Typhoon Unearths Centuries-Old Shipwreck
A centuries-old shipwreck has reemerged after Typhoon Kalmaegi passed through Vietnam last week.
According to the international news agency, Agence France-Presse, the 57-foot vessel was first discovered in 2023 off the coast of Hoi An. Authorities, however, were unable to claim it because it was soon re-submerged. Now, authorities are racing to claim what officials say is a significant find.
Reports say that officials with the Preservation of World Cultural Heritage are currently in the process of obtaining "an emergency excavation" permit.
How Old Is the Vessel?
At this moment, it's not exactly clear how old the shipwreck is, but experts deduce that the vessel was built between the 14th and 16th centuries.
Curious locals and tourists are getting a glimpse of the shipwreck, "whose heavy wood-ribbed hull survived hundreds of years of rough seas almost perfectly intact," per AFP.
VIDEO: ???????? Typhoon exposes centuries-old shipwreck off Vietnam port
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 11, 2025
Severe coastal erosion caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi has exposed a centuries-old shipwreck in Vietnam, providing a narrow window to salvage what experts say could be a historically significant find#AFPVertical pic.twitter.com/0TBFLJUX5o
"The discovery of this ancient ship is clear evidence of Hoi An's significant historical role in regional trade," said Pham Phu Ngoc, director of the Hoi An Center for the Preservation of World Cultural Heritage, per AFP.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Hoi An was a hub for those seeking to trade silk, ceramics, and spices.
The Deadly Typhoon
While researchers are celebrating the rediscovery of the shipwreck, the region is still dealing with Kalmaegi's aftermath, which has killed at least 188 people in the Philippines and five in Vietnam, per the BBC.
The British station reported that Kalmaegi later passed through Cambodia and Laos.