Hoi An Old Town - Photo: BD
During the meeting, many opinions suggested that dividing Hoi An into wards and communes is a major policy aimed at serving administrative management more effectively.
However, some initial problems arose, particularly regarding Hoi An's foreign relations status now that the city-level government apparatus no longer exists.
Preserving Hoi An through all changes
Mr. Nguyen Duc Binh, Secretary of Hoi An Ward, believes that Hoi An's brand has long been very strong in international relations, and the community has benefited from this.
To adapt to the new context, according to Mr. Binh, starting from July 1st, local leaders have been meeting to coordinate efforts to preserve the Hoi An space, utilize all available resources, and maintain existing international relationships.
However, the lack of a common name for Hoi An when used internationally, coupled with the fact that the ward-level administrative structure is considered inadequate and lacks comprehensive coverage, is a significant problem.
According to the Chairman of Hoi An ward, Nguyen Tan Cuong, the titles that Hoi An has received from UNESCO over the years have all been based on Hoi An's working commitments to UNESCO; most recently, Hoi An was recognized in the global network of creative cities.
"We are determined to fulfill all the commitments we previously signed with UNESCO, but it's quite challenging," Mr. Cuong said.
Mr. Nguyen Hung, Secretary of Hoi An Dong ward, expressed the view that the naming convention needs to be reconsidered to better suit the current context. According to him, names such as "UNESCO Heritage and Creative City" could be considered, rather than necessarily using the word "city"—even if only as a nominal designation.
"Although Hoi An is no longer a city in administrative terms, the entire area of Hoi An remains an ancient town," Mr. Hung said. He also emphasized the human factor and community consensus to ensure the long-term sustainability of Hoi An in any undertaking.
Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Huong, Head of the UNESCO Culture Section in Hanoi , speaking in Hoi An on the afternoon of January 15th - Photo: BD
Find a sufficiently comprehensive name when working with international partners.
At the meeting on the afternoon of January 15th, Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Huong, Head of the UNESCO Culture Committee in Hanoi, stated that efforts had been made to work with the UNESCO Secretariat to ensure that the organization would continue to cooperate and create conditions to prevent the recognition of Hoi An's titles from being affected.
Based on international experience, and from a personal perspective, Ms. Huong suggested that Hoi An should develop a project to strengthen the coordination of management among wards, based on the "nominal city" model already applied in Canada.
"Perhaps the name could simply be a 'nominal city,' without creating new bureaucracies or increasing costs, but it would help Hoi An in its foreign relations, ensuring it doesn't miss out on opportunities," Ms. Huong said, adding that this effort is entirely consistent with Resolution 80 of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture.
Cu Lao Cham Island is located in the buffer zone of Hoi An - Photo: BD
To preserve the brand and position Hoi An as a unified entity, Hoi An Ward Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Binh shared that the leaders of three wards and one commune in Hoi An have unanimously proposed the establishment of a "regional council".
The idea is that this council would be run by the ward chairman, who is also the chairman of the regional council, connecting the localities together.
"We also considered the need for a representative name for Hoi An to unify the point of contact when working with international partners, in order to preserve the value and brand of Hoi An," Mr. Binh said.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hung, Secretary of Hoi An Dong ward, it is not necessary to use the name "city" for Hoi An; if not done carefully, it could go against the current policy of government organization.
At the conclusion of the meeting on the afternoon of January 15th, representatives from the wards of Hoi An agreed to sit down together to unify a common name for the entire Hoi An area, but it would no longer be called Hoi An City, even nominally. The Hoi An ward will represent the ward in presenting the idea and proposal directly to UNESCO and other relevant agencies.
"It could be called Hoi An Ancien Town or something else suitable for international relations, ensuring it meets the criteria. The wards will submit the information to the relevant agencies and UNESCO," said Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Secretary of Hoi An Tay ward.
THAI BA DUNG
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-xuat-mot-ten-goi-de-hoi-an-du-tam-khi-doi-ngoai-quoc-te-20260115165707482.htm
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