Hanoi Flood (1971)

Vietnam, which is located in Southeast Asia, has a monsoonal climate in the north with a hot, rainy season from May to September. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is situated in the Red River Delta of North Vietnam. The Red River at Hanoi comprises three major tributary systems: the Da, Thao, and Lo Rivers. The flood season in the Red River lasts from June to October, with particularly serious flooding in August when the water level is generally up to 13–20 feet higher than ground level.

Hanoi is protected from river floods by a 1,000-year-old dike system, which is regularly maintained and upgraded. In addition, several other measures have been taken to protect Hanoi from flooding. They include reservoirs built upstream, established flood diversion and retention ...