Hue's abandoned dragon water park to shed old scales

Thuy Tien Water Park lies just five miles outside Huong Thuy Town in Hue, the former imperial town in central Vietnam, beside Thuy Tien Lake. This abandoned water park hidden in the jungle has attracted many adventurers enamored with the idea of exploring something off the beaten track.

Once a popular amusement park, it is now a jungle of graffiti-covered waterslides, shattered aquariums, and murky pools that would make visitors feel they had just survived an apocalypse. 

Funded by state-owned enterprise Hue Capital Tourism Company, the water park opened its door in 2004 and closed down just a few months after.

In 2008, investment and trading company Haco Hue took over the project with the aim to restructure the site for eco-tourism, including restaurants, spas, accommodation, arts, a convention center, and a space for outdoor events, but later abandoned the venture.

Stairs and walls inside the park are covered with graffiti.

Mirror tanks inside the aquarium that used to house rare and precious aquatic species have been left shattered.

About 500 meters from the aquarium lies a former water music stage with seating for 2,500.

Following closure, the park suffered serious degradation, prompting local authorities to prohibit entry over safety concerns.

In 2018, the U.S. news site Huffington Post listed Thuy Tien Park among the 10 most creepy destinations while British newspaper Daily Mail called it 'a curious and creepy site" ideal for backpackers to explore.

Damaged water slides now serve as mere canvases.

Railing across the park have rusted into misuse.

Earlier this month, provincial authorities proposed renovating the park as a cultural park and contemporary creative space to serve the community to avoid waste.

Phan Ngoc Tho, Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Province, said reviving Thuy Tien Water Park would entail exploiting its walking route, raising animals, developing an intelligent bicycle service associated with certain sports activities and entertainment for visitors.