Awaiting further implementation of special policies for Hoi An heritage site.

Hoi An Ancient Town is a "living heritage" city, therefore it has unique characteristics in terms of management and operation. Photo: QUOC TUAN

Disruption of some support policies

As a "living heritage" city with many unique characteristics, the preservation and promotion of the value of Hoi An World Cultural Heritage site in the past partly stemmed from the fact that the (old) Hoi An city government maintained a number of specific mechanisms and policies to encourage the preservation and promotion of the value of the relics.

Due to the shift to a two-tiered local government system, these policies are temporarily suspended for further study and appropriate transition.

Representatives from the Management Board of Son Phong Village Temple (Nguyen Duy Hieu Street, Hoi An Ward) stated that activities related to the traditional culture of the village temple are being maintained. However, the monthly allowance for those who look after and clean the temple has not been paid since July. Most other village temples and historical sites in the area are facing the same issue, although not as many, but it serves as encouragement for those dedicated to their work.

According to Mr. Tong Quoc Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoi An Ward, the new model of state management of cultural heritage still has some shortcomings, including a shortage of personnel in the ward, which made it very difficult to support the relocation and protection of historical sites in the ward during the recent floods.

“Identifying the importance of ensuring security and order, and maintaining the image and brand of Hoi An tourism after the establishment of the two-tiered local government model, is a top priority. Therefore, the ward's forces have focused their efforts on this task. However, the lack of support resources is a concern, particularly the fact that the ward has maintained 75 personnel responsible for urban civility and neighborhood patrols for nearly half a year now, but still lacks the necessary funding,” Mr. Hung stated.

According to Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, some specific policies and mechanisms that were effectively implemented by the Hoi An City People's Committee in the past, such as: the mechanism to support the restoration and preservation of private and collective relics inside and outside the ancient town; regulations on financial support for the protection of community religious relics… should continue to be applied.

Mr. Ha Vy, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, acknowledged that, due to being in the early stages of operating the new model, the management of Hoi An's heritage also has some shortcomings.

Some previously existing local legal documents need to be reviewed in light of the current development requirements of Hoi An heritage, including compatibility with UNESCO requirements, so more time is needed.

We need to continue implementing Resolution 31.

At the recent conference summarizing the planning for the Hoi An Ancient Town World Heritage Site, linked to tourism development for the period 2012-2025, Ms. Pham Thanh Huong, Head of the Culture Section, UNESCO Office in Hanoi, recommended that Da Nang city should consider dedicating a separate resolution to Hoi An on the preservation and development of this heritage city.

In 2023, the former Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution 31 on the construction and development of the former Hoi An city according to the orientation of an ecological, cultural, and tourism city by 2030. Photo: QUOC TUAN

"The resolution needs to build upon and update the regulations, mechanisms, and policies that Hoi An has successfully implemented in the past, helping this heritage site become an outstanding example of heritage conservation in the Asian region," Ms. Huong said.

In fact, a resolution dedicated to Hoi An, contributing to the preservation and maximization of the value of this unique heritage city, already exists and remains in effect. This is Resolution 31 on the construction and development of the former Hoi An city according to the orientation of an ecological, cultural, and tourism city by 2030, issued by the former Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee on July 31, 2023.

Resolution 31 does not focus on providing financial resources but rather on issuing specific mechanisms, policies, and projects to promote the value of heritage; as well as helping localities more easily control building height and density, preserve green spaces, and prevent Hoi An from becoming a densely populated city…

Following the issuance of Resolution 31, the implementation of the plan has focused strongly on the 2025-2030 term. If this resolution is maintained, it will serve as a foundation for resolving many outstanding issues, including the issuance of specific mechanisms and policies related to the payment of funds and support for the operation, management, and preservation of the Hoi An ancient town heritage site.

Mr. Tran Anh, former Secretary of the Hoi An City Party Committee, stated: "It is not easy for the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee to issue a separate resolution for district-level localities. If Resolution 31 is left unresolved after the merger, it would be very regrettable. We hope that in the future, the Da Nang City Party Committee will continue to implement the contents that are still relevant to the collective intellectual values of this resolution."

Source: https://baodanang.vn/cho-tiep-noi-chinh-sach-dac-thu-cho-di-san-hoi-an-3314104.html