Hoi An’s Heritage Sites: A Race Against Time
Hoi An, the iconic town recognized by UNESCO as a trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries, is facing an uphill battle to preserve its historical treasures.
Of particular concern are the 11 privately owned heritage sites that urgently require restoration, with their very existence hanging in the balance. One such site is located at 68 Tran Phu Street, where a humble moss-covered facade belies a crumbling interior of decayed beams and walls. This nearly 400-square-meter house is home to three elderly women, including 83-year-old Ngo Thi Gan, for whom the property has been a family heirloom passed down through generations.
The complex legal ownership of this house, which belongs to a Dutch national, only serves to exacerbate the challenges of restoring it. Despite its prime location and substantial estimated value, the structure is beyond repair and marked for demolition. However, the absence of the legal owner has left authorities in a bind, unable to proceed.
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| 68 Tran Phu Street in Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam: A facade of tranquility hides a damaged interior. Photo: Thai Ba Dung / Tuoi Tre |
The situation is further complicated by the need to evacuate residents during severe storms, like the recent Typhoon Tra Mi, to ensure their safety.
Moving down the street to 76/18 Tran Phu, we find another property spanning thousands of square meters and housing three families of the same clan. Here, the relentless forces of decay and termites have taken their toll, rendering one of the three houses beyond salvation. Yet, similar to the previous case, legal representation issues are hindering restoration efforts.
This pattern repeats itself at other historic sites on Tran Phu Street, Le Loi, Bach Dang, and the Ngu Bang Assembly Hall, where the race against time to save these precious landmarks seems to be slipping away.
Nguyen Van Son, the chairman of the Hoi An People’s Committee, underscores the dual priorities of restoration and resident safety. However, he also acknowledges the intricate web of ownership disputes and financial constraints that stand in the way of progress. “It’s a perplexing reality,” he laments, explaining how even with funding, the restoration of these ancient houses remains elusive due to complex legal documentation.
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| The insidious work of termites has left the structural components of 76/18 Tran Phu Street in a precarious state. Photo: Thai Ba Dung / Tuoi Tre |
“Although these buildings are severely damaged, our hands are tied,” Son adds, conveying a sense of powerlessness in the face of the daunting task at hand.
While the national government provides full funding for the restoration of state-owned heritage sites, the support for privately owned properties falls short, covering only 45 to 75 percent of the costs. This leaves families already struggling to make ends meet with an almost impossible financial burden.
Residents like Luong Thi Huyen Trang at 76/18 Tran Phu and the family of Ngo Thi Gan at 68 Tran Phu shared with Tuoi Tre newspaper that their meager incomes barely cover daily essentials, leaving no room for the costly restoration work. Even with special support from the government for some sites, the legal conundrums have brought restoration efforts to a grinding halt.
As things stand, 11 privately owned heritage sites in Hoi An continue to teeter on the brink of collapse, endangering both the residents and the town’s rich historical legacy. Until a solution is found, authorities are left with no choice but to prepare for evacuations during severe weather events, hoping to safeguard the well-being of those who call these ancient houses home.
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