Exploring Hue’s Dystopian Abandoned Water Park

I have a thing for quirky travel destinations so when I found out that Hue was home to a creepy abandoned water park, I just had to go. The water park opened in 2004 and was operational for a few years before mysteriously shutting down, despite the fact that it cost millions to develop. It’s sat dormant ever since.

Fast forward to 2019, and the dragon that emerges from the center of the lake has become a popular hangout spot among Vietnamese teens. The once-bustling tourist attraction is now covered in picturesque patina and colorful graffiti, creating an amazingly dystopian-esque scene.

The Hue abandoned water park is located at Thuy Tien Lake, about a 20-minute drive from the center of Hue. Over the past few years, it’s definitely become one of the top Instagram spots for tourists. I was surprised to find a dozen or so people there snapping selfies. Despite not having the place all to myself, I loved it.

Is the Hue abandoned water park closed?

Over the past few years, some people have reported being denied entry into the park. I visited in June 2019 and had no issues. The guard at the entrance did, however, make us read a sheet of paper stating that the park is “closed” and that if we are to enter and get injured we are liable. It’s a bit confusing, but this by no means you’re not allowed in. We just nodded, payed a small fee and went on our way.

How to reach the Hue abandoned water park

Hue’s abandoned water park is located at Thuy Tien Lake, about 7km from the city center of Hue. I opted to make the 20-minute drive on a motorbike. Thuy Tien Lake is accurately marked on Google Maps, which makes getting there on your own super easy. For anyone who’s uncomfortable riding a scooter, you can always take a taxi or rent a car to take you to and from the park.

How to get into the abandoned water park

This spot is getting more and more popular so it’s pretty easy to navigate the area. At the entrance, you’ll be greeted by parking attendants who will point the way to the parking area. The fee to park is 10,000 VND. After that, walk to the entrance to pay the 20,000 VND fee. The guard will point you down a dirt path, instead of the proper entrance. It seems odd at first but it’s actually a shortcut to the dragon, which is located on the far side of the lake. Just follow the path (stay straight) and you’ll reach the dragon after about 10 minutes.

Exploring the Hue abandoned water park

The dragon is definitely the main attraction and you may have to wait your turn to take photos. There were a handful of people taking all sorts of fancy Instagram shots while I was there, but it wasn’t overwhelming. It was just a tad bit awkward disrupting people’s selfie sessions to walk along the bridge to enter the dragon.

The inside of the dragon used to be an aquarium filled with all sorts of creatures including crocodiles. Now the inside is in complete disrepair. There’s graffiti everywhere and there’s still glass on the ground from people bashing in the glass aquariums. It’s super eerie and would be the perfect setting for a horror film.

Walk up the stairs and check out the view from the dragon’s mouth. I’m not sure that the platform is all that safe to stand on, but I went for it anyway. The view from there is pretty amazing.

Walking around Thuy Tien Lake

I didn’t realize that there were other attractions besides the dragon. From the dragon, we ended up walking around the lake counterclockwise to reach the abandoned auditorium at the other end of the lake.

Had we gone clockwise we would have found some picturesque abandoned slides along the way. It was so hot during our visit (we went in June 2019) that there was no way we could have made it around the whole lake. I later realized that the slides are marked on Google Maps so if you’re unsure which way to walk just whip out your phone.

Also, if you are there during the brutally hot summer months, make sure to bring plenty of water. We didn’t and got really dehydrated, really fast. There is a drink vendor near the dragon that sells cold sodas and water for 20,000 VND.

Stop off at Hue Mural Village

If you’re looking for another unique thing to do in Hue, tack on a visit to the Mural Village. The Hue Mural Village is located 7 kilometers away from Hue’s city center – very close to the Hue abandoned water park. A group of artists decided to paint the 800-meter long wall in 2017. It’s now filled with dozens of colorful works. If you’re a street art-fan like me, it is well worth a visit.

Where to stay in Hue

Since we were there for a quick weekend and knew we’d be spending all of our time out and about, we decided to stay at the budget-friendly Stop & Go Hue Homestay. The price was around $22 a night. It was super centrally located (seriously so much good food was right around the corner), very clean, comfortable and quiet. It had a free breakfast and was all around a great value. Plus, it had excellent reviews on Agoda (a rarity in Hue). I highly recommend it.

Headed to Vietnam? Here are a few of my other guides you might find helpful:

• Cruising Through Vietnam’s Magical Bai Tu Long Bay
• 8 Fun Things To Do In Nha Trang, Vietnam
• 9 Fun Things to Do in Hoi An, Vietnam
• An Expat’s Guide to Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
• Is Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island Worth Visiting?
• A Traveler’s Guide To Vietnam’s Remote Con Dao Islands

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Do you like quirky places? What’s the weirdest place you’ve been to?