The Thuy Tien Lake Water Park in Hue continues to be mentioned in international news as a "bizarre destination" attracting tourists thanks to its desolate landscape and "post-apocalyptic" atmosphere.
Tourists flocked to check in at the eerie dragon statue inside Thuy Tien Lake Water Park, Hue , in 2024.
Nestled amidst a pine forest, Thuy Tien Lake Water Park was mentioned by many foreign newspapers as one of the strangest places in Vietnam. After closing, the park has attracted tourists in a completely different way.
In the quiet grounds, the giant dragon-shaped aquarium still stands tall, the water slides and entertainment facilities remaining intact. However, there is no longer the laughter or visitors like when it first opened.
Instead, many people come here to wander around the abandoned site and photograph the remaining traces of a once-promising project, according to Express UK.
Thuy Tien Lake Water Park opened in 2004. At the time, the developers expected it to become a vibrant entertainment area with swimming pools, water slides, and many lakeside activities, attracting tourists to the ancient city of Hue. However, the project quickly encountered difficulties.
The highlight of the park is the mesmerizing dragon statue.
The park, built at a cost of approximately 70 billion VND , opened to visitors even though the construction was not yet complete. The incomplete experience led many visitors to not return, while visitor numbers did not reach the level necessary to sustain operation. Furthermore, the park is located several kilometers from the city center, making transportation relatively inconvenient and limiting promotional efforts.
After only a few years, the business "collapsed," forcing the park to close. Under pressure from the banks, the original investor sold the land to a Hanoi- based company. At the time, many hoped the new investor could revive this large-scale project. However, this plan was not implemented, while the park continued to deteriorate.
What remains are empty swimming pools, rusted water slides, and a large dragon structure overlooking the lake. Over time, moss has covered the pathways, trees have grown through the cracked concrete, and graffiti has appeared inside the dragon's body.
Despite being abandoned, the site has begun to attract a different group of visitors. Photographers, backpackers, and adventure seekers flock to Hue to see the deserted park firsthand. It's now even tagged as a tourist attraction on Google, with nearly 300 reviews.
Despite being abandoned, the park attracts domestic and international tourists to explore it, as of 2024.
Many tourists view this place as a form of "dark tourism" or "ghost tourism" due to its eerie, post-apocalyptic atmosphere and rumored stories of paranormal phenomena.
"An incredible place, like a post-apocalyptic setting straight out of a movie. This is truly a place worth visiting," wrote one traveler.
Another visitor commented: "We had a wonderful time exploring this site. The graffiti and old-fashioned sea creature drawings on the walls create many unique details."
In recent years, the Hue authorities have begun implementing a plan to renovate the area around Thuy Tien Lake into a public park. Cleanup and redevelopment activities aim to transform the former water park into a recreational space for the public.
However, the future of the giant dragon, the park's most prominent feature, remains uncertain. The dragon could be retained as a special landmark, or dismantled during the renovation, according to Express UK .
The scene inside the dragon statue is one of desolation.