Urban Flooding in the Context of Climate Change in Ho Chi Minh City: A Case Study of Nha Be District

Located by Nha Be River and within 30 km of the South China Sea, the Nha Be District is one of the outer districts of Ho Chi Minh City that has suffered severe urban flooding. For a comprehensive understanding of urban flooding in this district within the larger context of global climate change, this quantitative study aims to describe the frequency, intensity, and impacts of floods on the locals as well as summarize multi-scale responses. In surveying 210 households in the Nha Be District, and by conducting 14 in-depth interviews with community representatives and land management officers, the study found that rapid urbanization and climate variability in the last ten years have contributed to the complexity of flooding in this area, which is characterized by low-lying terrain and an interlocking waterway system. Among the surveyed households, half of them have frequently faced flooding throughout the year, and 39.4% of them have been impacted at one time. Flood intensity is variable, with the average depth at approximately 20 cm. Since flooding has negatively influenced living quality, commuting, and housing quality, several solutions have been implemented by homeowners, the community, and the local government to cope with the growing impacts of flooding. Despite certain approaches taken by different stakeholders, it is critical to propose further approaches for dealing with urban flooding in Nha Be District. These approaches might take into account the solutions relating to flood-proof housing and urban areas in response to urban flooding in the context of climate change.