Brian Jeffrey
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Perched along the coastline, the Quang Ninh Provincial Planning, Fair, and Exhibition Center—often referred to as the “Dolphin Palace”—has suffered significant damage.
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This facility, which cost 1,000 billion VND to construct, was severely impacted when Typhoon Yagi hit on the afternoon of September 7. The violent winds ripped away large parts of the white metal roof, leaving debris strewn across 30/10 Square and adjacent streets.
Moreover, the insulation beneath the roof was also torn apart, leaving remnants scattered around the site.
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The day following the storm, the Dolphin Palace remained in chaos, with shattered tempered glass panels posing risks in various exhibit areas.
Pham Thanh Lam, a staff member at both the Quang Ninh Museum and the Quang Ninh Exhibition Center, stated that efforts to clear the wreckage commenced right after the storm, with a primary focus on collecting hazardous glass to ensure safety.
As a result of the cleanup operations, the area was declared off-limits on September 8.
A considerable portion of the roof was blown off 500 meters away from the Dolphin Palace, landing near the Quang Ninh Museum.
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Next to the Dolphin Palace lies the Quang Ninh Museum, another notable facility that saw an investment of 990 billion VND. This museum also experienced damage, affecting its doors, LED lighting, stairways, landscaping, glass bridges, and outer glass panels.
The storm resulted in broken tempered glass panels on the museum’s exterior. Do Quyet Tien, the museum’s director, noted that initial damage estimates for both the museum and the Dolphin Palace are around 70 billion VND.
With extensive destruction at both sites from Typhoon Yagi, a prolonged recovery period is anticipated. Consequently, the management intends to close the museum for over a month to execute the required repairs.
