Tourists Flock to Flooded Hoi An as Ancient Town Turns Into a ‘Water World’

Rising floodwaters have submerged nearly every street in Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, but instead of keeping visitors away, the surreal “water city” scene is drawing even more tourists.

Streets become rivers — and tourists keep coming

By Monday evening (Oct. 27), floodwaters reached half a meter to two meters deep across main streets like Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, and Bach Dang. Locals navigated by boat while visitors waded barefoot through knee-deep water to snap photos and enjoy what many called a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“It’s amazing — the whole old town is underwater, yet people are calm and smiling,” said Armand, a visitor from Belgium. “It’s my first time seeing this, and it’s strangely beautiful.”

On Tran Phu Street — the only accessible route into the Old Quarter — shopkeepers stacked goods on high shelves while tourists laughed, splashing through floodwaters to reach the lantern-lit alleys.

Locals resilient as water rises

For residents, the floods are less of a spectacle and more a challenge.
“This is the biggest flood we’ve had this year,” said Nguyen Kiem, 72, a longtime resident of An Hoi. “Water rose over 1.5 meters in my home. We had to move everything — even our motorbikes — to higher ground.”

Shop owners worked through the night to protect merchandise from the rising waters. “I didn’t expect it to flood this quickly,” said Thanh Thuy, who runs a souvenir shop. “We just hope it doesn’t rise any higher.”

Authorities on alert

According to the Central Vietnam Hydrometeorological Center, flood levels on the Thu Bon River are expected to reach 3 meters within the next 6–12 hours — a full meter above the highest warning level.

Local authorities have stationed emergency teams at low-lying areas and are preparing evacuations if needed. Tourists staying in An Hoi have been advised to temporarily relocate to safer zones.

Despite the rising water, Hoi An’s quiet resilience — and the sight of its iconic yellow walls reflected in floodwater — continue to captivate visitors.

“It’s sad and beautiful at the same time,” said Ha Ngoc Anh, a tourist from Hanoi. “I’ll stay a few more days and wait for the water to recede — because Hoi An in the flood season is something you have to see to believe.”

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Source: Vietnam Insider