Lessons in "beautifying" cultural landmarks.

(PLVN) - In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the debate surrounding the "renovation" of Ben Thanh Market and Turtle Lake in Ho Chi Minh City is both interesting and provides us with lessons about "beautifying" famous cultural landmarks.

Ben Thanh Market, built in 1914, covers a total area of ​​approximately 13,000 square meters and is a city-level historical site. Turtle Lake, also known as International Square, was built in the 1960s. Initially, a small lake had a turtle made of alloy supporting a stone monument on its back, hence the name Turtle Lake. Both structures are located in the heart of the city, associated with the memories of many generations of residents and tourists, not only in Ho Chi Minh City but also nationwide and internationally . They are even considered symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, attracting people for recreation and entertainment.

In January 2026, before the Lunar New Year, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee approved the renovation of several central areas of the city to create a new look for the 2026 Year of the Horse, including the two projects mentioned above. The "makeover" was expected to be completed before February 10th, using socialized capital sponsored by a business. The Department of Construction was the lead agency coordinating the implementation. However, after several days of construction, the colors in these areas sparked mixed opinions regarding aesthetics and landscape. For example, the area in front of Ben Thanh Market was painted in alternating blue and white. The construction unit claimed it symbolized the river and water, while many people thought it resembled… a swimming pool.

According to a newspaper survey, as of 7 PM on February 3rd, there were nearly 20,000 comments on this issue. Of these, over 1,800 opinions considered the renovation harmonious; over 3,900 opinions found it unusual; and over 13,000 opinions (70%) felt it was "disappointing because it differed from familiar memories." While the assessment of beauty or ugliness may vary depending on individual perceptions, the results above show that the renovation did not satisfy the majority.

Even the authorities themselves have differing opinions. The Department of Planning and Architecture, in a document dated February 2nd, stated that such renovations "have not received adequate attention, affecting the appearance of the city center," "causing debate about aesthetics, landscape harmony, and color," and that "the change in color has directly impacted the landscape and surrounding architectural structures."

Meanwhile, the Department of Construction stated that the two structures have been renovated in accordance with legal regulations; making the area cleaner, fresher, and more attractive to visitors for sightseeing and photography; and following the direction of preservation and upgrading quality, painting in the original colors combined with cleaning and preserving architectural details. The painted shapes in the square in front of Ben Thanh Market are currently a temporary solution, located within the traffic island area, awaiting the overall construction plan for the square and underground space, and can be flexibly changed in stages.

The Department of Construction assessed that the renovation was carried out "positively, in accordance with regulations on monument preservation, and aimed at harmonizing cultural values, urban memory, and modern aesthetic elements."

With less than two weeks until Tet (Lunar New Year), it's probably too late to give these cultural projects a makeover. However, this incident teaches us a lesson about cultural projects: to avoid conflicting opinions, thorough consultation before implementation is crucial to prevent controversy or having to change plans, saving effort and money unnecessarily.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/bai-hoc-trong-viec-lam-dep-cong-trinh-van-hoa.html