HCM CITY — Preserving HCM City's architectural heritage is critically important during fast-paced urbanisation as the spirit of the city could be lost, speakers at a seminar said last week.
Nguyen Thi Hau, deputy chairwoman of the HCM City Research and Development Institute, said that the city should compile detailed information about historic structures and important archaeological sites.
Creating plans to excavate historic sites and preserve the area's buildings is urgent, she said.
Professionals are concerned about preserving many of the city's relics, including two important ones, the Giong Ca Vo relic in Can Gio District and Hung Loi Pottery in District 8.
Architect Nguyen Huu Thai told the seminar that a modern city should preserve its past.
The city has 124 national and city architectural heritage sites and archaeological relics, many of which have been damaged or are deteriorating.
Vu Kim Anh, deputy director of the HCM City Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, said rapid urban development threatens the city's historic structures and sites.
But even more importantly, urban managers were not consistent in their ideas about heritage preservation, she said. — VNS