Cần Thơ’s “Green Lung” Water Park Falls into Disrepair

The 20‑hectare Hồ Nước Ngọt park in Cần Thơ, once dubbed the city’s “green lung,” has been closed for several years and is now largely abandoned. After a temporary shutdown during the COVID‑19 pandemic, visitor numbers never recovered and commercial activities ceased, leaving rides, a swan‑pedal boat fleet and exhibition halls overgrown with vegetation. Only a handful of cafés remain open, and the park is open to the public mainly for informal exercise.

The municipal government has created a new Investment‑Promotion and Tourism Center to take over management of the site. A budget of VND 1.2 billion has been allocated for security, maintenance, and a comprehensive assessment of the park’s infrastructure, contracts and renovation needs, with the aim of preserving the green space while planning future redevelopment.