--- title: "Ho Chi Minh City faces rising flood risk from climate change" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/ho-chi-minh-city-faces-rising-flood-risk-from-climate-change" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ho-chi-minh-city-faces-rising-flood-risk-from-climate-change" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/ho-chi-minh-city-faces-rising-flood-risk-from-climate-change.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ho-chi-minh-city-faces-rising-flood-risk-from-climate-change" category: "Climate" area: "Asia-Pacific" published: "2026-10-01T08:25:16.238Z" source_reported: "2026-10-01T07:24:35.000Z" updated: "2026-10-01T08:25:16.238Z" trust_score: 56 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 12 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-01T08:15:11.996086+00:00" --- # Ho Chi Minh City faces rising flood risk from climate change *Forecasters warned of increased flood risk due to high tides and heavy rain, a problem exacerbated by urbanisation and subsidence.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 56 of 100, higher is better. Trust 56 – named expert and dates present, but only one original report and no cited documents. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95 – explains relevance, includes multiple quotes, specific data, clear structure, and outlines next steps. - Hype 12 of 100, lower is better. Hype 12 – language measured; headline matches article content without sensational exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Ho Chi Minh City faces a growing flood risk due to the combination of high tides, heavy rain, climate change, rapid urbanisation, and land subsidence. - On September 30, heavy rain and high tide caused rivers and smaller waterways to overflow onto city roads. - Nearly half of the city's land is less than one metre above sea level, making it vulnerable to inundation. - The city has initiated a $13 billion plan to address 159 flood-prone areas by 2030. Forecasters issued warnings on September 27 that high tides, combined with heavy rainfall, could elevate flood risks in Ho Chi Minh City. The city experienced this prediction on the evening of September 30 when substantial rain and a high tide caused the Saigon River and other waterways to breach their banks, flooding streets. This event highlights the city's vulnerability, with almost half of its landmass situated less than one metre above sea level. Benjamin Horton, a professor of earth science at City University of Hong Kong, stated that climate change intensifies flood risks by interacting with rapid urbanisation and land subsidence. He explained that a warming climate leads to rising sea levels and more intense downpours, which can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in densely populated areas. Groundwater extraction further contributes to the problem by causing the ground to sink. These factors increase the likelihood of homes and businesses being inundated, disrupting transport, damaging infrastructure, and posing public health risks. In response to these challenges, Ho Chi Minh City launched a $13 billion plan in July aimed at mitigating flooding in 159 identified hotspots by 2030. The city also adopted a climate action plan through 2030 to upgrade drainage systems, expand green spaces, and improve its resilience to extreme weather events. Horton noted that rising sea levels impede drainage, while heavier rainfall increases the volume of water entering the city quickly. In a sinking city, water accumulates and recedes more slowly, leading to more frequent, deeper, and longer-lasting floods. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mentioned the specific date of July when the city launched its $13 billion flood mitigation plan. The digests from Biz Toc, St Catharines Standard, The Seattle Times, The Independent, and The Independent (US) did not provide specific details on the flood mitigation plan's timeline or the city's climate action plan. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 83% (5) - Centre: 17% (1) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-01T08:15:11.996086+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-01T08:30:17.871Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the confluence of factors contributing to Ho Chi Minh City's flood risk. They highlighted warnings issued on September 27 about high tides and heavy rain, and the subsequent flooding on September 30. These reports included details about the city's low elevation, with nearly half of its land less than one metre above sea level. The role of climate change, amplified by rapid urbanisation and land subsidence, was a central theme, with quotes from Benjamin Horton, a professor of earth science. The $13 billion flood mitigation plan and the city's climate action plan were also noted. The reports described residents adapting to the floods, with some raising their homes and street vendors continuing to operate. ### Centre - The centre-rated report led with the statement that Ho Chi Minh City has learned to expect floods. It noted that high tides from the Saigon River and smaller waterways regularly inundate roads and businesses. The report attributed this information to the Associated Press. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 2 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/3dde56cd24ed0dcf) — Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with floods but climate change has raised the stakes - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/10/01/vietnams-ho-chi-minh-city-is-learning-to-live-with-floods-but-climate-change-has-raised-the-stakes) — Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with floods but climate change has raised the stakes - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/business/vietnam-s-ho-chi-minh-city-is-learning-to-live-with-floods-but-climate-change-has-raised-the-stakes/article_81c90c1e-f7db-514a-825e-eebc0bee77be.html) — Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with floods but climate change has raised the stakes - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/business/vietnams-ho-chi-minh-city-is-learning-to-live-with-floods-but-climate-change-has-raised-the-stakes) — Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with floods but climate change has raised the stakes - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/vietnam-ho-chi-minh-city-life-french-thailand-b3059488.html) — Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with floods but climate change has raised the stakes - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/vietnam-ho-chi-minh-city-life-french-thailand-b3059488.html) — Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with floods but climate change has raised the stakes - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/vietnams-ho-chi-minh-city-learning-live-floods-136911209) — Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with floods but climate change has raised the stakes ## Questions **What caused the flooding in Ho Chi Minh City on September 30?** On the evening of September 30, heavy rain combined with a high tide caused the Saigon River and smaller waterways to overflow onto the city's roads. Forecasters had warned on September 27 that these conditions could increase flood risk. **Why is Ho Chi Minh City particularly vulnerable to flooding?** Nearly half of Ho Chi Minh City's land is less than one metre above sea level. This low elevation, combined with rapid urbanisation, land subsidence, and the impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels and heavier rainfall, significantly increases its flood vulnerability. **What is Ho Chi Minh City doing to address flooding?** The city has launched a $13 billion plan to tackle 159 flood hotspots by 2030. It has also adopted a climate action plan through 2030 to upgrade drainage systems, expand green spaces, and improve its ability to cope with heavy rain, high tides, and rising sea levels. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/climate/ho-chi-minh-city-faces-rising-flood-risk-from-climate-change. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Ho Chi Minh City faces rising flood risk from climate change", https://mediabias.news/climate/ho-chi-minh-city-faces-rising-flood-risk-from-climate-change