Urban flooding in Can Tho city: Assessment and proposed adaptation solutions

Abstract

Climate change is expected to exert profound impacts on ecological and riverine systems, including an increased frequency of storms, floods, whirlwinds, droughts, and epidemics, with urban flooding emerging as one of the most critical challenges. Following the administrative reorganization at the provincial level, Can Tho has become a centrally governed Class-I city, encompassing an area of over 6,360 km² and hosting a population of nearly 4.2 million. As the core urban hub of the South-Western economic region, Can Tho has experienced rapid urbanization, which has significantly reduced permeable surface areas due to extensive concretization. Simultaneously, land reclamation, encroachment, and water pollution have diminished the city’s natural rainwater retention capacity, thereby intensifying flood risks in low-lying urban areas. Geographically located at the heart of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho benefits from favorable natural conditions such as year-round freshwater availability, shallow inundation, and relatively short flood seasons. Unlike residents in neighboring provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, or Vinh Long - who are historically accustomed to deep inundation or saline intrusion - urban dwellers in Can Tho have developed limited awareness and adaptive practices for coping with severe flooding during the rainy season or saltwater intrusion in the dry season. Consequently, abnormal hydrological conditions and extreme weather events induced by climate change are likely to affect the livelihoods and productive sectors in Can Tho more severely than in other localities. This study analyzes the impacts of urban flooding in Can Tho City and proposes context-specific adaptation strategies to enhance resilience.