Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park in Hue is no more than 2 kilometers away from some of the city’s most popular attractions. Built by the Hue Tourism Company, the now-abandoned water park opened in 2004 and closed less than two years later. The reasons for the closure are somewhat mysterious.
I first heard of Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park in Hue two years before I visited it myself. One day, drone footage of the place ended up on my Facebook feed and I added it to my list of places I would love to see with my own eyes. Back then, I did not really know anything about the park or even where it was, but it seemed like a cool location, so I set out to visit it when I found myself exploring Hue.
In a way, the already Abandoned Ho Thuy Tien Water Park officially closed in 2018 when access to the property became restricted as the current owners were afraid of lawsuits if someone was to injure themselves while on the property. Or at least, that is the word of mouth about the situation. Like with everything concerning this water park, no one knows what is a fact and what is fiction. And I guess the mystery is just part of Ho Thuy Tien’s charm.
And while it has become a lot harder to visit it over the last few years and security guards roam the perimeter of the Abandoned Water Park in Hue, a trip there is still worth it. After all, going there is the ultimate urban exploration adventure in Vietnam. The graffiti-covered structures, the murky water, and the shattered aquariums inside of the dragon are a peculiar sight that even seasoned travelers do not encounter every day.
You do not have to climb any fences and there are no ‘no trespassing’ signs, so I would say that visiting the Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park is somewhere in a grey zone. In the end, it would be possible to just stumble upon the place while walking through the forest in the area, and as you walk, there is no indication at all that it is private property.
Why did Thuy Tien Water Park close?
No one really knows why the Abandoned Water Park in Hue closed, but there are several rumors. The circumstances are all very mysterious, which only adds to the mystical atmosphere of the park.
According to some locals, the park was closed because the park is cursed and haunted as it was built in an area full of temples, pagodas, and royal tombs. Therefore, people supposedly stopped going there and the park was no longer profitable.
Other reports suggest that the park was not profitable as it opened while many of the attractions had yet to be built. Therefore, it did not attract as many visitors as expected and the park was forced to shut its door.
Other stories focus on the dragon building being the reason for the closure. After all, dragons are very symbolic creatures in Vietnamese mythology and it made some people think a dragon should not be part of an amusement park.
If it comes down to it, suggestion number two is very likely the main reason for the water park’s closure, but there is a great likelihood that there is some truth in the other theories. After all, people not visiting the park due to superstitions could easily lead to financial problems.
How to get to the Abandoned Water Park in Hue?
The Abandoned Water Park in Hue is only 2 km away from the city center, so a visit here should definitely be on your list of things to do in Hue.
Some might tell you that the location of the Abandoned Water Park in Hue is a secret that is only shared on napkins in some bars. However, those days are long gone. While the napkin story might sound like a great adventure you could tell your friends, you can easily find the location on Google Maps or Maps Me if you search the name of the water park.
Therefore, the easiest way to get to Ho Thuy Tien Water Park is to just drive there yourself or to get a Grab ride there. Depending on where you park your scooter while you explore the water park, you might have to pay a parking fee. Especially, if you park your scooter close to the old main entrance.
If you want your story to include the famous napkin, you could always draw a map of the Abandoned Water Park on one. Feel free to use the map down below as a template for your napkin art. Just do me a favor and share a photo of your masterpiece with the rest of the world.
How do you enter Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park?
These days, there are three different ways to enter Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park. You might have to try all of them before you are successful.
- The easiest and best entrance to Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park is close to the Nano Eco Hotel.
- Alternatively, you can walk around the guarded official entrance by walking along the road that diverges approximately 200 m before the entrance.
- As a third option, you can try the old route of paying around 20K VND as was common prior to November 2019. I only recommend attempting this one after you were unsuccessful when you tried to enter the Abandoned Water Park in Hue via the first two options.
If someone does not want to let you enter or wants to escort you to the nearest exit, you can always try to convince them to let you stay. Sometimes it works to tell the guide that you won’t climb the dragon. To the misfortune of many, some people thought it was a good idea to climb onto its head and the photos of their stunts are assumed to be the reason why access to this abandoned water park is now restricted.
