Calm during the storm: Tourists shocked by historic flooding in Hue, Hoi An, admire unperturbed locals

Noa, a Frenchman, and a group of friends had planned a trip across Vietnam from north to south.

They arrived in Hue on Oct. 26, just as the weather started to worsen. They were supposed to visit the Imperial City the following day, but, seeing the heavy rain, the tour guide suggested they visit early since the historical site might close due to the bad weather.

"We started our trip with light flooding, but no one expected the situation to escalate so quickly," Noa said.

Initially the group was calm as locals seemed unfazed and in good spirits. But an hour after leaving the Hue Citadel, the water rose above their knees, making it difficult to reach their hotel.

They had to navigate through congested streets, surrounded by boats and flooded cars.

Noa said: "Many people in the group began to fear being stuck in the rising floodwaters. Luckily, we were able to return to the hotel without losing electricity and water."

All sightseeing plans were canceled.

The group planned to stop in Hoi An before flying to Ho Chi Minh City, but had to change their itinerary, flying straight to the south after learning the ancient town was also inundated.

Kylie, a tourist from Canada, was in Hoi An when the flooding was at its highest between Oct. 26 and 28.

She had known it was the rainy season in the central region but had not expected such deep flooding, she said.

"I live in Vancouver, where it rains and stays cloudy year-round. But the floods in Hoi An are on an entirely different scale, far beyond anything I could have imagined."

What struck her most was how people continued with their daily lives, working and living as though "nothing was happening." Despite the floods, everyone remained calm and smiled, facing the situation with incredible composure.

She stayed at a hotel along the Hoai River, an area that was severely flooded. The entire lobby and first floor were submerged. On Oct. 27, a day after the flooding began, the water levels were still rising, the hotel had lost power and tourism in the old town was nearly paralyzed.

She said: "Can't go anywhere, can't do anything. Shops were closed, floodwaters were everywhere."

On the morning of Oct. 28, after being trapped for 48 hours in the floodwaters, Kylie was helped by the hotel staff to board a boat that took her out of the flooded area and toward Da Nang, where she caught a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

By the time she left the water had almost reached the second floor of the hotel.

"The experience was unbelievable and definitely unforgettable," she said, adding she would definitely return but during the dry season.

Gemma of Australia traveled to Hoi An with her mother and brother while on a 17-day trip around Vietnam.

The trip had been planned well in advance, and the family only learned about the flooding after they had already booked tickets.

"Friends assured us that by the time we arrived in Hoi An, the water would have receded, and so we weren't too worried," she explained.

The family arrived on Oct. 26 and had planned to stay five nights. They had originally booked at a hotel near the beach, but bad weather forced them to cancel their beach vacation plans and move to the old town.

But on arrival, they were shocked to see the flooding in the streets.

"The sight of the sea in the old town was a completely new experience for my family," Gemma said.

It meant the Airbnb unit they had rented had to cancel their booking due to power outages and the rising water levels. All activities in the old town had ceased and restaurants were closed.

But Gemma and her family made the best of the situation and tried to enjoy the trip. Wading through the water with other tourists was "memorable and different" from her previous visits to Hoi An, she said.

Gemma's family wear raincoats and wade through floodwaters in Hoi An, October 2025. Photo courtesy of Gemma

She too was impressed by the way locals responded to the natural disaster: "They were calm, walking or cycling through the flooded areas. Life just goes on."

Her family received a lot of assistance from locals and hotel staff, such as finding new accommodation and having their luggage transported by boat through the flooded areas.

In Da Nang, Indonesian tourist Aditya endured several days of heavy rain.

He arrived in the city on Oct. 25 intending to stay for a week of relaxation, but the continuous downpours canceled all his outdoor plans.

He had previously visited Lombok in his home country, climbed Mount Rinjani during the rainy season and even experienced a motorbike accident.

"The weather in Da Nang this time has been much more extreme," he remarked.

He took a leisurely approach, though, sipping coffee, enjoying pho, going to the spa, and walking around in the rain.

As soon as the sun appeared briefly he rushed to the beach, only for the rain to start again shortly afterward.

Originally, he had planned to spend seven days in Vietnam, including a stop in Hoi An, but the severe flooding forced him to stay in Da Nang until it was time to head home.

Though the heavy rains and floods disrupted their trips, Noa, Kylie, Gemma, and Aditya all agreed that it was an unforgettable experience.

"The weather was harsh, but the Vietnamese people were wonderful," Aditya said.

The heavy rainfall in the central region was due to a combination of cold air, tropical convergence zone and easterly winds from the ocean.

Since Oct. 23 the region between Quang Tri and Quang Ngai has received very heavy rain, with Hue receiving an average of 500-700 mm between the evening of Oct. 24 and the morning of Oct. 28.

Hue and Hoi An are now grappling with the worst flooding in years, with torrential rains submerging ancient landmarks, streets and homes.