Heavy downpours flooded major roads, leaving motorbikes and cars stranded and forcing residents to wade through calf-deep water. Inner-city districts have been particularly affected, with drainage struggling to handle the volume of rain.

“It’s a loop – rains come, streets flood and people desperately try to get by,” said Nguyen Ngoc Long, a Hanoi resident. “I fear this will soon become a norm for us.”

Several schools in the capital closed or shifted to online teaching, while several flights from and to Noi Bai International Airport have been delayed or rescheduled.

Last week, there was severe flooding in Hanoi due to Typhoon Bualoi, which killed at least 51 people in Vietnam and caused approximately US$600 million of damage.

Many families had just finished cleaning up mud and debris from Bualoi before Matmo brought another wave of heavy rains.

The weather agency has forecast rain and thunderstorms in Hanoi throughout Tuesday morning, warning of potential floods in low-lying areas, and said that up to three more storm systems were expected to hit the country before the end of 2025.