Do not argue if they say you have to leave regardless of your promise. It is up to the guards to let you stay or to make you leave, so please accept their decision.
1. Enter it at the Barrier at the Nano Eco Hostel
The easiest way to enter Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park in Hue is via the northern part of the property. There is a barrier at Nano Eco Hostel and while it is sometimes guarded, the guard often does leave the position to patrol the dragon area before returning to his post. So just wait until the guard is gone and then quickly go down the right path.
There are reports that some people handed the guard stationed here money, but I cannot promise that it will work. As with the old way to enter Ho Thuy Tien, it really depends on the guard and there is no way to predict if the guard will let you enter the park or not.
Visit the dragon last so you will have already seen the rest of the park if a guard does end up escorting you out of the park if he spots you exploring the dragon area.
2. Take the long way round
This option to enter the Abandoned Water Park in Hue includes the longest walk but is the one that is supposedly the easiest as the entry point itself is not guarded. Instead of heading towards the old entrance, you take a left towards the Thien An Monastery. Keep following the road until you reach a bigger building with a red roof. Go to the right and keep following the road.
Eventually, you will reach a slightly curved road that leads straight toward the dragon building. Walk fast once you are on this road as security guards patrolling the dragon area could see you because there is no tree cover.
Walk past the dragon building and explore the rest of the water park first. Explore the dragon building on your way out so it no longer matters if one of the security guards spots you.
The way you will have to walk is marked on the map.
3. Old Way to Enter the Abandoned Waterpark in Hue
The old way to enter Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park in Hue was close to the main entrance. It essentially included dropping some money on the ground so the guard guarding the main entrance would allow you to walk down a path approximately 100 m before the entrance. Hereby, the standard rate was 20K, but there are some reports that people had to pay 50K.
Some days, it is still possible to enter the park this way, but since November 2019 access via this route has become more restricted. Therefore, it is best to try the other two access paths first as using this one as your first option just alerts the guards of your presence. These days, it is up to luck if you get in or not, so it is best not to make it harder than it has to be.
If you end up entering the Abandoned Water Park of Hue this way, it is recommended to park your scooter at the granny parking. You do have to pay a small fee to park your bike there, but it is better than a stolen bike or someone calling the police on you because you parked on the side of the street.
You enter the park by walking down a dirt path which is approximately 150 meters before the main gate and on the left side. After around six to seven minutes you will spot the dragon. Keep walking until you reach it and then continue onwards to explore the other parts of the park first.
The dragon is the area that is now frequently patrolled. While the guards will only blow their whistle and escort you back to the main gate, you would have to leave the park and miss out on the rest the water park has to offer.
Are there Crocodiles in Hue’s Abandoned Water Park?
No, there are no crocodiles in the lake and pools of Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park.
However, there is an urban legend that there used to be crocodiles in the Abandoned Water Park. I did not see any and up to this point, no one actually has. Then again, there are some reports according to which PETA allegedly removed them some time ago after the animals from the tanks inside the dragon buildings had somehow been released. Ultimately, there is not a single picture that proves that there were ever crocodiles in the water park, but if you see the lake and the environment, you can easily imagine that it would be a great home for the reptiles.
I would still recommend staying away from the water’s edge as it does not look like getting in contact with the water would be a good idea. And if miraculously end up seeing a crocodile while there, I can only ask you to please send me a photo of it, because I would love to see it.
Why should you visit the Abandoned Water Park?
The way I see it, it is the coolest place to explore in Hue. While the Imperial Palace and the Royal Thombs in Hue have a rich history, these eerie places allow you to see what happens when humans leave a place. To a certain degree, it even resembles a less disastrous version of Pripyat in Ukraine.
If you have already been in Asia for a while, you will have likely seen a large number of temples and the like. And while exploring them is really interesting, it is great to mix up your Vietnam itinerary by doing some urban exploring. It is a nice change of scenery for a few hours and just creates this stark contrast between the old and the new of Vietnam.
If you want to do some urban exploring while in Vietnam, the Abandoned Water Park in Hue is the place to go. And the fact that it has gotten harder to visit this somewhat hidden gem of Vietnam, has only added a certain thrill.
