Flooding threatens flights at Tan Son Nhat Airport

Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City faces flooding whenever it rains.

  • Thousands unable to reach Noi Bai Airport due to heavy rain
  • PM orders halt to golf course construction at Tan Son Nhat airport
  • HCM City agrees to expand capacity of Tan Son Nhat airport
In early April, a heavy rain flooded several parking places and delayed many flights
In early April, a heavy rain flooded several parking places and delayed many flights

The airport was flooded again after a rain in last August. A runway was submerged under 30cm of water and shut down for an hour. Some parking places were also flooded. Nearly 70 flights were affected, including four international flights to Cambodia and Thailand.

The heavy rain in 2015 caused the most serious consequences when the airport had to close after the parking lot and the old air traffic control tower were flooded.   

Tan Son Nhat Airport uses the city's drainage system so the water has nowhere to go when its surroundings are flooded. As 40% of the flights in Vietnam are from or to Tan Son Nhat Airport, any disruption in service will cause a severe chain reaction. Planes will have to circle or land at other airports.

Floods also damage the infrastructure. Tran Doan Mau, the director of the Southern Aviation Authority, said that they had installed pumps but they would be useless if there were heavy rains for four to five days. The 2km-long A41 Canal helps regulate 50% of the airport's water but the dredging project has been delayed. Moreover, Mau said it was being blocked by the locals and rubbish.

Bui Xuan Cuong, director of the Department of Transport, will propose to speed up the dredging project and agencies will survey the area and propose solutions.

Nguyen Ngoc Cong, director of the Steering Centre of the Urban Flood Control Programme in Ho Chi Minh City said the city authorities were planning to upgrade the canal. If the plan is carried out, it will be completed in 2019 at the cost of VND200bn (USD8.8m).

The area has three main drainage directions comprising Hy Vong, Nhat Ban and A41 canals. The city will also upgrade Nhat Ban Canal this September.

DTiNews

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.