The sad situation of 'flooding means closing' of many shops in Ho Chi Minh City during the rainy season

Heavy rain and flooded roads these days not only affect people's travel but also become a rainy season nightmare for many shop owners in Ho Chi Minh City because they have no choice but to... close.

"It's so flooded, no customers will come to eat!"

That was the sharing of a restaurant owner located on the front of Le Co Street (Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City) after a very heavy rain poured down on Ho Chi Minh City yesterday evening, June 26. The torrential rain caused the street to flood, water overflowed into the restaurant.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 1. — A restaurant on Le Co street has no customers, business is sluggish after the heavy rain due to flooding.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 2. — In front of the shop, people and vehicles struggled to get through the flooded road.

The shop is located at the most flooded section of this street. It was raining heavily, so the shop owner had to close the door and sit on his phone, looking out in dismay at the scene of people and vehicles struggling to move through the "sea of water".

The owner said the shop has been selling food and drinks for many years. "When it floods, we have to close the shop and no business can be done. No customers come to eat. It's hard to even walk across the flooded road, let alone stop by to eat," she sighed, frustrated.

Inside the restaurant, tables and chairs were set up to avoid flooding. The food counter in front of the restaurant was also flooded. Motorbikes and cars continuously moved on the road, creating large waves that continuously crashed into the restaurant. This scene was all too familiar to the restaurant owner as well as other restaurants that had been doing business on this street for many years.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 3. — Waves from the stream of cars on the street continuously splashed into the restaurant.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 4.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 5. — According to many restaurant owners, flooding during the rainy season is a nightmare.

Not far away, another restaurant on Le Co Street, which has a higher ground level, is still serving customers. The restaurant’s staff soak their feet in the flood water, standing at the counter preparing food to serve customers inside.

Mr. Cuong (37 years old) braved the heavy rain on the afternoon of June 26 to stop by this restaurant. He said that because his house was near the restaurant, he knew that after the rain, Le Co Street would be flooded. However, because he had made an appointment with his friends, he still came.

"It's hard to go out when it's raining. I know the area well, so I had to find a less flooded road to get to the shop. If I drove through a heavily flooded area, I would probably get my clothes wet and get drenched in the rain! Now I'm in the shop. I'll go home when the water recedes," the customer shared.

The fear of unsold goods of street vendors

Not far from Le Co Street, a section of Ho Hoc Lam Street intersecting with Vo Van Kiet Street (Binh Tan District) is also considered one of the "flooding centers" in Ho Chi Minh City every time it rains heavily. There are many small shops making a living on both sides of the street.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 6. — Water flooded in front of a restaurant on Le Co street in the rain on the afternoon of June 26.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 7. — Staff wade in water, at the food counter preparing food for customers

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 8. — The cafe is deserted.

An old woman who has been selling water at the beginning of Ho Hoc Lam Street said that for many years she has been doing business here, but she is afraid of the rainy season. Every time it rains heavily, the black water rises up to the sidewalk and, together with the large number of vehicles passing by, creates a huge wave.

"When it rains heavily, I start packing up my stall. If I'm a little late, the water will sweep my stall away. If it floods, I can't do business anymore. No one will stop by to buy water. That day is like drinking porridge," she shared, looking at the flooded road ahead.

Next to it, a water cart was also unsold, with no customers due to the deep flood. However, the owner still stayed through the rain, waiting for the water to recede, hoping to sell a little more to earn more income.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 9.

Ám ảnh bán ế của nhiều hàng quán ở TP.HCM: 'Mưa ngập là xác định đóng cửa!' - Ảnh 10. — Le Co Street, Ho Hoc Lam Street... have been "flooding hotspots" in Ho Chi Minh City for many years now.

Not only the shops on the street are flooded, the owner of another restaurant in District 8 also said that although the premises of his restaurant are quite high and rarely flooded during the rainy season, every time it rains heavily, the restaurant's revenue drops by more than half, and some days it's even more.

"When it rains, especially in the late afternoon, sales are sure to be slow. People tend to stay home or order takeout instead of going out. Every time it starts to rain, I hope it rains less and stops soon," he shared.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cam-canh-ngap-nuoc-la-dong-cua-cua-nhieu-hang-quan-o-tphcm-mua-mua-185250627062711007.htm