What management model for My Son and Hoi An heritage?

VHO - Which unit will manage and operate the two world cultural heritages My Son and Hoi An ancient town in the coming time to ensure the implementation of advisory and state management functions on the conservation and promotion of heritage values ​​is a matter of concern.

My Son Temple Heritage

The My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board (My Son Management Board) and the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center (Hoi An Center) said that the two units have submitted proposals for a heritage management model after the district-level government ceases operations.

Hoi An wishes to be directly under the city

Based on legal grounds, Hoi An Center recommends that the Standing Committee of Hoi An City Party Committee consult with the People's Committee of Quang Nam province and the People's Committee of Da Nang City to establish the Hoi An Ancient Town Heritage Conservation Center under the People's Committee of Da Nang City, under the direct direction and management of the City People's Committee.

Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc, Director of Hoi An Center, said that the ancient town of Hoi An has 1,143 relics, mainly in the old town, of which 1,130 are architectural and artistic relics, 9 are ranked at national level, and 13 are ranked at provincial level.

With more than 80% of the relics owned privately and collectively, meaning that in each relic, daily activities of residence, daily life, economic , cultural and social activities of the people still take place, and therefore the ancient town of Hoi An is considered a "living museum", creating uniqueness compared to other heritages in Vietnam.

With this characteristic, in ancient urban areas, there are not only regulations on heritage conservation, but also subject to the regulation of many other legal regulations of a locality under the state administrative management system.

This creates quite a unique feature and raises many difficult and complicated issues in the process of management, conservation and promotion of value compared to many other heritages. Therefore, the management, conservation and promotion of Hoi An ancient town must be placed in the mindset and scope of Hoi An commercial port city.

Along with the achievements in the work of preserving and promoting values, the difficulties and shortcomings in the current management model are gradually revealed. In addition, heritage is also facing many challenges in management, especially in the context of urbanization, tourism development, climate change and pressures from modern economic and social life that have been and are posing increasingly high and complex requirements.

Therefore, in the new context, building a highly professional heritage management agency, fully empowered and having a close coordination mechanism with relevant parties is an urgent requirement.

According to Hoi An Center, the model of building the Hoi An Ancient Town Heritage Conservation Center under the provincial and municipal levels has outstanding advantages such as: Facilitating the licensing of people in the heritage area in the restoration and repair of relics and single houses when the Law on Cultural Heritage No. 45/2024/QH15 takes effect from July 1, 2025.

According to this regulation, the provincial-level cultural heritage authority has the authority to grant licenses for restoration and repair activities of relics to the people. The model not only focuses on heritage conservation but also aims at developing sustainable tourism, creating revenue for the local budget and increasing income for the people; educating and raising public awareness; coordinating with international organizations...

“This management model closely combines professional, financial, community, public-private partnership, and support from international organizations, with the direct and comprehensive guidance of the Da Nang City People's Committee, ensuring that Hoi An's cultural heritage is preserved and its value is promoted,” said Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc.

Hoi An Ancient Town Heritage

My Son Heritage proposes three options

In the report proposing a model for managing My Son cultural heritage sent to the Standing Committee of Duy Xuyen District Party Committee for consideration and submission to the province recently, three options were considered, including: Establishing the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; or under the Provincial (City) People's Committee; or under the Commune People's Committee.

Currently, the organizational structure of My Son Management Board includes the Board of Directors and 6 professional departments, with a total of 140 employees (8 positions). In the management of world cultural heritage, My Son Temple Complex is located far from residential areas, is an archaeological architectural ruin, and is thousands of years old, easily affected by natural and human factors.

In addition to the work of preserving relics, managing and preserving the diversity of the My Son special-use forest ecosystem, forest fire prevention and fighting is also a key task of the management unit. Therefore, regarding the management model, those under the management of superiors also need to consider these factors.

At the same time, closely and organically link the task of preserving relic sites with the task of developing the economy, culture and society in the locality in particular and the whole country in general.

Special attention is paid to promoting the potential for economic development of tourism in the direction of developing cultural tourism associated with biodiversity conservation. Strengthening propaganda and education to raise awareness of relics and the role and responsibility of the community in preserving relics.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Director of My Son Management Board, said that the proposal to establish My Son Management Board as a special public service unit under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province (city) is an excellent model, ensuring the timely implementation of state advisory functions on management, conservation and promotion of heritage.

At the same time, expand international cooperation and exchange to improve the effectiveness of conservation work. This is not only a solution to ensure stricter and more scientific management of heritage, but also creates favorable conditions for tourism development, increases budget revenue, and promotes the economy, culture and society of the province.

Proposal to assign management to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

It is known that the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province also sent Document No. 161 to the People's Committee of Quang Nam province regarding the proposal to rearrange public service units under the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector after the end of the operation of the district-level administrative unit.

In particular, it is proposed to establish Hoi An Center on the basis of partially merging the functions and tasks of Hoi An City Culture - Sports and Radio - Television Center; to establish My Son Management Board as a public service unit under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam, this structure helps optimize the management process and create flexible coordination between related units. With the assigned authority, the ability to mobilize financial resources from many different sources helps reduce dependence on state resources, while creating favorable conditions for heritage conservation and promotion projects.

Synchronous management according to legal regulations, in coordination with relevant agencies, helps to strengthen coordination in protecting and promoting the cultural heritage of Hoi An and My Son, especially in the context of tourism development and increasing number of visitors. At the same time, focus on specialization in conservation, environmental management and urban landscape.

“This model not only focuses on heritage conservation but also aims at sustainable tourism development, generating revenue for the local budget and increasing people’s income. Organizing cultural events, festivals and tourism activities will help the locality develop its economy and society in a harmonious way without affecting the value of heritage,” said Mr. Hong.

Currently, Vietnam has 8 World Heritage sites. Regarding direct management, there are 2 World Heritage management units under the District People's Committee, which are Hoi An Center and My Son Management Board. There are 2 units under the Department level, which are Trang An Landscape Management Board and Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Management Board. There are 4 units under the Provincial People's Committee, which are Hue Monuments Conservation Center, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Management Board, Ha Long Bay Management Board and Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/mo-hinh-quan-ly-nao-cho-di-san-my-son-va-hoi-an-139605.html