Remy from Australia and his family of four stood outside a hotel on Bui Vien backpacker street on Wednesday afternoon, waiting nearly an hour but unable to find a ride-hailing taxi to a restaurant on Nguyen Hue Street nearly two kilometers away.

"I've waited too long, and now we have to walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner," he said.

"After dinner, we might just sip a beer at a nearby bar, since the rain hasn't stopped and the traffic jam could drag on."

Initially, Remy had planned to take his children for ice cream on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street but scrapped the idea for fear that the heavy rain would continue into the night.

According to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, rainfall in Ho Chi Minh City from Wednesday through 1 p.m. Friday is expected to total 70-100 mm, exceeding 150 mm in some areas.

Widespread rain is forecast to continue into the evening of Sept. 23, following several heavy downpours since the start of the week.

A group of foreign tourists walk on Bui Vien backpacker street as rain eases on Sept. 23, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phong

Emis from France and his friend stayed in their motel room for nearly two hours as Bui Vien Street and a nearby intersection were flooded to a depth of 20–30 centimeters along a stretch of about 400 meters.

As the rain eased at nearly 4 p.m., they bought raincoats for VND20,000 each at a convenience store and took a walk to experience the city's rhythm on a rainy day.

Though she knew it was the rainy season in the city, she was surprised that Vietnam's largest metropolis would experience heavy rain for a series of consecutive days, leaving downtown streets submerged and disrupting traffic.

"Anyway, I really love Ho Chi Minh City. The weather these days is truly cool, a far cry from the sweltering heat back home," she added.

Foreigners walk in raincoats in downtown HCMC on Sept. 23, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phong

As floodwaters began to recede, staff at bars on Bui Vien Street, one of Vietnam's busiest backpacker hubs, cleaned up their facilities in preparation for customers.

Hung, who works at a bar there, said it took him more than half an hour to pump out the water and clear the floodwater in front.

"I don't have much time. I have to finish before 5 p.m. so I can start welcoming guests—and hopefully, the rain stops," he added.

Some foreign visitors even seem to enjoy the rainy weather while sipping beer.

Foreigners drink beer at a bar on Bui Vien Street as water has receded on the front street following torrential rains on Sept. 23, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phong

The rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City typically runs from May to November.

The city welcomed an estimated 7.77 million international visitors in the first eight months of 2026, up 38.5% from the same period last year.