Hue reopens heritage sites after floods as tourism activity resumes gradually
Hue’s famous heritage sites, including the Imperial City and Nguyen royal mausoleums, reopen after flooding cleanup, marking the city’s tourism recovery and renewed safety for visitors.
THE HANOI TIMES — All heritage sites in the central coastal city of Hue reopened after being restored, cleaned and checked for safety following recent flooding, according to the Hue Monuments Conservation Center.
The reopening took effect today (October 31), covering the Imperial City, the Museum of Imperial Antiquities and the royal mausoleums of the Nguyen Dynasty.
A group of tourists wearing traditional costumes pose for photos at the Imperial City of Hue. Photo: The Hanoi Times
Le Cong Son, Deputy Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, said the center quickly cleaned up the sites and inspected electrical systems and infrastructure as soon as floodwaters receded.
“We have restored the environment and landscape at all sites and ensured full safety conditions,” he said, noting that the heritage areas are ready to welcome visitors again.
Son added that visitors will receive printed tickets instead of electronic ones to avoid disruptions. All tickets must be returned to staff at the checkpoints so the center can update its management system.
The reopening comes as the weather stabilizes, signaling the return of Hue’s tourism activity after weeks of storms and flooding.
With support from local authorities and the cultural sector, the resumption of site visits will help Hue’s socio-economic recovery and promote the city’s image as a safe, welcoming and culturally rich destination for travelers worldwide.
Earlier, on October 27, the center decided to close all heritage sites due to widespread flooding across Hue to ensure visitor safety and support local disaster response.
The Hue Imperial Citadel being flooded in late October. Photo: Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper
Over the past two months, tropical storms such as Bualoi and Matmo have struck Vietnam, causing extensive flooding and disrupting transportation, tourism and local livelihoods in the central and northern regions.
Since late October, Hue and Danang have endured heavy rains and floods, with rainfall ranging from 200 millimeters to 400 millimeters and some areas exceeding 700 millimeters. Many urban areas were inundated, traffic was disrupted and water levels on the Huong River stayed above alarm level 2.
In Hue, hundreds of households were isolated as floodwaters rose above one meter in several districts. The city suffered severe damage, with goods destroyed and thick layers of mud and debris left behind. Daily life and business activities came to a standstill for days.
According to forecasts, from now until November 4, the central region will continue to face heavy rainfall, raising the risk of rising river levels from Quang Tri Province to the city of Danang and possibly prolonging flooding in Hue for several more days.
