Ha Noi invests US$1 billion to combat urban flooding
VGP - Ha Noi is set to invest nearly VND 24 trillion (US$911 million) across 18 drainage and flood-prevention projects, under a new action plan issued by the municipal People’s Committee, as the capital moves to address persistent urban inundation.
The plan outlines the rollout of seven urgent projects and the acceleration of 11 ongoing initiatives, aiming to complete the city's drainage network in line with approved urban planning and remove key infrastructure bottlenecks. Authorities will prioritize solutions that can rapidly reduce flooding triggered by increasingly extreme rainfall intensified by climate change.
Among the priority group, seven emergency projects worth over VND 7.8 trillion (US$296 million) are scheduled for completion before the 2026 rainy season to ensure readiness ahead of peak rainfall. Key interventions include boosting the capacity of existing pumping stations, deploying temporary pumps, and rehabilitating and building new drainage pipelines along Thang Long Boulevard to ease flooding on Thang Long Boulevard and Thang Long Boulevard corridor.
A notable component is the drainage upgrade along Thang Long Boulevard, which includes reinforcing pumping capacity and pipeline rehabilitation, with a total investment of VND 163 billion (US$6.5 million). The city will also rehabilitate the downstream section of the Kim Nguu River, connecting To Lich River to the Yen So pumping station, at a cost of VND 700 billion (US$26.6 million).
Other urgent works focus on major residential and urban zones, including Resco, Ecohome, West West Lake, Ngoai Giao Doan, Ciputra, Long Bien Ward, Đong Anh, and Gia Lam, with a combined investment of VND 869 billion (US$33 million).
Additional emergency measures include rehabilitating the Thuy Phuong Canal for VND 262 billion (US$9.9 million), dredging the main channel of the Nhue River from Lien Mac to Ring Road 4 (Phase 1) for VND 890 billion (US$34 million), constructing 12 new lakes to enhance drainage capacity for over VND 4.3 trillion (US$166 million), and other targeted anti-flooding infrastructure upgrades.
Alongside emergency works, Ha Noi will continue advancing 11 medium-term drainage projects under the 2021–2025 public investment plan, with total funding exceeding VND 17 trillion (US$646 million). Major developments include the Dong My pumping station system upgrade, valued at VND 5.2 trillion (US$197.5 million), and Phase 1 of the Lien Mac pumping station in Tu Liem Ward, costing more than VND3 trillion (US$114 million).
The city is also preparing long-term strategic adjustments, including a review and update of the Ha Noi drainage master plan to 2045, with a vision to 2065, along with new dedicated master plans on ground elevation and drainage. Ha Noi will finalize an inner-city flood-prevention program for 2026–2030 and develop a medium-term roadmap for wastewater and drainage infrastructure expansion.
In recent years, intense downpours have repeatedly left large parts of Ha Noi submerged for prolonged periods, inundating major roads and residential areas, damaging assets, and severely disrupting daily life—highlighting the urgent need for a more resilient urban drainage system./.
