The government announced on Friday (Oct 31) that the death toll from severe flooding in central Vietnam has climbed to 13, while residents in Hoi An began cleaning up as water levels started to recede. Triggered by record-breaking rainfall, the floods have submerged vast areas of central Vietnam, with the UNESCO-listed cities of Hue and Hoi An among the hardest hit. Images shared on state media showed streets and homes still under deep water, some nearly reaching the rooftops.

Vietnam frequently experiences deadly storms and floods that cause extensive damage, particularly during the storm season from June to October. In Hoi An — a well-preserved ancient trading port dating back to the 15th century — floodwaters started to withdraw on Friday. “I’ve lived through many floods, but this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Tran Van Tien, a 60-year-old resident of Hoi An, speaking to Reuters.

Tourism in the popular destination has taken a major hit, with most visitors cancelling reservations. The town, which welcomed over 4.4 million visitors last year — including about 3.6 million from abroad — has seen hotels shuttered since early in the week. “Water rose too fast, causing serious damage to our property,” said Nguyen Thi Thuy, a hotel manager whose business has remained closed since Monday.

According to the government’s disaster management agency, 11 people remain missing, more than 116,000 houses and 5,000 hectares of crops are flooded, and key transport routes have been damaged, cutting off electricity and road access in several regions. The agency also warned that heavy rains will persist, with some parts of central Vietnam expected to receive more than 500 millimetres of rainfall between early Friday and late Saturday. “I just hope the flooding won’t return so we can reopen our hotel soon,” Thuy added. “Tourism is our lifeline here.”