Struggling with Power Outages Amid Unprecedented Heatwave
In the heart of Hanoi, where high-rise buildings dominate the skyline, residents faced an extraordinary challenge as a severe heatwave led to widespread power outages. Among those affected was Phuong Anh, who found herself carrying her baby and using a flashlight to descend 25 floors during one such outage. The situation highlighted the growing struggles of apartment dwellers in the city.
On Monday evening, Phuong Anh and her family were in the middle of dinner when their entire apartment complex, home to nearly 1,000 households, plunged into darkness due to a fault in the building’s power distribution system. The outage left many scrambling to cope with the sweltering heat. Some brought battery-powered fans to the hallways, while others lay on mats in the ground floor reception area. Families even packed up and moved to hotels, while some took refuge in their cars in the basement, turning on air conditioning units.
The power cut also affected the building’s access gates, preventing vehicles from exiting. Residents had to rely on ride-hailing services to leave the area. Phuong Anh, living on the 25th floor, initially had access to hallway lighting and elevators powered by a backup generator. However, this soon changed as engineers began repairs, leaving her and her husband with no other choice but to carry their baby and essential items down the emergency stairwell using phone flashlights.
During the descent, she witnessed elderly people and young children helping each other through the darkness. Despite the discomfort, the experience brought a sense of community. The usually quiet online group chat for the complex became active, with residents sharing tips on coping with the heat, such as using car air conditioning or heading to rooftop gardens. After nearly three hours, power was restored, and families who had evacuated returned home.
Widespread Impact of Power Outages
The situation was not isolated. In the early hours of Tuesday, another luxury apartment complex in Nam Tu Liem Ward experienced an unexpected outage. Although hallway lights and elevators remained operational thanks to generators, a large-scale evacuation occurred in the middle of the night. Phuong likened the scene to people flooding the streets before a music concert. Several families called taxis and moved to hotels.
Her household tried to manage with a single rechargeable fan but feared it would not last until morning. Just as they were preparing to leave, power returned around 4 a.m. However, the voltage was very low, and the air conditioners ran without cooling the rooms. “When we woke up, everyone’s backs were soaked in sweat,” she says.
The ordeal did not end there. The building lost power again at noon the same day, forcing Phuong to send her two children to stay with relatives before going to work. “Living in a high-end apartment but dealing with unreliable power... If it goes out again, we might have to go somewhere else to escape the heat.”
The Cause Behind the Outages
A survey conducted by VnExpress found that sudden outages affected numerous apartment buildings and residential areas across Hanoi. These outages, lasting from a few minutes to several hours, completely disrupted daily routines. According to the National Power System and Electricity Market Operation Company (NSMO), northern Vietnam is experiencing an extreme heatwave. On Monday, temperatures in Hanoi approached 40°C, with "feels like" temperatures reaching 47°C outdoors.
Electricity usage surged as a result. According to the Hanoi Electricity Corporation, power demand in the capital peaked at 5,992 MW at 1:20 p.m. on Monday, nearly 14% higher than the previous record set in 2024. In the first four days of August, electricity consumption rose by more than 25.5 million kilowatt-hours.
This spike placed power lines and substations under huge pressure. A fault in the 220kV Hoa Binh–Ha Dong transmission line on Monday afternoon forced the NSMO to resort to load shedding, cutting electricity in some areas to prevent a system-wide failure.
Expert Opinions and Recommendations
Associate Professor Ngo Tri Long, former head of the Ministry of Finance’s Institute for Price and Market Research, says blackouts are sometimes unavoidable during heatwaves. “This is a shared difficulty; people should be understanding.” He emphasizes the importance of keeping track of power utilities’ notifications and making advance plans, especially for families with elderly people or young children.
To stabilize the system and avoid inconveniencing users during the ongoing heatwave, the Hanoi power utility has postponed all planned maintenance-related outages and only carried out emergency repairs in areas at high risk of failure. The NSMO has urged households, businesses, and public agencies to conserve electricity, particularly during peak hours. Their recommendations include using energy-efficient appliances, turning off unused devices, and avoiding the simultaneous use of multiple high-powered machines.
Community Responses and Solutions
At an apartment building in Ha Dong Ward, resident Minh Khang described a power outage lasting nearly 24 hours from Monday night, which forced hundreds of households to evacuate. Rather than complaining, residents proposed a “shared electricity” solution for future outages. Neighbors gathered in one apartment to use a single air conditioner, helping reduce the risk of overload.
“Finding a safe way to adapt is better than waiting around with no backup plans,” he says. “It helps our family and also benefits the whole building.” This approach reflects a growing trend among residents to find innovative ways to cope with the challenges posed by the heatwave and power outages.