People in a boat navigate through a flooded street under heavy rain, one holding a purple umbrella.

Severe flooding in Central Vietnam

Update from the “Strong roots, strong women” project region

19 November 2025

Since the end of October 2025, central Vietnam has been facing one of the most severe flood events in decades, with Thua Thien Hue Province among the hardest-affected areas. Record-breaking rainfall, triggered by a rare combination of meteorological factors, led to widespread inundation across the region. At Bach Ma peak in Hue, rainfall reached 1,739 mm within 24 hours, the highest ever measured in Vietnam and the second-highest 24-hour rainfall worldwide.

A flooded street with people walking, cars submerged, and buildings in the background under overcast skies. — Street in Hue City completely swallowed by floodwaters

River levels on the Huong and Bo Rivers rose to historic highs, in some locations even surpassing previous records. Many communes in Hue were submerged under 1–2 meters of water, with some areas reaching up to 4 meters. Power outages, transportation disruptions, and extensive property damage have affected large parts of the population. Casualties continue to be reported, underlining the severity of this disaster.

While water levels in Hue City’s center have begun to recede, many low-lying communities remain submerged, and further heavy rainfall is forecast for mid-November, raising concerns of renewed flooding

A narrow street cluttered with trash, bicycles, and people navigating through the debris. — Widespread destruction becomes visible after floodwaters recede in Hue City

Impact on the “Strong roots, strong women” project

The project area has been strongly impacted. Most participating communes experienced extensive flooding, in some places comparable to the historic 1999 flood. Access to several communities remains difficult, and damage assessments are still ongoing. CSRD and local photographers have documented conditions before, during and after the flood to support future project activities.

Mangrove nursery

The project’s mangrove nursery has endured several flood cycles. Many young seedlings were temporarily submerged, but early indications suggest that most are likely to survive. However, the situation remains uncertain, as the long-term survival of young mangroves depends on how long the water continues to stand and on the intensity of the rains expected from mid-November onwards.

A shallow water area with mangroves emerging from the surface, surrounded by a netted enclosure. — Mangrove nursery in the project region severely flooded beyond normal water levels

Community trainings and activities

Ongoing project activities have been disrupted. Several Training-of-Trainers sessions had to be postponed during the height of the floods, but CSRD was able to complete the remaining workshops once water levels temporarily receded in early November. Other activities will resume as soon as conditions allow and safe access to the communities is restored.

A person pulls a blue inflatable raft with two children sitting on it, under an umbrella, in a flooded area. — Flooding disrupts daily life in numerous communities

The Munich Re Foundation remains in close contact with CSRD and the University of Potsdam and is committed to supporting partners and affected communities as they cope with the impacts of this extreme weather disaster.