Central Vietnam Floods Leave Devastation and a Trail of Destruction

Strategic Insights -

A week of record rainfall has submerged the historic core of central Vietnam, killing at least 13 people and leaving 11 missing. The floods, exacerbated by Tropical Depression Fengshen and water released from upstream dams, have affected tens of thousands of people, with over 120,000 homes destroyed or damaged across the region. The cultural heritage sites of Hue and Hoi An, once popular tourist destinations, now lay in ruins, with the Perfume River in Hue reaching a level never seen before and flooding parts of the former imperial city.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 13 people have died and 11 are missing due to the floods, with the majority of fatalities being drownings and landslides in rural areas.
  • Over 120,000 homes have been affected, with thousands in Hue alone, and more than half of Hue's 40 communes remain underwater.
  • Authorities have reported 187 deaths or disappearances from natural hazards in the first nine months of 2025, with this event alone pushing damages beyond 610 million dollars nationwide.
  • Tourism has been severely impacted, with the loss estimated at around 50 million dollars, and cancellations up 300 percent on booking sites, threatening to stall the region's economy for months.
  • The State response has been swift, with a 350 billion VND (13.2 million dollars) relief package approved for Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Ngai, and troops from the People's Army joining rescue teams across the region.
  • Health workers warn of disease outbreaks linked to dirty water, including leptospirosis, and teams in protective gear have treated wells and handed out antibiotics.
  • Forecasts point to more rain through mid-November, raising landslide risks in the Annamite Mountains, and rural districts remain the hardest to reach due to a lack of power and mobile coverage.
  • The floods have destroyed over 50 homes and left 147 badly damaged, with local plans including modular housing for those who cannot return.
  • Tourism, worth about 30 billion dollars a year, or 8 percent of GDP, faces a sharp setback, with estimates pointing to losses of around 50 million dollars.
  • Travel advisories from the EU and the U.S. recommend delaying trips, which could thin crowds until Tet in February.

Statistics:

  • Over 120,000 homes have been affected.
  • 187 deaths or disappearances from natural hazards in the first nine months of 2025.
  • 610 million dollars in damages nationwide.
  • 50 million dollars in estimated losses to tourism.
  • 13 people killed in the floods.
  • 11 people missing in the floods.
  • 30 billion dollars a year: tourism's worth to the region's economy.
  • 8 percent of GDP: tourism's contribution to the region's economy.
  • 350 billion VND (13.2 million dollars): relief package approved for Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Ngai.

Sources:

  • Government figures.
  • General Statistics Office.
  • U.S. Embassy.
  • Hanoi government.
  • ASEAN partners.
  • Vietnamese news outlets.