Restoration plan proposed for world heritage site

Restoration plan proposed for world heritage site 

The Japanese bridge is the most visited site in Hội An ancient town. A restoration plan has been proposed for all relics in the town in 2030-35. VNS Photo Công Thành 

HỘI AN — The central province has proposed an overall restoration plan for Hội An ancient town and relics requiring an estimate fund of VNĐ1.67 trillion (US$66.8 million) in 2030-35 to continue the preservation of the world heritage site.

The heritage preservation plan aims to repair downgraded relics, old houses and pagodas in Hội An that have been in ruined due to annual floods and storms.

The ancient town, which was recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, has 1,439 relics and old houses, of which 80 per cent belong to the Old Quarter, built from 100 and 200 years ago.

Quảng Nam had allocated funds for restoration of nearly 900 relics and old houses in different projects from 1997-2005, and 2012-22 at a cost of VNĐ300 billion ($12 million).

Tourists visit an old house in Hội An City. More than 1,000 old houses and relics have been preserved in the ancient town from previous centuries. Photo courtesy of Anh Sơn

Currently, experts from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and Việt Nam have been repairing and strengthening the structure of the centuries-old Japanese Bridge – a symbol of Hội An and the Việt Nam-Japan friendship.

Hội An ancient town is seen as the most attractive destination in central Việt Nam, hosting 13.5 million tourists in 2018-22.

Hội An City officially became a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the Crafts and Folk Art category last year.    

Local traditional crafts have been preserved as sustainable livelihoods for thousands of families, including carpentry, terra-cotta, lantern-making, bamboo work, nipa-palm processing, garment production and leather crafting.

Lanterns feature the beauty of Hội An ancient town at night. The world heritage site draws tourists with well-preserved old houses and culture. VNS Photo Công Thành 

More than 1,700 households and 685 small-scale enterprises with 4,000 labourers and craftsmen are engaged in crafts and the performance of folk arts.

Many traditional festivals in the old town have been recognised as national heritages including the Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival and the annual Nguyên Tiêu (fullmoon of lunar January) Festival, as well as Thanh Châu bird's nest, Thanh Hà Pottery Village, the carpentry trade of Kim Bồng Village, and the Trà Quế vegetable garden.

The town has been promoting ‘green’ and sustainable tourism with zero-waste, non-plastic and low carbon policies. VNS