STORY: Residents of Vietnam's UNESCO-listed ancient town of Hoi An began cleaning up on Saturday (November 1) as floodwaters receded after days of torrential rain that caused deadly flooding and widespread damage across the central region.

The deluge swamped Hoi An's lantern-lit streets and centuries-old wooden houses, with residents saying they had never experienced flooding of this scale before.

As the water subsided, shop owners and residents cleared thick mud from storefronts, repaired furniture, and worked to restore power in hopes of reopening soon to welcome back tourists.

"Everything was swept away by the floodwaters, causing significant damage," said Dang Quoc Dat, a 40-year-old restaurant owner.

The central region, battered by heavy rains this week, saw flash floods and landslides that killed at least 29 people and left five missing, according to Vietnam's disaster agency.

Authorities warned that heavy rain is expected to continue in central Vietnam, with some areas forecast to receive over 700 millimetres, potentially causing river levels to rise and triggering renewed flooding.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: HOI AN, VIETNAM (NOVEMBER 1, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET COVERED IN MUD AND DEBRIS UNDER LIGHT RAIN, MOTORCYCLES MOVING ON MUDDY STREET

2. PEOPLE CLEANING MUD-COVERED STREET UNDER LIGHT RAIN, MOTORCYCLES MOVING

3. MUD-COVERED STREET WITH GARBAGE UNDER RAIN

4. MOTORCYCLE MOVING ON MUD-COVERED STREET, PEOPLE CLEANING MUD-COVERED FURNITURE IN FRONT OF SHOP

5. CLOTHING STORE OWNER HUYNH KIM HOANG CLEANING MUD-COVERED SHOP

6. VARIOUS OF HOANG THROWING MUD-COVERED PACKS OF CLOTHES OUT OF SHOP

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) 35-YEAR-OLD CLOTHING STORE OWNER, HUYNH KIM HOANG, SAYING:

“The damages are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dong (approximately $4,000). I’ll wash the clothes and try to resell them. If we manage to sell them, that’s fine. If not, we’ll have to absorb the loss."

8. PAINTING SHOP WORKER USING HIGH-PRESSURE WATER JET TO CLEAN MUD-COVERED PAINTINGS

9. VARIOUS OF PAINTING SHOP WORKER AND (RIGHT) 38-YEAR-OLD OWNER OF PAINTING STORE, DAO THI DIU, CLEANING MUD-COVERED PAINTINGS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) 38-YEAR-OLD OWNER OF PAINTING STORE, DAO THI DIU, SAYING:

"We have to keep trying; this is our livelihood. We've invested so much already, and giving up now isn't an option. We have to fight for it."

11. VARIOUS OF RESTAURANT STAFF SWEEPING MUD OUT OF SHOP

12. 40-YEAR-OLD RESTAURANT OWNER, DANG QUOC DAT, USING HIGH-PRESSURE WATER JET TO CLEAN BLACKBOARD AND TABLE

13. DANG SPRAYING WATER ON SIGN READING (English): “All Day Banh Mi”

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) 40-YEAR-OLD RESTAURANT OWNER, DANG QUOC DAT, SAYING:

"Everything in the house was swept away by the floodwaters, causing significant damage. Almost all the furniture is broken. I’ll salvage whatever I can, but most furniture will need to be replaced. Financially, it’s a heavy burden, but I’m determined to overcome this challenge. Alongside others in the ancient town, I’ll work hard to welcome tourists again and help preserve the image of the ancient town as a cultural destination of Vietnam."

15. GROUP OF TOURISTS WITH FANS AND VIETNAMESE FLAGS WALKING IN HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN

16. TOURISTS WALKING PAST PILES OF GARBAGE AND TAKING PHOTOS WITH PHONES

17. PILES OF GARBAGE

18. OFFICIALS COLLECTING AND CLEARING GARBAGE

19. PILES OF GARBAGE

20. VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS SCOOPING GARBAGE OUT OF RIVER

21. VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS USING HOSE FROM FIRE TRUCK TO CLEAN AREA

22. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS WASHING AND CLEANING FURNITURE BY RIVER

23. RIVER