Inside abandoned £2.2m theme park frozen in time and 'full of crocodiles'

Once envisioned as a sprawling water park paradise, Hồ Thủy Tiên, also known as Thiên An Park, now stands as a haunting relic of failed ambition.

Located on the outskirts of Huế, Vietnam, this abandoned £2.2 million theme park has become infamous not only for its eerie, frozen-in-time appearance but also for the chilling rumors of crocodiles lurking within its dilapidated confines.

The park's story began in 2001, when construction started near the scenic Thiên An Hill, a popular tourist spot known for its monastery and natural beauty.

The project, funded by the city's tourism company, was initially seen as a promising addition to Huế’s attractions. However, despite its grand vision, the park was reportedly only half-finished when it first opened its doors in 2004.

Surprisingly, even in its incomplete state, it managed to draw a steady stream of visitors.

Yet, this initial success was short-lived. Just a few months after its grand opening, the park was abruptly closed. An investment company, Haco Hue, attempted to revive the attraction in 2006 with plans to transform it into an eco-tourism complex.

Despite their efforts, the park struggled to attract enough visitors, leading to its final closure by 2011. Subsequent attempts to breathe new life into the park failed due to financial constraints and the deteriorating condition of the infrastructure, prompting the provincial government to reclaim the land and prohibit entry for safety reasons.

Despite being officially closed, Hồ Thủy Tiên quickly became a magnet for urban explorers and thrill-seekers drawn to its desolate, surreal atmosphere.

A 2016 HuffPost article brought the park into the global spotlight, describing it as an "eerie" and "surreal" destination. Since then, the park has been featured in various travel blogs, and its overgrown, rusting water slides have appeared in several music videos, further cementing its status as a cult attraction.

For years, whispers circulated about the crocodiles that once inhabited the park's waters. According to previous reports, there were three crocodiles in the aquarium when the park was still active, but they were reportedly abandoned when it closed.

Pressure from travelers and animal rights groups eventually led the Vietnamese government to relocate the crocodiles to a nearby nature preserve, but not before the park had earned its fearsome reputation.

In 2020, hopes were rekindled when the provincial government announced plans to redevelop Hồ Thủy Tiên, with the Hue city government pledging £844,100 for renovations.

The park was planned to reopen to tourists in March 2023. However, as of August 2023, these plans remain stalled, with reports citing "problems related to procedures for land allocation and auction of properties left by the old investor".