![[Photos] Hanoi Suffers First Major Flood of 2016](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/YvQVDNNb.jpg)
Remember when Vietnamese netizens were joking about Obama's motorcade getting caught in a flood?
Photo via Facebook user Lam Tran
Well, the meme might have become a reality if the American president arrived just a few days later. This morning, Hanoians woke up to floodwaters covering the city streets, reports Zing.
After heavy overnight rains, which lasted from 11pm yesterday night to about 4:30am this morning, large swaths of the city were under water, particularly its western districts, leaving some stranded in their homes and many unable to get to school or work. In one apartment complex in Thanh Xuan District, a construction vehicle was seen ferrying small children across the water in its bucket.
Municipal authorities mobilized 100% of the traffic police force in order to help direct traffic, which was backed up across the city due to high water levels. Vehicles caught in the floodwaters struggled to keep their engines on while those who managed to stay dry faced such heavy traffic that many got of their cars to wait and witness the mayhem.
On the bright side, one enterprising young foreigner decided to begin offering his services as a thuyền ôm for the masses.
Photo via Facebook user Nguyen Thu Trang.
While there's no doubt rainy season has officially arrived in Hanoi, this does not bode well for the southern city, either. Time to bust out the rain boots, Saigoneers.
[Photos via Zing]
