HCM CITY — Preserving HCM City's heritage buildings is an important part of stable city development, the municipal People's Council heard yesterday.
The city should design a development plan to protect its heritage buildings and residential areas, Pham Phuong Thao, chairwoman of the city People's Council said.
Hue City was a good model for HCM City to emulate for preserving cultural heritage buildings and ancient residential areas, she added.
Truong Trong Nghia, a member of the city People's Council, said most city residents supported heritage preservation as it saved the spirit of their city for future generations.
He said it was also profitable in terms of tourism, as modern developments weren't a true indicator of a city's worth.
So far the city doesn't have a plan to preserve many of its historic sites, he added.
For many heritage buildings that have already been demolished it was too late to make a plan to preserve them, Nghia said.
Thao said there was only one ancient residential area left in the city, namely Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street and Vuon Trau Hamlet of the Chinese ethnic minority in Hoc Mon District.
Many delegates were saddened by the loss of old buildings and called for the city to plan for their preservation.
According to Nguyen Dang Nghia, another member of the city People's Council, various authorities would need to coordinate to be successful.
Delegates also submitted to the city's People's Committee to urge the city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promote heritage preservation to residents and investors.
However, Tran Chi Dung, head of the city Department of Planning and Architecture, argued with other delegates by saying that modern developments were necessary and hadn't affected any heritage buildings. — VNS