Consulting on the work of preserving and promoting Hoi An heritage sustainably in the new context

VHO - On the afternoon of December 4, in Hoi An ward, Da Nang city, a conference was held on the work of preserving and promoting the value of the world cultural heritage of Hoi An ancient town in the current new context.

The conference was organized by the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center to celebrate the 26th anniversary of Hoi An Ancient Town being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage (December 4, 1999 - December 4, 2025).

According to the World Heritage Conservation Center (WCHC) of Hoi An, from the beginning of 2025 until now, in the context of the situation in the whole country and in the locality in general, in the field of cultural heritage in particular, there have been profound changes that directly impact the activities of preserving and promoting the values ​​of the World Heritage of Hoi An, including many changes due to the organization of two-level local government as well as the implementation of the amended Law on Cultural Heritage.

Implementing the policy of arranging administrative units and building a 2-level local government, Hoi An city was reorganized to include: 3 wards (Hoi An, Hoi An Dong, Hoi An Tay) and 1 commune (Tan Hiep).

On that basis, the cultural heritage system in Hoi An, including tangible and intangible cultural heritage, although unchanged in content, has adjustments in distribution area and management model. The scope of the protected area of ​​Hoi An Ancient Town is currently located entirely in Hoi An ward.

In the four communes and wards of Hoi An, Hoi An Dong, Hoi An Tay, and Tan Hiep, there are currently 1,439 historical and cultural relics in the forms of architectural art, archaeology, history of patriotic revolutionary struggles, and scenic spots.

Of which, in Hoi An ward (urban core area), there are 1,194 relics, including 1 special national relic, 11 national relics; 24 provincial relics; 13 relics in the provincial protection list.

Hoi An Tay Ward has 77 relics, including 5 national relics; Hoi An Dong has 40 relics, including 4 national relics and Tan Hiep has 27 relics, including 7 national relics. This system of relics and heritages plays an important role in attracting an average of nearly 5 million visitors each year to the ancient town of Hoi An.

Conference scene

In addition, the National Assembly issued the Law on Cultural Heritage; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued circulars to guide the implementation of the Law on Cultural Heritage in 2024. The new law and system of documents have many additional and improved points, creating a synchronous and comprehensive legal basis for the work of preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage nationwide.

Implementing the Law on Cultural Heritage

VHO - Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh has just signed Decision No. 723/QD-TTg promulgating the Plan to implement the Law on Cultural Heritage.

Based on these regulations, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City is developing and submitting to the City People's Committee for promulgation of the Regulations on management, protection and promotion of cultural heritage values ​​in Da Nang City. At the same time, the Center is consulting on adjusting the Regulations on protection of World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town to suit the new situation.

In addition, the impact of extreme weather and prolonged flooding during this year's stormy rainy season has severely affected the Old Quarter and many relics in the suburbs. Localities have mobilized many resources, along with the active participation of owners and representatives of relic owners to protect, clean and sanitize relics before, during and after each flood.

In that context, from July 2025 to present, Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center has deployed many tasks to preserve and promote the heritage values ​​of Hoi An.

Notably, the Center advised the People's Committee of Da Nang City to organize a conference to summarize the master plan for investment in conservation and restoration of the World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town associated with tourism development and Hoi An City in the period 2012-2025. Currently, the Center is also advising on the development of a planning task to conserve and promote the value of Hoi An Ancient Town in the next period.

Consulting on adjustments and submitting for comments to complete the "Regulations on the protection of the World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town"; at the same time, consulting on the development of a Coordination Regulation in performing the tasks of managing, preserving and promoting heritage values.

The results achieved have contributed to enriching cultural tourism products, spreading the value of tangible and intangible heritage, and consolidating the position of Hoi An Ancient Town as a unique and attractive heritage destination on the Vietnamese and international tourism map.

In addition, research, publishing, heritage management; collection, inventory, preservation of artifacts in museums are regularly implemented; heritage promotion and propaganda. Organizing festivals and cultural events; activities to build "Hoi An - UNESCO Creative City"; tour guides; foreign affairs activities, etc.

The conference also raised a number of issues in the work of preserving and promoting the values ​​of Hoi An World Cultural Heritage in the current new context.

Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc, Deputy Director of Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, said that according to the direction of the People's Committee of Da Nang city, the conclusion at the conference summarizing the "Master plan for investment in conservation and restoration of World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town associated with tourism development and Hoi An City in the period of 2012-2025" determined the viewpoint of conservation and promotion of World Cultural Heritage values ​​of Hoi An Ancient Town in the coming time must not disrupt the overall character of the historical - cultural - ecological space of Hoi An Ancient Town in the relevant localities (Hoi An ward, Hoi An Dong ward, Hoi An Tay ward and Tan Hiep commune).

Preserve and promote the value of traditional craft villages, historical and cultural relics; river and island spaces; maintain the connection of conservation space between the Heritage site and the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve.

This is the basis for agencies, units and localities to have plans and development orientations to help preserve and promote heritage well in the coming time.

Cam Thanh village in Hoi An Dong ward is ranked 20th among the 50 most beautiful villages in the world in 2025 according to the US Forbes magazine.

In addition, the management agencies and local authorities organize the implementation of the Law on Cultural Heritage and documents guiding the implementation of the Law. At the same time, it is necessary to soon complete a separate legal framework for the Hoi An World Heritage Site.

In addition, a number of specific policy mechanisms have been effectively implemented by the People's Committee of Hoi An city in recent times, such as: Support mechanism for the restoration and embellishment of private and collective relics inside and outside the old town; Regulations on supporting funding for the protection of community religious relics should also be proposed to continue to be applied.

There needs to be close and effective coordination between relevant agencies, units and localities in carrying out the task of preserving and promoting the value of Hoi An heritage, both in the protected area and in the surrounding relics, traditional craft villages, and valuable historical - cultural - ecological spaces to both preserve cultural heritage and serve the economic - cultural - social development of localities, improving people's lives.

It is necessary to continue to have the cooperation of owners/representatives of owners of relics, the community of practicing intangible cultural heritage, researchers, and people passionate about heritage to work with state agencies and local authorities to preserve Hoi An's cultural heritage well.

Delegates speaking at the conference on the afternoon of December 4.

At the conference, managers, researchers, and collaborators in cultural heritage conservation also shared many contributions in orienting and building a master plan to preserve and promote the most sustainable values ​​of the world cultural heritage of Hoi An ancient town for the next stage after the merger.

The delegates, who are former local leaders, researchers, artisans... contributed many ideas to continue preserving and effectively promoting the world cultural heritage value of Hoi An ancient town in the new context.

Notably, there are opinions and recommendations on early disbursement of funding to support the team serving in the care and management of some ranked communal house relics; research on naming Ho Nghinh Street in Hoi An; early zoning and renovation of the park in the area of ​​Nguyen Duy Hieu's tomb; solutions to preserve and promote the value of Tuong (traditional opera) singing that is seriously fading away...

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/tham-van-y-kien-cong-tac-bao-ton-phat-huy-ben-vung-di-san-hoi-an-trong-boi-canh-moi-185796.html