Living in Hanoi for nearly 20 years, I have never witnessed anything worse than the flood in my capital city last week. It made not only me, but many Hanoians seriously shocked. I myself and my whole family became victims of that flood.
The rain started late on Thursday night (30 October). It was cool enough to fall into a sound sleep. But the next morning, when I woke up, I could not believe in my eyes. When I looked through the window, the water was everywhere around our house. My house was like an isolated island! A lot of garbage was floating around. The terrible thing was that our underground water tank was deep into dirty flood. It means that we did not have clean water except the small tank in the 4th floor.
Of course we could not get out of the house to go anywhere than to stay at home. I was thinking that the water will go away in the afternoon (like other times). But the rain was so irregular that it came down harder and harder. And there was no sign that it would stop in some hours.
The big problem was how to get food in such situation. We were all 4 people, myself, my husband and my 2 kids. Fortunately, we had some left noodles, some eggs and enough rice for everybody. No vegetables. Even if there were vegetables, I did not have any clean water to wash them.
The rain continued all day and into the evening Friday. And it never stopped till the following week. The sound of thunder and massive rain not only made my kids terrified but also me and my husband. Watching television and surfing web, we were more shocked to see almost everywhere in Hanoi sank into the flood. People said it was the worst flood in Hanoi since 1971 when the dyke around the city was broken. A lot of streets had turned into a river and people started to use boats to travel around.
The weather forecast was so bad. We never thought that the rain was so heavy. The worse thing was that Hanoi was already flooded for nearly two days, but no local authorities said anything. People woke up in the morning and realized that the water was not going anywhere, but it became worse and worse. When it will go? In the morning we hoped that “maybe in the afternoon”, in the afternoon we hoped “maybe in the evening”…
My house was still lucky enough that the main rooms did not flood whereas a lot of other houses in the city were deep even 1 meter in the water. There was no clean water, no electricity, no food. We could contend till Sunday afternoon only and then decided to evacuate to my sister’s house which in a safe area. Luckily that we had a place to go.
The massive rain stopped on Monday or Tuesday only, but the aftermath around my house went on the whole following week. The water went away very, very slowly. So dirty, so polluted. Till last Sunday (9 November) we could go back home after a long day to clean and tidy up everything… Exhausted! 
((
15 responses so far ↓
1 Tran Thi Me Linh // Nov 13, 2008 at 11:59 am
Last time you did show me a beautiful photo of Hanoi and I wanted to fly to Hanoi because there is no autumn in Ho Chi Minh city. But this time I thought this was hell on earth. Is it unforgettable time in your life? Anyway, I am happy to hear that you and your family are safe.
2 Thuy // Nov 14, 2008 at 5:44 am
Van Anh, I feel great sympathy for what you had to cope with the historic flooding in Hanoi. I was luckier than you as my house remained intact. Therefore, I faced no difficulties during the time Hanoi was submerged by flood waters. Anyhow, I am glad to know that you still survive to write your piece on IIJ weblog. All the best.
3 roadwin // Nov 14, 2008 at 7:15 am
It was on the news sometime but did not think it had affected you guys ,its good that you and your family are safe
4 Juliana Taiwo // Nov 14, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hey girl, I am so sorry to hear that you and your family had such terrible experience but bless God you are alive and well and your family intact.
You know is possible to think it is easy when you see these things in the news but you have painted a vivid picture that got me tensed up all through my reading.
Stay cool and blessed.
5 Julia // Nov 14, 2008 at 11:12 am
Thanks God I was not there during those horrible days but I felt so sad when seeing my beloved city was flooded.
It’s great to hear you return to your normal life. Wish you and your family recover soon. God bless you all!
6 Van Anh // Nov 14, 2008 at 11:17 am
@ All: Thanks a lot for sharing.
7 Said // Nov 15, 2008 at 10:13 am
Dear Van Anh,
I am so glad that you and your family are safe!
The world is so strange!!! Drought and water shortage is a disaster in my country and some of the neighboring states, but in Vietnam and in China floodwater and wild-rain falls destroy property and even takes life.
I hope you and other Vietnamese buddies stay safe of such natural incidents.
Bests,
Said
8 Van Anh // Nov 16, 2008 at 4:08 am
Said, I am sorry to tell you that there were nearly 50 people died in the North of Vietnam in this terrible disaster..
9 jehan // Nov 16, 2008 at 10:24 am
Dear Van Anh
thanks God that you and your family are safe.
i am sorry for the dead people.
here in Jordan my country we are complaining of shortage of water and rain!!!
may God protect all of us from disasters.
10 Rich Chimbiri // Nov 16, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Our thoughts are with you and your family Van Anh. Weather extremes have become much worse than I remember 10 years ago. I think the world needs to pay attention.
11 Le Thi Thanh Huyen // Nov 24, 2008 at 11:07 am
It’s a terrible experience for you and me and all of Hanoians. The problem made us angry. Where were the local authorities in that time? I couldn’t stand their irresponsible actions and speaking.
Someone should have resigned from office and others must stop work.
12 Bad husband // Nov 27, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Buddies,
Thanks very much for kindness. But you should know that Van Anh gét fat those days thanks for flood and heavy rain in Hanoi. (In fact, she stayed at home and ?i nothing, slept all day, watching her poor husband dealing with bad weather. How can we believe such a naughty woman…. God blesses us… Van Anh, sorry for my truth.
13 JohnCreative » Blog Archive » Trip in Hanoi // Nov 28, 2008 at 6:20 am
[...] weather, before that it was flood and People said it was the worst flood in Hanoi since 1971 – read news; But during our trip, it was blue sky and sunshine which we managed to walk almost every corner of [...]
14 Travis O'Connell // Dec 8, 2008 at 9:18 am
I’m humbled to send you my condolences and very sorry that you have to face this natural disaster. Vietnam, a community country has never been given its citizens warming or any indications in which they can evacuate before this tragedy happens. Through your descriptive writing, I can picture the hardship that you, your family and many Hanio’s family had to go through. It’s a miracle! Thanks God for his abundant love. The authorities did not help its citizens? I feel deeply ashamed for the Vietnamese to have a government this that. So Sorry. May God Bless you!
Travis
15 Van Anh // Dec 8, 2008 at 9:51 am
Thanks Travis O’Connell for sharing. In fact, the weather forecast people were blamed for not giving the prompt information. The authority did help, but very slow and long after the tragedy happened…
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