Typhoon Kalmaegi's coastal erosion has re‑exposed a 57‑foot shipwreck off Hoi An, Vietnam, first found in 2023. Preliminary analysis dates the vessel to the 14th–16th centuries, when Hoi An was a major trading port. Local heritage authorities are preparing an emergency excavation permit as experts warn the wreck may rapidly deteriorate without conservation. The storm also caused significant loss of life in the region, and similar historic finds have surfaced elsewhere after extreme weather.
Centuries‑Old Shipwreck Exposed on Hoi An Beach After Typhoon Kalmaegi — Experts Rush to Salvage Historic Vessel
Typhoon Kalmaegi's coastal erosion has re‑exposed a 57‑foot shipwreck off Hoi An, Vietnam, first found in 2023. Preliminary analysis dates the vessel to the 14th–16th centuries, when Hoi An was a major trading port. Local heritage authorities are preparing an emergency excavation permit as experts warn the wreck may rapidly deteriorate without conservation. The storm also caused significant loss of life in the region, and similar historic finds have surfaced elsewhere after extreme weather.
02:57 AM, 11/11/2025Culture
Centuries‑old shipwreck reappears on Vietnamese beach after Typhoon Kalmaegi
Severe coastal erosion caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi has once again revealed a centuries‑old shipwreck on a shoreline near Hoi An, Vietnam, giving archaeologists a narrow window to recover and study what experts say could be an important historical find.
The 57‑foot wooden vessel was first discovered offshore in 2023 and then reburied by shifting tides before authorities could salvage it. After the passage of Typhoon Kalmaegi last week, more of the ship's heavy, ribbed hull has been exposed.
A preliminary assessment by a team from the Hoi An Center for the Preservation of World Cultural Heritage, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, and a local museum suggests the wreck dates to between the 14th and 16th centuries — the heyday of Hoi An as a regional trade hub for silk, ceramics and spices.
"We are currently preparing to apply for an emergency excavation (permit)," said Pham Phu Ngoc, director of the Hoi An preservation center, after the wreck reappeared. "The discovery of this ancient ship is clear evidence of Hoi An's significant historical role in regional trade," he added.
Initial investigations of the hull recorded construction from durable, high‑strength timber and the use of waterproofing materials at the joints. The ship's build suggests it was capable of long‑distance voyages and was likely used in maritime commerce — and possibly for naval operations.
Officials warn the relic faces imminent deterioration without fast conservation work because repeated exposure to storms, tides and severe coastal erosion accelerates decay. The preservation center is preparing emergency excavation paperwork to allow archaeologists to recover and stabilise the vessel while it remains accessible.
The wreck remained clearly visible on the beach, drawing local residents and visitors to view its skeletal frame. Authorities say quicker action is needed to document and protect the site before the next high tide or storm event.
Typhoon impact and context: Typhoon Kalmaegi caused heavy damage in the region; BBC News reported it killed at least 188 people in the Philippines and five in Vietnam, citing official figures. The storm's erosive force is one way previously hidden wrecks become exposed — a pattern seen in other recent discoveries.
- In May, winter storms exposed a tugboat wreck in Lake Michigan that had been submerged for more than a century.
- In 2024, storms and unusually high tides revealed a large section of a 114‑year‑old shipwreck in Massachusetts.
- In 2022, beach erosion from hurricanes uncovered an 1800s wooden ship buried under sand in Florida.
Conservators and marine archaeologists emphasise that when extreme weather exposes cultural heritage, rapid but careful action is essential: documentation, emergency stabilisation, and a properly permitted excavation can preserve information that would otherwise be lost.