Floodwaters have receded in Hoi An, revealing a devastated ancient town buried in trash and sludge after record-breaking rainfall.
After several days underwater, the ancient streets of Hoi An (Da Nang City) have emerged from historic floods blanketed in silt, strewn with debris, and burdened by thick mud coating walls, sidewalks, and heritage houses.As of midday October 31, floodwaters along the Hoai River, which flows through the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town, began to recede after four days of inundation. The latest flood crest surpassed the historic level set in 1964 by 0.12 meters, submerging large parts of the old town under 1–2 meters of water, with some areas completely underwater up to rooftop level.Under the An Hoi Bridge - connecting both banks of the Hoai River - a massive accumulation of garbage from upstream of the Thu Bon River has become clogged.Behind the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, trash has piled up into towering heaps. As the water retreats, the old town reappears in a chaotic state, buried in waste and thick mud across central streets.An altar was found drifting along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.A narrow alley off Tran Phu Street remains flooded with waste.
Residents have begun the difficult task of collecting trash and shoveling thick layers of mud to restore the heritage site.Le Thi Dong, owner of an ancient house on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street in Minh An ward, sighed as she said, “I’ve lived here all my life, but I’ve never seen such deep and prolonged flooding. Now trash and sludge are everywhere. We’re racing to clean up wherever the water has receded.”Nguyen Phuong Dong, a representative from the Hoi An Public Services Center, confirmed that the worst trash congestion was around the Japanese Covered Bridge.Local authorities have dispatched excavators to help remove the garbage.On Hoang Van Thu Street, residents’ belongings, mud, and trash lie scattered in every direction.
Urgent cleanup efforts have engulfed the ancient town. Environmental workers, local officials, and residents are working together to restore Hoi An’s historic charm after the devastating floods.Many water-damaged belongings, caked in mud, have been lined up along the streets to be cleaned and dried.The receding floodwaters have left a thick layer of mud, about 30 centimeters deep. Without waiting for sanitation crews, residents of the old town have rallied together to begin cleaning.Large chunks of mud hardened on road surfaces have made the cleanup particularly challenging.Piles of garbage also cover boat docking areas along the Hoai River - usually bustling with tourist traffic.Tourist activities and guided heritage visits remain suspended following the October 27 shutdown announcement.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
