Rains had stopped in Hoi An by Friday morning, but floodwaters from the upper Thu Bon River, combined with rising tides, kept the ancient town submerged.
Due to the impact of Storm Wutip, the first tropical storm to enter the East Sea this year, Hoi An recorded over 350 mm of rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday.
The floodwaters inundated major roads but not yet entered homes.
Bach Dang Street, which runs along the Hoai River and is normally bustling with tourists and shops, was under 20 to 50 cm of water.
Many shops were closed, though a few tourists still waded through the floodwaters to explore the area.
Ngo Van An, a food store owner, said the floodwaters peaked on Thursday night but only reached the front steps of his home.
"Compared to previous floods, this one is minor, but I was surprised there was flooding in the middle of the hot summer," he said, adding that the water caused no property damage.
Tourists gathered to take photos in front of the Japanese Bridge, where clear reflections can be seen in the floodwater.
As the water began to recede, some boats are still carrying tourists along the Hoai River.
Le Hanh Chi, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said she and her friends had planned a summer vacation to the central region with their children.
The flooding in Hoi An had little impact on their trip due to the relatively low water level, Chi added.
Le Van Thong, 57, returned to his boat anchored on the river to prepare for taking tourists once the flood receded.
"This is the first time I've seen Hoi An flooded in the middle of summer. It's a flood-prone area, but flooding usually starts from August onwards," he said.
Nguyen Van Ba (pictured), pouring water to wash away mud in front of his shop, said, "There are at least two floods every year, but they mostly occur in October and November. I’m nearly 60 years old, but I’ve never seen a flood in mid-June."
Hoi An flooded in the middle of summer seen from above. Video by Dac Thanh
