Catastrophic floods in the RUA
A number of catastrophic floods take place each year in different parts of the world
leading to very high economic and social losses (Herath and Shaw, 2003). Hanoi is one
of such affected city in Vietnam. Influenced by the Asian monsoon, the average annual
rainfall in the Red river delta and upstream areas is high (about 1,800 mm) and is
unevenly distributed (80 per cent concentrate in rainy season). Water discharge in the
delta in rainy season