Hoi An authorities say 'the ancient town will welcome visitors in the next few days' after historic flood

Hoi An is used to annual floods, but the historic floods of the past few days have greatly affected the tourism industry in Hoi An. Although the situation is still chaotic, the authorities and management units have affirmed that the ancient town will welcome visitors in the next few days.

Hoi An residents clean up their houses and shops as the water level recedes - Photo: BD

Since noon on October 31, some ancient house owners and representatives of the unit managing tourist activities in Hoi An ancient town have received many phone calls from domestic and foreign tourists and travel partners.

Tourists shocked by historic flood scene in Hoi An

Witnessing the image of a devastated Hoi An in the vast flood and mud, many people raised the issue of canceling their previously scheduled tours.

According to a representative of an international travel company in Da Nang , from September to the end of the year is the international tourist season. Currently, many customers book tours to the Central region, of which Hoi An is the main tourist destination.

However, in the past few days, many tourists have expressed concern and continuously discussed with tour operators when seeing images of Hoi An ancient town in disarray during the historic flood.

Living right at the epicenter of annual floods and being familiar with the sight of the old town being submerged in water for days, what has happened in the past few days still makes many businesses and management units of the old town worried.

Hoi An Public Environment Unit collects garbage on An Hoi Bridge at noon on October 31 - Photo: BD

Standing scrubbing each set of tables, chairs, and shelves on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street on the morning of October 31, Ms. NTHH, owner of a fabric and souvenir shop, said the furniture was placed on a high shelf so there was not much damage.

However, this year the water is high so tables, chairs, and some utensils are soaked in water and mud so it will be harder to clean.

"This morning I called some of my grandchildren to help me clean up. We're used to floods here. It looks messy, but in two days everything will be clean, the streets will be full of customers, and the shops will be lit up to welcome customers as if nothing happened," said Mrs. H.

All-out effort to clear mud to bring the old town back to life

According to a representative of the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, since noon on October 31, there have been many calls from travel agencies asking about the situation in the old town.

The recent floods have been so deep that the ancient town is completely submerged in water, so the public is very concerned. However, with the long history of living and doing business in floods, Hoi An people have good adaptation skills.

The scene is chaotic now but everything will end very quickly and all activities will return in the next few days as if the great flood of the past few days had never happened.

Old Quarter at noon on October 31 - Photo: BD

"From the morning of October 31, local human resources and support from neighboring communes and wards, 300 officers and soldiers of military units were mobilized to clean up the old quarter.

Hoi An World Heritage Conservation Center also mobilized maximum staff to focus on cleaning relic sites, museums, and performance halls.

The most important thing is that the entire Hoi An community is uniting to help each other clean up their houses, shops, and tourist areas. Hoi An will return to its original clean and beautiful state in the next few days," said a representative of the Hoi An World Heritage Conservation Center.

Clean up and open the door

Chairman of Hoi An Ward People's Committee Nguyen Tan Cuong also said that he is mobilizing all human resources, people of the old town, and forces from other wards to support in cleaning up the old town. In the next few days, Hoi An will be clean and lit up again.

"Hoi An ancient town floods every year, but this year the water level is the highest. Although it is difficult, we clean up as the water recedes and welcome visitors back because the people and businesses have adapted well for a long time," said Mr. Cuong.

According to Mr. Cuong, in the recent flood, Hoi An ward flooded 70% of the total number of houses.

Thai Ba Dung

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chinh-quyen-hoi-an-noi-pho-co-se-don-khach-vai-ngay-toi-sau-tran-lu-lich-su-20251031163526471.htm