On the evening of July 31, a severe traffic jam developed on Vinh Tuy Bridge in Hanoi, affecting thousands of vehicles. The situation was primarily caused by heavy rain and the narrowing of the road due to construction work on an underpass at the Co Linh intersection.

Starting around 4:30 PM, heavy rain fell intermittently across many areas in Hanoi, coinciding with the end of the workday. This led to significant congestion on routes from the Times City urban area to Long Bien. At the Co Linh intersection with Belt Road 2, water levels rose to half the height of vehicle tires, causing further delays.

As vehicles from the city center moved towards Long Bien, the line of traffic extended for several kilometers. Many drivers exited their cars to wait, with reports indicating that one commuter, Nguyen Tu Tai, took nearly an hour to cross Vinh Tuy Bridge. Although the water at the Co Linh area receded by 8 PM, thousands of vehicles, primarily cars, continued to struggle due to the reduced road space caused by the ongoing construction.

By 9:30 PM, vehicles remained backed up at the Co Linh intersection, particularly near the Aeon Mall Long Bien. The heavy rains were attributed to a low-pressure trough affecting northern provinces, with Long Bien recording 115 mm of rainfall on that day. Other areas also experienced significant rainfall, leading to localized flooding on several roads, including those near the Vietnam National University of Agriculture.

According to the Hanoi Drainage Company, the intense rainfall exceeded the immediate drainage capacity of some low-lying areas, resulting in temporary flooding. However, most of the floodwaters receded after the rain diminished and the pumping systems were activated.

Vinh Tuy Bridge spans the Red River, connecting Vinh Tuy Ward with Long Bien Ward, and serves as a crucial route for commuters in the area.