The arduous task of preserving the culture of the Nguyen Dynasty.

TTH - The cultural heritage left by the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue in particular and Vietnam in general is immense, encompassing historical, cultural, landscape, artistic, scientific, and economic values. Over the years, the preservation and promotion of these cultural values ​​have been highly appreciated, but there are still some shortcomings, difficulties, and limitations.

Hue Imperial Palace

Many buildings have been restored.
The conservation of Hue's cultural heritage over the past nearly 50 years, especially from 1993 to the present, has attracted and mobilized the participation of a wide range of social strata, government levels from central to local, and numerous international governmental and non-governmental organizations. In fact, significant achievements have been made, most notably the transformation of the Hue Imperial City heritage from a state of "urgent rescue" to a period of "stability and sustainable development".

After the war, facing numerous difficulties and differing, inconsistent perspectives, the treatment of the heritage of Hue Imperial City remained inappropriate. The indiscriminate use of these sites led to significant losses and distortions. In 1981, following a visit to Hue, UNESCO Director-General Amadou Mahtar M'Bow issued a call to "save Hue," launching an international campaign to preserve and restore the values ​​of Hue's cultural heritage.

Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, said that since the call was issued, the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of Hue's historical sites have been carried out according to plan. To date, approximately 175 large and small historical sites have received investment, restoration, and preservation. Notable examples include Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Hien Lam Pavilion, The Mieu complex, Dien Tho Palace, Duyet Thi Duong, An Dinh Palace, etc. “This has brought positive economic and social benefits, making a significant contribution to improving the urban and residential areas, attracting tourists, and increasing tourism and service revenue…,” Dr. Hai stated.

Sharing the same view, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Manh (Faculty of Science, Hue University) believes that the restoration, preservation, and conservation of heritage sites should be carried out systematically, from policy planning and research to implementation, adhering to scientific principles. Therefore, since the Hue Imperial Citadel Complex was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1993, the restoration and conservation of this heritage system has been effectively implemented.

And there are still challenges.

However, according to some experts, in recent years, along with the market economy and the process of industrialization and modernization, Hue's cultural heritage is facing challenges in preservation and promotion. Besides the UNESCO-recognized sites, many other sites are deteriorating and being neglected… This is due to a lack of planning, strategic vision, effective preservation methods, and funding.

Further elaborating on the limitations, Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son, from Dong A University (former Director of the Hue Imperial Fine Arts Museum), noted that there is no comprehensive and harmonious policy for researching, preserving, and promoting the cultural heritage of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue. There is a lack of truly qualified experts in heritage preservation, and many restoration and renovation projects deviate from the original sites. Dr. Son pointed out that the reasons stem from internal conflicts in resolving the relationship between preservation and development, a lack of understanding between the owners of Nguyen Dynasty cultural heritage sites and those involved in preservation work, leading to inappropriate treatment of cultural heritage, and insufficient research on cultural heritage before restoration, preservation, or exploitation, resulting in a failure to arrive at optimal solutions. In addition, financial, human resource, and climatic difficulties in the Hue region also pose obstacles.

To mitigate this situation, the expert suggested that a comprehensive policy should be enacted and implemented for the preservation of cultural heritage from all periods in Hue, rather than focusing solely on the preservation of Nguyen Dynasty cultural heritage. A set of regulations on the preservation and restoration of historical and cultural relics should be developed according to national and international standards; and a team of workers knowledgeable about the history, culture, and art of the Nguyen Dynasty should be employed in the restoration and renovation of Nguyen Dynasty relics in Hue…

Dr. Son believes that, in order to contribute to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue, in addition to the efforts of management agencies, specialized agencies, and the government at all levels in Hue, it is necessary to spread this activity to the community by promoting research and education about the cultural heritage of the Nguyen Dynasty to the community, especially the younger generation. Furthermore, systematically and extensively promoting the cultural heritage of the Nguyen Dynasty to tourists visiting Hue will help them understand and appreciate its value.

Text and photos: Nhat Minh

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