The downpour started early in the day and intensified at around 6:30 a.m., coinciding with the morning rush as people tried to go to school or work.
Thang Long Boulevard, which links western Hanoi with the city center, was submerged and vehicles had to drive close to the central divider to avoid deeper water.
A man is seen gripping the throttle tightly to avoid stalling as he tries to cross the sea of water in front of the My Dinh Stadium.
Drainage workers had to place warning signs in the area to alert commuters.
Many had to call for help to rescue their stalled vehicles, paying VND50,000 (US$1.9) for the service.
Dozens of drainage workers were pumping and diverting water to other areas to ease flooding on Vo Chi Cong Street, the main route to Noi Bai Airport and northern provinces like Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang and Lao Cai.
A man was seen walking to the My Dinh Bus Station with a large bag on a plastic basin.
The area was flooded following a downpour that lasted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A girl braves the rain as she returns home from school with her grandparents.
The downpour continued into the late afternoon, posing difficulties for people picking children up from school or returning home after work.
An electric car was immobilized by the meter-deep water at the intersection between Lang Ha and Thai Ha streets.
People form long lines to buy tickets at the Thuong Dinh metro station at 6 p.m. as the surrounding streets were severely congested.
Dozens of people wait at a motorbike repair shop in the Dai Kim urban area to fix their stalled vehicles.
Khanh (center) had to wait four hours at the Duong Dinh Nghe – Ring Road 3 intersection.
He said he has driven through this area during similar floods in the past, but this was the first time his car stalled.
Many stranded cars and motorbikes were seen at the Lang Ha – Thai Ha intersection at 8 p.m. Some even left behind their vehicles and went home.