The water park has changed ownership a lot since it closed its doors and new plans for the property are being made all the time, so there is a chance that it will eventually reopen in some form and therefore sadly lose the feeling of adventure. Therefore you should visit it as soon as possible to ensure that you do not miss out on this great place full of disrepair and decay. After all, that is what makes it so special.
Things to See in Ho Thuy Tien
The three most popular locations of the Abandoned Water Park in Hue are the Dragon, the slides with the children’s play area, and the amphitheater. However, there are also other smaller attractions such as a painted cement car that is located close to the dragon building and the abandoned villas and huts.
As you explore the nearly 50-hectare large property, you will notice that some parts of Ho Thuy Tien were abandoned mid-construction, while the work on other parts of the park continued for a while. The huts are a perfect example of this as some of them never had a roof.
Be careful if you do decide to climb the stairs of any structures. No one checks how stable the buildings are, so be aware of the risk that comes with climbing them. Also do not try to climb places you would not be allowed to climb if the water park was still open.
Slides + Children’s Area
The slides and the children’s area with a smaller slide are connected and form an island in the jungle. It has been reclaimed by the jungle flora and the pools are algae-filled. And while the water no longer looks like you should swim in it, it is still great as the dark surface is reflective. It is a sight that makes you see the beautiful side of the water park’s state of disrepair.
If you want to attempt climbing one of the slides, you should opt for the blue one in the middle. When I visited the abandoned waterpark, it was the only slide that was still completely stable while the other two started shaking when I climbed over them. And given that it has been a while since my visit, they have likely only become less stable.
All slides start at the same point and you can still climb up the stairs of the building. From here, it looks like the jungle just swallows the slides as the tree canopy seems endless.
The ground floor of the slide building used to house changing rooms, but these days there is nothing left but the walls.
Walk around the area to take some amazing photos before crossing over to the children’s area. Sadly, some parts of the area like a statue of a little elephant have been stolen, but the main features of the water play area are still there.
Amphitheater
The amphitheater of Ho Thuy Tien Water Park once had 2500 yellow and blue seats. Nowadays, some of them are gone, but if you are there, you can still imagine what a show here used to be like. Facing the Thuy Tien Lake, the stage used to have a great backdrop with palm trees.
The Dragon
The 3-stories-high dragon was and is the main attraction of the Abandoned Water Park in Hue. With its design, it is stunning and provides a great view from every angle.
The center of the building used to house an aquarium room where visitors could see tropical fish and allegedly crocodiles. At this point, the aquarium room on the inside of the dragon is nothing but a room with shattered fish tank glass on the floor. Everything that used to be interesting about it has sadly been removed or destroyed.
However, the other areas of the dragon building are still worth exploring.
The outside of the dragon is impressive, and most of the interior areas are just as stunning. The mix of intended design and street art creates a unique setting.
As you ascend the first set of stairs on the way toward the dragon’s head, you essentially walk through the dragon’s body.
While I cannot say how it looked back in the days when the park was open, it sure looks amazing when you see the sun light up the area.
These days, the first floor of the building is essentially a street art gallery and while that is not its intended purpose, it looks fantastic and not out of place.
Walk up the winding staircase to enter the dragon’s head and reach its mouth. It is possible to enter the mouth which gives you a great view over the lake by climbing over a 40 cm high wall. A lot of people do it. However, we are talking about a decaying structure so you should at least consider this fact before you walk to the very edge of the mouth. After all, you can enjoy the same view if you stay just a little bit further in the back of the mouth.
While the central room of the ground floor is no longer of interest, the gallery around it is still in relatively good condition.
The walls of the walkway are covered with sculptures of ocean creatures like rays and murals of mermen. Some parts of it are starting to become overgrown by jungle flora, which luckily only makes it more interesting.
More Photos of Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park
The entire area is a wonderful playground for photographers as there is a certain beauty in the decay of Thuy Tien. Seeing nature reclaim an area like this is not something you see every day, so be sure to plan a slightly longer stay if you want to capture as much of Hue’s Abandoned Water Park as possible.
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Wow, what a cool place! I love abandoned places like this, and I love Vietnam so this has gone straight on my list as I really want to go back! There’s so much to see too, it looks awesome.