An eerie amusement park that was abandoned for 15 years has become a popular destination for urban explorers. Ho Thuy Tien water park in Hue city, Vietnam, opened around 2004 and was operational for only a couple of years.
After suffering financial losses and low visitor numbers, it was forced to shut in 2006, according to reports. New investors attempted to revive the site as a functioning park, but the effort was ultimately scrapped in 2011. It then remained a ghost town for years. The unique former entertainment complex is famous for its huge metal and concrete dragon, a three-level structure which once contained an aquarium, and which sits on a jetty in Ho Thuy Tien lake connected to the mainland by three walkways.
During the park’s operational years, visitors could enjoy a range of attractions, including various twisting waterslides, an outdoor amphitheatre for live shows, and a smaller venue for traditional Vietnamese water puppet shows.
But years of closure left the park rusted and worn by the elements, leaving a scene like something out of a post-apocalyptic film.
By 2025, the site had returned to municipal control, which sold off assets to clear accumulated debts.
Thuan Hoa District Green Park Center was tasked with overseeing a renovation to improve the experience for visitors, and it was opened as a community park that year.
The work included clearing paths, removing debris that had built up over the years, and clearing overgrown areas. However, some elements remained, including the iconic dragon structure.
A new path was also paved around the lip of the lake, making it safer for the large number of tourists who continue to visit the surreal local landmark.
One TripAdvisor reviewer who visited this year gave the experience a perfect score, writing: “Well laid out and maintained path around the lake.
“The dragon, and the abandoned slides are full of graffiti and great to see and walk around in. Definitely recommended to see if you are in the area.”
The former water park is located just south of Hue city centre, which was Vietnam’s imperial capital.
