Architectural heritage crumbles

Safe as houses? This unique two-storey wooden house in Gia Hoi Old Town is in a bad shape, but local authorities remain unsure how best to protect it. — VNA/VNS Photo Thai Loc

THUA THIEN HUE — Historic buildings in two localities that functioned as commercial port towns during the Nguyen dynasty are in a severely dilapidated condition.

The Bao Vinh Town, which hosted a busy port in 18th century, had 39 old buildings standing at the end of the American War.

Meanwhile, Gia Hoi, a bustling port town in early 19th century, had 140 old buildings featuring traditional Vietnamese, Chinese as well as French colonial architecture.

These buildings have been so badly damaged by the rampant urbanisation of last two decades, that only 15 of them still stand in Bao Vinh, while Gia Hoi has 55.

Residents complain that they are caught in a bind. One the one hand, they cannot repair their houses to make them safe or expand it to meet their needs because authorities have banned such actions. On the other hand, the authorities themselves have taken no action to preserve the old buildings.

"Many old houses in Bao Vinh are in ruin and vulnerable to floods and hard weather," said Nguyen Van Bon, chairman of Huong Vinh Commune.

A conservation project to protect the two towns was set up by Thua Thien Hue Province in 2003, but only three houses were repaired with funds from the French Parliament. In Gia Hoi, one pagoda had its gate and entrance restored.

Experts have called on authorities to act before it is too late.

"Architecture reflects history, so there is a need to protect Bao Vinh and Gia Hoi. Authorities should promptly come up with ways to deal with the conflict between conservation and locals' benefits," said Nguyen Viet Tien, chairman of the province's Planning Association.

Nguyen Xuan Hoa, former director of the province's Culture Department, said it was not possible to restore Bao Vinh as an old town because not many old house remained in it.

"But Gia Hoi has unique architectural values with a national-heritage pagoda, a Hindu temple, the house of a Japanese karate master, overseas Chinese club house, French colonial buildings and palaces of royal family members. It would be interesting to restore the old town," he said. — VNS

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Harmonizing heritage preservation and locals’ rights

Two experts offer opinions on how to harmonize the clash between efforts to preserve national heritages and residents’ rights to a comfortable life inside modern, well-equipped buildings. 

Fine art expert Phan Cam Thuong:

It’s very difficult to preserve heritages, even in developed countries. The government needs strategic solutions such as maintaining a certain population density, thinning out the population, boosting cultural tourism revenues, and building resettlement areas for locals.

Besides, the government should take measures like taking back ancient houses and not developing tourism services in areas being preserved, sponsoring traditional crafts aiming at boosting up locals’ income.

The government should resolutely force them to move to other places if they want to renovate or construct houses.

As I know, governments in developed countries always build new resettlement areas in ancient towns to balance locals’ welfare and develop tourism.

The most important thing is that locals’ right to live in modern houses also needs to be taken into account and the government should work with them to reach an agreement.

Based on the country’s economy, we cannot take comprehensive measures. Instead, we should do it step by step.

Hoi An ancient town is a typical example. All houses are used for commercial purposes.

If the locals are not allowed to renovate or construct them, they will have to sell them or move to another place to build new homes.

Consequently, wealthy people from other places have gradually replaced the locals.

The same thing happens in neighboring country China and in western countries, where rich residents like to preserve ancient houses as a means to earn more money.

We have witnessed cultural bankruptcy in Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi, where the locals are not proud of traditional houses.

For example, the landscape surrounding the Kiem Lien Pagoda has been turned into a matchbox as more and more hotels and guesthouses are being built there.

Vong Canh hill, ancient citadels Tuyen Quang and Son Tay, O Quan Chuong - the last remaining ancient gate in Hanoi - has also fallen victim to commercialization.

How to preserve Duong Lam ancient village

Ngo Kieu Oanh of the National Institute of Science and Technology told Tuoi Tre her opinions on how to preserve the Duong Lam ancient village in Son Tay near Hanoi.

The government has to prioritize the locals’ rights and hand over the power of preserving ancient houses to them.

Many travel agencies have developed home-stay tourism in Mong Phu hamlet, Duong Lam ancient village.

I think that is a good way to preserve the village through tourism activities.

In addition, the government should focus on the village’s specialties and promote them to the world.

The locals need to abide by preservation laws in not building tall houses. But in turn, the government needs to give assistance and support to them.

Part 1: Modern-loving locals turn back on ancient village

Part 2: Hue residents not keen on heritage, government dithers

 Some photos of Duong Lam ancient village by Dat Viet Newspaper:

Mong Phu village gate in Duong Lam

Nine-floor tower in Mia pagoda

Ancient houses in Duong Lam

Mong Phu communal house

Tich River

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Hue residents not keen on heritage, government dithers

Dong Mau Tu" ancient house on 158 Bach Dang Street in Hue central city is in extremely poor state

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Two centuries-old areas in Hue, a UNESCO world heritage city, are suffering from the worst effects of modernization and government neglect, with people demolishing ancient structures to build houses.

There are also few sponsors willing to fund preservation of relics that often date back 200 years in Bao Vinh and Gia Hoi areas.

The city government announced plans to preserve and develop Bao Vinh in 2003 and set up a board to conserve ancient relics in Hue, but little has been done so far to protect the old homes.

Shockingly, the government continues to grant licenses to people for building tall houses and converting ancient ones into modern buildings.

Time may have run out for the relics.

In 1991 there were 39 traditional houses in Bao Vinh, but only 15 remain now that are more than 200 years old. The rest have either been turned into modern high-rises or are too dilapidated.

The same situation obtains in Gia Hoi. Only 23 traditional houses and 32 French-era houses on Chi Lang Street retain their original status out of 150.

Like in Bao Vinh, most of them have been replaced with modern buildings or are severely degraded.

Nguyen Van Bon, chairman of the commune administration that oversees Bao Vinh, said no support has been forthcoming from the central government for preservation.

Only the roofs are ancient in Bao Vinh

The only assistance received so far was VND411 million (US$21,000) given by the French Senate to repair three ancient houses, he said.

Ancient or modern? 

However, there are different points of view about whether Hue’s ancient houses need to be preserved.

Nguyen Viet Tien, the Head of the Urban Planning Association in Hue, said since architecture is a reflection of history, ancient towns need to be preserved.

But locals’ right to live in modern houses also needs to be taken into account and the government should work with them to reach agreement, he said.

Either way, he said, “We must take action now.”

But Bon said that the government should not preserve the old houses because it will affect people’s lives as well as the economy.

“Many people have filed petitions against preserving the ancient houses.”

The government should focus on preserving national relics of historical and cultural significance, he said, citing some examples like buildings in the Bach Dang Arc such as the Dieu De national pagoda, Hindu temple, some French-era houses with their shuttered windows, grand balconies, and pitched tiled roof.

Bao Vinh is located on the famous Huong (Perfume) River and is just a few minutes’ drive from the former Imperial City of Hue. Seen from the river, the line of old houses reminds visitors of the streets of Hoi An though Bao Vinh’s history only dates back 200 years. The Gia Hoi area, which covers Phu Cat, Phu Hiep, and Phu Hau wards, is an island surrounded by the Dong Ba Canal and Huong River. The ancient Gia Hoi street used to be a busy trading centre in the past. Many houses here have architecture as unique and ancient as in Hoi An.

Part 1: Modern-loving locals turn back on ancient village

To be continued

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