Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism talks about 100-year-old villa at risk of being demolished

Regarding the case of a 100-year-old villa valued at nearly 5.4 billion VND to be demolished to build a riverside road, Dong Nai authorities are very interested and want to keep it for conservation and tourism development.

This morning (September 25), Mr. Nguyen Hong An, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, affirmed that the unit really wants to preserve the house of Governor Vo Ha Thanh, also known as "the Governor's house" to serve the conservation work and to develop tourism along the Dong Nai river.

Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism talks about the 100-year-old villa at risk of being demolished photo 1

100-year-old villa along Dong Nai river is at risk of being demolished. Photo: Hoang Anh

"My opinion as well as the Department's Board of Directors will be to calculate a plan to advise the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee to propose a plan to buy back this house to put it into service for tourism development for convenience instead of carrying out clearance and compensation," Mr. An shared.

According to Mr. An, the Department is also very interested in this 100-year-old villa. However, the units still have to wait for the direction of the Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and the sectors to survey, evaluate and calculate the most optimal solution.

Through surveys, the authorities determined that the planned area for the riverside road project would encroach on the “Mr. Phu’s mansion” by about 9 meters. According to calculations, the estimated compensation cost for this ancient villa is nearly 5.4 billion VND.

Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism talks about the 100-year-old villa at risk of being demolished photo 2

The interior of "Mr. Phu's house" still retains the same architecture from 1924 to the present. Photo: Hoang Anh

The public has expressed great concern about the villa being demolished to make way for a riverside road project. Many experts, architects and residents have called for the preservation of this ancient house.

To solve the above problem, the Provincial Department of Construction has surveyed and evaluated the current status of ancient villas and is finalizing two main proposals.

The first option is to reclaim all the land and move the villa to the back to create the best conditions for conservation. The second option is to readjust the current route to suit the location of the villa.

Currently, the Department is coordinating with relevant units to complete these plans and submit them to competent authorities for consideration and decision.

Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism talks about the 100-year-old villa at risk of being demolished photo 3

Some people regretted the destruction of the "Mr. Phu's mansion" so they came to take pictures and sketch this unique architecture. Photo: Hoang Anh

Previously, on September 20, Mr. Thai Bao, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, signed an official dispatch to the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee and the Standing Committee of Bien Hoa City Party Committee on studying the issue of preserving and promoting the cultural value of the architectural work "Mr. Phu's house".

Many opinions from domestic and foreign experts, architects, historical researchers and local people also recommended that the government should consider a plan to preserve this architectural work of historical and cultural value.

Therefore, the Provincial People's Council Party Delegation requests leaders at all levels and specialized agencies to study the above issue to calculate appropriate plans and solutions, both ensuring the implementation of the project and at the same time preserving, conserving and promoting the value of this architecture.