Foreign tourists walk along the beach filled with water hyacinth, dry plant branches, styrofoam and plastic bottles.
Quang Nam, home to Hoi An ancient tourist city, and many parts of central Vietnam have been hit by torrential downpours over the past days that triggered severe flooding and landslides.
Rising floodwaters on the Thu Bon River washed the trash into the sea, leaving An Bang beach as a garbage dump.
According to locals, since Tuesday afternoon, floodwaters from the Thu Bon River carried garbage to Hoi An coast and then strong waves washed the trash ashore.
"This trash comes from other places due to floodwaters; the area does not discharge it to the sea," said Huyen, owner of a restaurant on An Bang beach.
Around three kilometers from downtown Hoi An, An Bang was put in the international limelight when CNN listed it as one of the 100 best beaches on earth in 2011.
Two foreigners walk close to the water's edge to cross a stretch of sea full of trash.
Due to strong sea waves, local officials prohibit tourists from swimming.
Last month, the body of a 24-year-old South Korean tourist was found after he went missing while swimming at An Bang beach.
An Bang Beach has many hotels, villas, homestays, and restaurants, so it attracts a large number of foreign visitors.
Dinh Dung, Chairman of Cam An Ward, said that in recent days, about 18 people including the beach protection and rescue team have been mobilized to clean up trash along the beach.
A section of the beach was cleaned up for tourists to relax on chairs.
Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of Hoi An City, said that after heavy rains and floods, trash always appears on An Bang beach.
Every year, the city assigns Cam An Ward to handle the problem.
Trash flood An Bang beach near Hoi An City, Nov. 15, 2023. Video by VnExpress/Son Thuy
