Ho Chi Minh City receives roughly 1,900 mm (about 75 inches) of rain a year, almost all of it during the wet season from May through November driven by the Southwest Monsoon. Built on the low-lying Mekong Delta region, the city faces a difficult combination of heavy monsoon rainfall, tidal influence from the Saigon River, and gradual land subsidence, all of which contribute to increasingly frequent street flooding even from routine afternoon downpours. Intense, short-duration thunderstorms are common during the wet season, capable of dropping a significant amount of rain in under an hour and quickly overwhelming the city’s drainage capacity, particularly when heavy rain coincides with high tide. Because flooding risk here depends so much on the timing and intensity of individual storms rather than the season’s total rainfall, radar tracking is one of the most practical real-time tools available to residents navigating the city’s streets. Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting operates the country’s weather radar network.
Learn more: Flash Flood Warning Signs on Radar · Open the full Rain Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it raining in Ho Chi Minh City right now?
The live radar map above shows precipitation over Ho Chi Minh City in real time. Blue shades indicate light rain, while yellow, orange, and red mark heavier downpours. If no colored echoes appear over Ho Chi Minh City, no significant rain is currently being detected.
How often does the Ho Chi Minh City rain radar update?
The radar refreshes continuously, typically every few minutes, so the map reflects current conditions rather than an hours-old forecast. Press play to animate the most recent frames.
Can I see if a storm is heading toward Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes. Press play on the radar to animate the last few hours of rainfall and watch which way rain cells over Vietnam are moving – the clearest way to judge whether a shower will reach Ho Chi Minh City or pass by.
Is this Ho Chi Minh City rain radar free to use?
Yes, completely free – no account, app download, or sign-up required. It works in any browser on desktop and mobile.