This water park, which only existed for a few years after opening in 2004, was described by British newspapers as a must-see destination when visiting the central region.
"Nestled in a pine forest is one of Vietnam's most captivating attractions, though not in the way its creators intended. The water park's giant dragon-shaped aquarium still stands on the lake, and the rides are still there, but there are no visitors or laughter. Instead, people come here to wander the desolate site, to photograph the ghostly remnants of what once existed," Express.uk wrote.
The image of the famous dragon in Thuy Tien Lake was featured in a British newspaper. PHOTO: GETTY
When Thuy Tien Lake Water Park opened in 2004, the developers envisioned a bustling park with swimming pools, water slides, and lakeside attractions that would draw large numbers of tourists to Hue. But the project encountered difficulties almost immediately.
Despite costing around 70 billion VND, the business collapsed within a few years and the park closed down.
These photos were taken at Thuy Tien Lake before it was cleaned up last year. PHOTO: GETTY
Numerous revival plans were subsequently implemented but were unsuccessful, while the condition of the water park continued to deteriorate.
What remained was an empty swimming pool, a rusty slide, and a giant dragon structure overlooking a mossy lake. Over time, nature began to reclaim the area. Moss spread across the pathways, trees grew through the cracks in the concrete, and graffiti gradually covered the dragon's interior walls.
Despite being abandoned, the site began to attract international tourists. Photographers and backpackers started coming to Hue just to see the ruined remains.
The dragon after it was cleared away last year. PHOTO: LE HOAI NHAN
The abandoned amusement park has garnered attention online and is now tagged on Google as a distinct tourist destination, with nearly 300 reviews.
It could be considered "dark tourism" or "ghost tourism" due to the allure of its eerie, "post-apocalyptic" atmosphere and rumors of hauntings.
"This place is amazing. A post-apocalyptic landscape just like in the movies," one tourist commented, adding that it's worth a visit.
However, this park differs from many classic dark tourist destinations, such as battlefields or disaster sites, because no tragedy occurs there. Instead, visitors are drawn to the eerie scenery.
PHOTO: LE HOAI NHAN
Another person excitedly said, "We went to the water park in the evening. It had a spooky atmosphere in the dark, but that's what made it fun."
A third person said: "We discovered this magical place and had a great time. The graffiti is amazing, the decaying sea creatures cover the walls, the details are lovely."
In recent years, the Hue authorities have begun redeveloping the area around Thuy Tien Lake into a public park. Cleanup work and redevelopment plans aimed at transforming the former water park into an entertainment area are underway, but currently, the scenery remains largely unchanged, continuing to attract visitors…