The story of the "Mr. Phu's mansion" (on the banks of the Dong Nai River, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province) has stirred public opinion in recent days, presenting a signal that is both encouraging and thought-provoking. It's encouraging to see the community increasingly showing practical concern for cultural heritage values.
But reflecting on it, one wonders how much heritage has been lost in silence, and how many more times will public opinion continue to speak out to preserve the soul and cultural values from the early days of Southern Vietnam amidst the increasingly rapid flow of urbanization.
Along with the story of "Mr. Phu's mansion" in Dong Nai, for many years the ancient house of Mr. Vuong Hong Sen (Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) has also been a point of interest for those who love heritage and appreciate and admire the cultural research achievements of the scholar Vuong.
However, since being classified as a historical monument, due to inheritance disputes within the family, the traditional civil architectural monument of Mr. Vuong Hong Sen (classified according to Decision No. 140/2003/QD-UB dated August 5, 2003) has never been renovated to preserve its ancient architectural values.
And recently, the People's Committee of Binh Thanh District issued a decision to enforce remedial measures in accordance with Decision No. 6200/QD-KPHQ dated August 23, 2023, of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Thanh District, regarding this old house.
The story of the two houses mentioned above illustrates that preserving cultural heritage is not easy, especially when the property is still privately owned. In conservation efforts, there has always been a reluctance to classify historical sites, because once classified, restoration and upgrading of the structures require waiting through numerous paperwork procedures…
Therefore, there are beautiful buildings and valuable sites that are entirely the private property of the individual or entity that owns them. This issue once again puts conservation efforts in a difficult position, because since artifacts or buildings are personal property, how they are preserved, kept, or sold is a personal right.
Heritage preservation certainly cannot be defined simply as old houses or antiques that are 100 years old or older, or merely considered old if they are less so. The definition of heritage involves considering many different aspects. Furthermore, preservation isn't just about labeling something a "historical monument" or "architectural and artistic monument" and being done with it. Instead, it's about ensuring that the heritage "lives" alongside the contemporary flow of life.
Ultimately, both tangible and intangible heritage originate from the daily life and customs of the people... If we preserve a value that is centuries or millennia old merely for the sake of ranking on paper, then that is "dead preservation," meaningless and failing to contribute any value to the present or future.
In the ever-changing flow of social life, well-invested infrastructure is a clear measure of development, and preserving heritage within the urban development map is not easy… This needs to be acknowledged fairly and clearly. There are significant structures that deserve preservation, and conservation planning needs to be urgently undertaken.
However, some buildings require thorough study in terms of architectural art and historical value. If it is simply a beautiful building, and considering the overall locality there are many similar, or even more historically significant, buildings, then in the process of economic development, sometimes accepting the demolition of one or more buildings is a common practice in many cities around the world.
Heritage serves as a foundation for present and future generations to inherit and be proud of the identity left behind by countless predecessors. Only with a past and present can we build a foundation for the future. Preserving heritage has never been, and never will be, merely a matter of keeping it for the sake of listing it; heritage must "live" with the times and be ready to keep pace with the future, creating positive cultural values for the community.
OCEAN
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bao-ton-va-phat-huy-di-san-post761217.html
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