Hoi An ancient town welcomes many foreign tourists after the flood

Many groups of tourists gathered to visit the Japanese Covered Bridge area - Hoi An. Photo: VINH LOC

On the afternoon of November 1, many groups of foreign tourists strolled on many streets of Hoi An ancient town, most concentrated on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Tran Phu streets...

Some places like the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Quang Trieu Assembly Hall are closed, but visitors can still stand outside to look around and check in. In particular, some restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops are also open to welcome visitors to shop and eat.

According to Ms. Hua Thi Anh, owner of Ot Ta restaurant (Tran Phu street), due to the flood, all service and tourism activities in Hoi An were closed, causing customers to flock to the old town.

“The tourist groups asked me to open the restaurant because most of the services in Hoi An have not resumed, so even though the old town has no electricity, I still run the generator to welcome guests. I think this is also a way to show the hospitality of Hoi An people,” Ms. Anh said.

Visitors experience street food in Hoi An ancient town. Photo: VINH LOC

As of 5 p.m. on November 1, Ms. Anh’s restaurant had welcomed about 80 diners, most of whom were foreigners. The restaurant became a place for guests to eat and rest after a time of sightseeing and experiencing the old town, so everyone was happy and satisfied.

During the recent flood, Hoi An ancient town as well as many areas of Hoi An city (old) were heavily flooded. By late afternoon on November 1, some streets such as Nguyen Phuc Chu, Bach Dang, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa, Chua Cau roundabout... the water had not yet receded.

Army forces help clean up trash on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. Photo: VINH LOC

Particularly in the streets where the water has receded, thanks to the active support of the military and environmental sanitation companies, all waste is collected and cleaned up quickly, creating favorable conditions for tourists to visit and experience.

According to a representative of the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, the fact that foreign tourists returned to visit the ancient town despite the flood weather proves the attractiveness of this heritage destination.

However, the unit has not yet considered a plan to reopen when the roads have not been cleaned and sanitized to ensure maximum safety.