Authorities say more than 52,000 homes are underwater across central provinces, while half a million families and businesses have been left without electricity. Tens of thousands have already been evacuated as rivers burst their banks and floodwaters swallowed roads, markets and residential districts.
Rainfall beats historic records
Several areas recorded more than 1.5 metres of rain in just three days — surpassing even the catastrophic 1993 flood peak. Entire neighbourhoods in the tourist cities of Hoi An and Nha Trang were inundated, while districts in the Central Highlands saw homes quickly engulfed as water levels surged overnight.
The situation is particularly dire in Dak Lak, Vietnam's largest coffee-producing region, where tens of thousands of homes were submerged. Farmers, already struggling with harvest delays following recent storms, now face further devastating losses.
Vietnam is the world's top exporter of robusta coffee — and disruptions in Dak Lak are likely to ripple through global supply chains.
Extreme weather follows deadly typhoons
The floods come on the heels of two destructive typhoons, Kalmaegi and Bualoi, which tore through the region in recent weeks. Kalmaegi alone killed at least five people in central Vietnam after leaving 188 dead in the Philippines. Bualoi claimed at least 11 more lives in Vietnam in September.
Government figures estimate that natural disasters have caused $2 billion in damages between January and October — a grim sign of the country's growing climate vulnerability.
Transport cut off, infrastructure destroyed
A state of emergency has been declared in several provinces as landslides and road collapses cripple transport networks.
Part of Mimosa Pass, a vital route into the mountain city of Da Lat, collapsed into a deep ravine, halting traffic entirely. A bus narrowly escaped plunging into the gap, according to AFP.
Meanwhile, viral videos show a suspension bridge in Lam Dong being torn off its anchors by raging floodwaters as residents watched helplessly.
Rescue teams race against continuing rain
The military and police have been deployed to set up emergency shelters and to move people to higher ground. With rain expected to continue until Sunday, authorities warn that conditions may worsen before they improve.
Photographs shared by state media show families stranded on rooftops as muddy water fills their homes. In Nha Trang, restaurant owner Bui Quoc Vinh described watching his shops disappear under a metre of water:
"I'm worried about everything we've built, but there's nothing we can do while the rain keeps falling. I don't think the water will recede anytime soon."
Climate change driving more destructive storms
Experts say climate change is amplifying extreme weather in Southeast Asia, making typhoons more powerful and flooding more frequent.
With two deadly cyclones and now catastrophic floods in just a few months, Vietnam is facing a stark reminder of the escalating risks in a warming world.