Kindness and humanity - Cultural values that need to be preserved and promoted in the ancient town of Hoi An

The people of Hoi An live within, own, and benefit from this heritage, and therefore have a strong sense of responsibility for preserving, restoring, and promoting the value of this unique cultural heritage. Photo: DANG MINH TU

Simple, gentle, unassuming, honest, straightforward, open-minded, compassionate, polite… these are their outstanding qualities. Preserving and promoting this "pure and humane" way of life in the context of integration raises several issues worth considering.

A story of kindness

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Trung Hieu, 75 years old, a renowned documentary filmmaker from Southern Vietnam, was visiting Hoi An when, near the Japanese Bridge, his leg ached due to a relapse of arthritis. Seeing him struggling to walk, a local resident came out of their house to inquire about his condition and then took him to a parking lot on their motorbike to rest while waiting for his relatives.

Mr. Ngo Truong Tho, a retired official, and his friends from the old Da Nang area were staying at a hotel on Cua Dai Street. In the middle of the night, he suffered from hemorrhagic cystitis. Upon reporting it to the reception, an ambulance from a volunteer group arrived shortly afterward, providing free transportation to Da Nang Hospital for emergency treatment.

A group of tourists from the North visited shops in Hoi An to choose clothes and other items, but left feeling quite embarrassed because they hadn't bought anything. However, the shopkeepers still smiled and happily invited them to return when they had the chance.

Seeing a pothole on the road leading to Cam Nam bridge, which could easily cause pedestrians to fall, a local resident spontaneously bought cement, sand, and gravel to patch it up while waiting for authorities to arrive. When it rained heavily and the road was flooded with dangerous potholes, nearby residents spontaneously put up temporary warning signs to alert vehicles to avoid it.

When a funeral procession passes through the old quarter, many residents step out onto their porches, silently bowing their heads in farewell, even if they don't know who the deceased is. When they see elderly people crossing the street, schoolchildren and young people don't hesitate to stop and help, guiding them safely across...

Fortunately, such actions are not isolated incidents but are very common, becoming a way of life and a regular behavior for the residents of the ancient town of Hoi An.

Beyond just small acts in daily life, the "genuine kindness" of the people of Hoi An acts like a silent red thread binding the community together, helping people treat each other with more affection than reason, with compassion rather than calculation.

That's what makes Hoi An not just a place to visit, but also a place to return to, where every step of the traveler touches the heart, where beauty lies in the moss-covered ancient town and, more importantly, in the kindness and tolerance passed down through generations.

As director Tran Van Thuy put it, these are "acts of kindness." The acts of kindness in Hoi An have been formed over a long process, passed down from generation to generation.

From showing gratitude to our ancestors to the culture of behavior today.

The unique historical, natural, and social conditions of Hoi An have significantly shaped the lifestyle and character of its people. Hoi An is a land rich in cultural and historical heritage, with nearly 1,500 classified and managed historical sites. Hoi An's appeal and charm to tourists stem from the fact that it is a "living museum."

Inheriting the legacy from our ancestors and showing gratitude to them through traditional festivals such as those commemorating the founding masters of various professions, festivals honoring the tutelary deity, festivals celebrating saints, and religious festivals... These cultural activities and festivals expressing gratitude to our ancestors will surely sow good seeds of morality and a virtuous way of life in the hearts of the people.

It is the people themselves who are the key factor creating Hoi An's charm for tourists. Photo: DANG MINH TU

The people of Hoi An live within, possess, and benefit from this heritage, and therefore have a sense of responsibility for preserving, enhancing, and promoting the value of this unique cultural heritage.

When studying the people of Quang Nam province, writer Nguyen Ngoc rightly concluded: "Human beings are always products of a specific nature and history, molded by that natural and historical environment; on the other hand, humans also mold that nature for themselves, and create their own history."

Therefore, preserving and restoring the ancient town of Hoi An is also about protecting the positive qualities in the lifestyle and way of life of the people of Hoi An.

Recently, amidst the trend of integration and development, the population of the ancient town of Hoi An has undergone some changes, with many houses in the heart of the old town having changed hands. Those responsible for preserving Hoi An's cultural identity have reason to be concerned.

The "Hoi An - Pure and Kind-hearted People" project was issued by the leaders of the former Hoi An city in that context. In fact, most of the project's content had already been implemented by the original Hoi An residents in their daily lives a long time ago; it was simply compiled primarily to remind the younger generation and new residents. As the project permeated daily life, the soul of this ancient city gained even greater depth.

Promoting the value of heritage through the people of Hoi An.

As mentioned above, Hoi An's appeal lies in the fact that it is a "living museum," where heritage and people are closely intertwined. If the ancient city is seriously planned, restored, and preserved, it will be a prerequisite for preserving and promoting the positive qualities in the lifestyle and way of life of the people of Hoi An.

The old city of Hoi An has been divided into four administrative units, so planning, restoring, preserving, and promoting the value of this cultural heritage will undoubtedly face many difficulties. To facilitate the smooth implementation of this task, here are a few suggestions:

- The task of implementing conservation, restoration, and promotion plans for the ancient urban heritage should be assigned to a functional center of the city instead of the wards. Only then can the unity of this famous ancient city be protected. The center should inherit all the regulations and management procedures of the former Hoi An City Heritage Management Center, as that center has over 40 years of experience.

- Managing historical sites requires a team of staff with in-depth knowledge, high professional qualifications, and, most importantly, a deep commitment to cultural development. While awaiting the training and development of this team, it would be advisable to invite experts who previously worked at the Hoi An Heritage Management Center to serve as consultants, as they are fully capable of meeting the aforementioned requirements.

- The project "Hoi An - Kind and Sincere People" is very significant in restoring, preserving, and promoting the good qualities in the lifestyle, way of life, and interpersonal relationships of the people of Hoi An, and therefore needs to be further implemented extensively within the political system, agencies, organizations, and all levels of the population, because forming habits and ways of life always requires a long process.

The living environment and cultural heritage system of Hoi An play a crucial role in shaping the character and personality of the people of Hoi An, and it is the people of Hoi An who will contribute significantly to preserving and protecting this cultural heritage system. More importantly, it is the people themselves who are the key factor creating the charm of Hoi An for tourists not only from within the country but also from around the world .

The way of life, the "pure and humane" lifestyle of the people of Hoi An in the ancient urban environment rich in cultural and historical heritage, when preserved, promoted, and spread, has the potential to become another cultural heritage in the future.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/nhan-tinh-thuan-hau-gia-tri-van-hoa-can-gin-giu-va-phat-huy-o-do-thi-co-hoi-an-3308282.html