Vietnam's two largest cities are grappling with severe electricity shortages as a relentless heatwave pushes the country's power grid to its limits, forcing authorities to implement rolling blackouts that are disrupting businesses and daily life.
The national electricity provider, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), has confirmed widespread power cuts across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with the capital experiencing particularly severe disruptions. The crisis has left residents sweltering in apartment blocks without air conditioning and forced businesses to scale back operations or temporarily close.
Scorching Temperatures Overwhelm National Grid
Record-breaking temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius have triggered unprecedented demand for cooling systems, creating a perfect storm for Vietnam's energy infrastructure. The situation has been exacerbated by water shortages at hydroelectric plants, which normally provide a significant portion of the country's power.
"The electricity system is under tremendous pressure due to the extreme heat across the Northern region," stated an EVN representative. "We're implementing controlled outages to prevent a complete system collapse."
Business and Daily Life Disrupted
The blackouts are having a profound impact on urban centres:
- Office buildings experiencing intermittent power throughout working hours
- Manufacturing facilities forced to reduce production schedules
- Restaurants and food vendors struggling with refrigeration issues
- Hospitals relying on backup generators to maintain critical services
- Residents facing sleepless nights without fans or air conditioning
Long-term Solutions Needed
This isn't the first time Vietnam has faced power shortages during peak summer months, but experts note the current crisis highlights deeper structural issues within the country's energy sector. The rapid economic growth and urbanisation of recent years have outpaced infrastructure development, leaving the grid vulnerable during periods of extreme weather.
Energy analysts suggest that Vietnam needs to accelerate investments in renewable energy sources and grid modernization to prevent similar crises in future. The government had previously warned about potential electricity shortages during the summer months, but the severity of the current situation has surpassed expectations.
With meteorologists predicting the heatwave could persist for several more days, residents and businesses in Vietnam's major urban centres are bracing for continued disruptions to their power supply.
