Flood Zone

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

All,

I keep hearing that HCMC is flooded and there is always rain everyday.  Is this true?  Are there any good district to live in where it does not get flooded easily? 

Please advise.

T.T

Here's my technical answer:

Much of HCMC is built on swamplands, actually much of the South is located in the lowlands where you get a high water table.  In addition, the soil is very clay-ish (meaning the water doesn't drain through the soil like it would with sand).  Combine the massive rainfall of 71 inches on average during the rainy season (source = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City, compared to Miami's average 59 inches of rainfall during Florida's rainy season, source=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Miami) with an impervious surface (surface that doesn't allow water to drain, such as concrete and asphalt) that spreads over many kilometers square, you've got a condition where water can't go anywhere.  On top of that, there is no sewage system in the Big city so pretty much people just wallow in their own....

Some pictures here:

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/societ … roads.html

It's typical after a big storm event.

Oh wow, and I didn't know this until after I searched for sources in answering your question, but HIGH TIDES also flood HCMC.

http://en.baomoi.com/Info/High-tide-flo … 330894.epi

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

but HIGH TIDES also flood HCMC.

Keep in mind that HCMC is only 4m above sea level. So the floods are worse at full moon and high tides

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13814/hig … n-hcm-city

Yea I have seen some ridiculous flood pictures...where a car is totally covered in water.

Now I'm thinking about living in a high rise (can ho) to avoid the flooding.

T.T

There is one good way from flood/water
Just stay a higher apartment!

I hope next question will not be "Do you have McDonald in Saigon?"

I was thinking of that

Anniest wrote:

I hope next question will not be "Do you have McDonald in Saigon?"

charmavietnam wrote:

There is one good way from flood/water
Just stay a higher apartment!

OR - you can take your motorbike out for a ride and find out what it's like to hydroplane along all the new clusters of canals that are normally roads.

Before someone asks, there are 2 Starbucks in HCMC

Anniest wrote:

I hope next question will not be "Do you have McDonald in Saigon?"

Anniest, "MacDonald's" ? You really meant "McChuckies" didn't you ?

Budman1 wrote:

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13814/high-tide-to-flood-many-areas-in-hcm-city

When I click the above, an error comes up.  You're missing a .html in your URL link.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13814/hig … -city.html

I think I'll open a Sea-Doo dealership.  Ka-Ching!

Flip465 wrote:

Anniest wrote:

I hope next question will not be "Do you have McDonald in Saigon?"

Anniest, "MacDonald's" ? You really meant "McChuckies" didn't you ?

McDonald's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's), the great American obesity exporting company...coming to a street corner nearest you soon (Ever seen the movie "Super Size Me"?).

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Budman1 wrote:

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13814/high-tide-to-flood-many-areas-in-hcm-city

When I click the above, an error comes up.  You're missing a .html in your URL link.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13814/hig … -city.html

I think I'll open a Sea-Doo dealership.  Ka-Ching!

http://downsmarina.com/images/07SeaDooRXT.jpg

Thanks for re-posting the correct one THD. When I did the old copy and paste it dropped the last part and I didn't notice it.

Budman1 wrote:

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Budman1 wrote:

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13814/high-tide-to-flood-many-areas-in-hcm-city

When I click the above, an error comes up.  You're missing a .html in your URL link.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/13814/hig … -city.html

I think I'll open a Sea-Doo dealership.  Ka-Ching!

http://downsmarina.com/images/07SeaDooRXT.jpg

Thanks for re-posting the correct one THD. When I did the old copy and paste it dropped the last part and I didn't notice it.