Some major towns in southern Vietnam are under a metre of water. The flood is vast. Some homes are completely submerged - in other cases the roofs can still be seen just above the water. Even now, six weeks after the flood began, many families are being forced to accept that they cannot hang on to their houses and will have to seek higher ground. 750,000 people are set to be evacuated Those who have already left their homes are living on dykes in cramped and increasingly squalid conditions.
Aid workers say the worst is yet to come.
The water levels are still rising and will not be back to normal until November. That means many people will be unable to earn a living and will run short of money so that even if food is available, they will not be able to afford it. The fact that the water has risen gradually has meant that most people have had time to save their posessions. In addition, good early warning systems have helped prevent a greater loss of life. But the aid effort is only just beginning.