Ho Chi Minh City Office Workers Stranded on Evening Commute: Leaving at 6 PM, Still on the Roads by 9 PM

On the evening of September 30, platforms like Threads, TikTok, and Facebook turned into real-time digital bulletin boards where commuters chronicled their arduous journeys home. Torrential downpours struck the southern metropolis precisely during evening rush hour. Consequently, floodwaters inundated dozens of key arteries, throwing municipal transit into severe gridlock.

Some lucky commuters exhaled in relief after spending 90 minutes battling traffic to reach a warm family meal. Meanwhile, others sat on stalled motorbikes replying to Threads comments while waiting for dark street waters to recede.

“Scrolling social media makes me realize I am not alone, even if I might not reach my doorstep until 10 PM,” one netizen posted. Another user quipped: “Anyone who clocked out and made it home on time tonight deserves an Employee of the Year trophy.” A relieved commuter shared: “My engine sputtered out in the flood, but a kind stranger pushed my bike through. His timely assistance imparted a profound sense of relief, and thanks to him, I got home safely after an hour.”

The rain-drenched evening commute for many city residents. Photo: 20.hmt

Flooded grounds inside a university campus. Photo: Itsme_Nhu.Y

Exhausting Hours Stranded in Knee-Deep Waters

Speaking about his ordeal, Long, an office worker in the city, said he clocked out at 6:00 PM to begin his homeward trip. However, by 9:00 PM, he remained stranded on Phan Huy Ich Street in An Hoi Tay Ward. Rising floodwaters slowed motorcycle traffic to a complete standstill, forcing him to pull over and wait for the water to subside.

The neighborhood where Long stood was deeply submerged under floodwaters. Photo: Provided by subject

For Long, waiting by the curbside felt like the only sensible choice to protect his vehicle and ensure personal safety, rather than recklessly braving deep currents.

Huynh Mai left her workplace around 5:30 PM, traveling from the intersection of Song Hanh and Nguyen Anh Thu streets in Trung My Tay Ward. Her residence lies roughly 9 kilometers from her office. On ordinary days, the young professional completes the ride in 30 minutes.

During the downpour, deep street ponds caused her motorcycle engine to stall halfway home. Mai had to push the waterlogged vehicle toward a major thoroughfare before she could restart her ride. After an exhausting 90-minute struggle, she finally reached home safely.

Huynh Mai’s flooded path home on the evening of September 30. Photo: Provided by subject

Mai expressed immense gratitude and relief upon stepping through her front door. She extended heartfelt wishes that everyone still stranded in the dark would return home safely.

Stalled Engines and Collective Solidarity in the Deluge

Across town, Quang encountered severe urban flooding while riding home from his workplace near Tan Son Nhat International Airport. As he navigated Truong Chinh Street in Tan Son Ward, deep pools forced him to drop his speed to a crawl. After crawling forward for an hour, his motorcycle suddenly stalled in mid-traffic.

Quang’s commute stalled alongside dozens of other stranded vehicles. Photo: Provided by subject

While waiting for roadside assistance, Quang observed scores of motorists around him struggling through waterlogged passages or pulling over to avoid drowned intersections. In a sprawling metropolis where thousands shared the same journey, patient waiting and mutual maneuvering imparted a shared spirit of camaraderie throughout the difficult night.

The sudden cloudbursts trapped casual residents returning from evening gym sessions as well.

Anh Thu shared that around 6:20 PM, while returning from her workout, she hit deep water near a local street market. Her scooter engine died instantly in the water. Fortunately, she managed to kick-start it again and made a U-turn to locate an alternative route.

However, after riding barely 200 meters, the engine stalled a second time and died completely. Stranded without transport, Thu pushed her scooter into a nearby supermarket lot to seek shelter. Her father rushed to the location to help push the disabled vehicle, eventually getting her home safely.

Motorists maneuvering through heavily inundated streets. Photo: Provided by subject

The evening inundation followed a chaotic morning rush hour. Persistent downpours snared traffic across Ho Chi Minh City from the early morning, causing widespread tardiness for workers and students alike. Major bottlenecks formed along Nguyen Huu Tho Street approaching the Kenh Te Bridge and across the central intersection of Le Loi and Pasteur streets, as dense commuter volumes collided with blinding rains.

(Source: kenh14.vn)