The Department of Construction Infrastructure (Ministry of Construction), in coordination with the Prime Minister’s Policy Advisory Council, organized a seminar titled “Urban Flooding: Current Situation, Causes, and Solutions”, with the participation of numerous representatives from management agencies, experts, and scientists on October 29th.
In his opening at the seminar, Mr. Tạ Quang Vinh, Director General of the Department of Construction Infrastructure, stated that in recent times, the impacts of climate change and extreme weather have complicated flooding and waterlogging in Hanoi, northern provinces, and several central cities, causing serious effects on people’s lives and socio-economic activities.
According to Director General Tạ Quang Vinh, the causes of urban flooding stem from both objective and subjective factors. On the objective side, the impacts of climate change have led to more extreme weather conditions, with intense rainfall occurring over short periods of time; successive storms and tropical depressions, combined with high tides and rising river levels, have further overloaded the drainage infrastructure.
Director Ta Quang Vinh spoke at the seminar.
On the subjective side, the rapid pace of urbanization has outstripped the development of technical infrastructure, particularly drainage systems. As of June 2025, there are 83 urban wastewater treatment plants operating in over 50 cities nationwide, with a total designed capacity of 2.064 million cubic meters per day and night. However, the actual operating capacity reaches only about 1.1 million cubic meters per day and night, and the rate of households connected to centralized drainage systems remains low.
In addition, limitations in urban planning and investment according to approved plans; incomplete information systems and databases on drainage; drainage service pricing lacks uniformity; and the demand for investment in the development of wastewater collection and treatment systems continues to grow, while financial resources remain insufficient.
Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh - Standing Member of the Prime Minister's Policy Advisory Council spoke at the seminar.
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Trần Quốc Khánh - Standing Member of the Prime Minister’s Policy Advisory Council and former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade highlighted that urban flooding is now a pressing and persistent issue, as the frequency of flooding incidents continues to increase, with even moderate rainfall causing inundation. This, he noted, demonstrates the current urban drainage design methods are no longer suitable for the realities of climate change and the rapid pace of urban development today.
Emphasizing the importance of planning in urban drainage, Mr. Nguyễn Hồng Tiến, former Director General of the Department of Technical Infrastructure (now the Department of Construction Infrastructure) under the Ministry of Construction, proposed that government agencies should place greater emphasis on disaster forecasting including storms and floods; develop comprehensive databases on drainage; review standards and regulations related to data systems and rainfall and flood forecasting; and reassess the legal framework governing the implementation of drainage-related plans.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Điệp, Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association, stressed the need to expedite the completion and promulgation of the Law on Water Supply and Drainage, which should include mechanisms for mobilizing resources for the water supply and drainage sector.
Experts exchange and contributed ideas at the Seminar.
At the seminar, experts and delegates actively exchanged views and offered a number of important recommendations aimed at gradually addressing urban flooding. Among the proposed measures was the need to develop the “sponge city” model, applying permeable materials, constructing underground reservoirs and temporary water retention areas to reduce pressure on underground drainage systems. It was also recommended to increase investment and synchronize the completion of drainage networks, supplement funding from both central and local budgets, and mobilize private resources through public–private partnerships (PPP). Participants also emphasized the importance of enhancing the application of digital technologies and smart systems in infrastructure management, viewing this as a key step in shifting from reactive responses to proactive measures, thereby minimizing damage during heavy rainfall events.
Seminar view.
Experts and managers agreed that the solution to reduce urban flooding requires the coordination of many ministries and sectors, especially between the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and localities; synchronously combining: synchronous infrastructure investment, upgrading drainage systems, building regulating lakes, developing green buildings, increasing greenery, applying smart technology and IoT in monitoring rain, water and operating pumping stations. At the same time, it is necessary to perfect the inter-sectoral coordination mechanism, separate rainwater and wastewater, promote circular economy, ensure sustainability and response to climate change.
To conclude, Director General Tạ Quang Vinh emphasized that the seminar “Urban Flooding: Current Situation, Causes, and Solutions” was not only a professional forum for technical exchange, but also a practical activity in fulfilling the political mission of the construction sector toward a safe and sustainable urban environment. He also affirmed that the information and experiences shared at the seminar would serve as an important foundation for the Ministry of Construction and the Prime Minister’s Policy Advisory Council to study and propose effective policies and management mechanisms for drainage and wastewater treatment, ensuring infrastructure safety, climate change resilience, and improved urban living quality.