prioritizing clearing fallen trees in central districts like Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, and Long Bien, as well as on major roads like Vo Nguyen Giap and the highway linking Hanoi to Hung Yen Province.
Van Xuan Park (also known as Hang Dau Park) has also been heavily impacted, with many trees falling around the Martyrs' Monument. As of Friday noon, many branches had been trimmed and gathered at the base of the monument.
To expedite the cleanup, Hanoi has enlisted the help of pruning and clearance teams from cities and provinces across the country, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Binh Dinh, Hue, Nghe An, Son La, Quang Binh, Ninh Binh, and Hoa Binh.
Some areas, like the sidewalk in front of Thanh Quan Secondary School in Hoan Kiem District, have become temporary storage sites for trimmed branches that have yet to be removed.
During an inspection and meeting with relevant units on Friday morning, Hanoi's Deputy Chairman Duong Duc Tuan called for standardized data on tree damage, with a clear categorization of ancient trees, trees that can be replanted, and those that should be transplanted. He also emphasized strict compliance with the city's directive to save 3,000 recoverable trees, including those of over 100 rare species.
In some cases, trees that had fallen before the storm have been replanted, such as one in front of the Hanoi People's Council and People's Committee headquarters.
The city has ordered the rescue of ancient and valuable trees, as well as those with a diameter under 25 cm. So far, over 3,000 trees have been reviewed and classified for replanting, with 250 already re-erected, 2,600 pruned and awaiting re-erection, and 232 yet to be trimmed.
On Phan Dinh Phung Street, where many trees fell during the storm, clearance has been completed, restoring the street's scenery.
The street is often nicknamed the most beautiful in Hanoi thanks to its canopy of giant trees, which draw tourists and locals alike every autumn for photoshooting.
Hanoi's Deputy Chairman Tuan has requested that the clearance of fallen trees be completed by Sept. 20. Relevant units are also expected to focus on restoring infrastructure and repairing sidewalks after replanting the fallen trees.
