“Supporting” ancient garden houses in Hue

VHO - Thua Thien Hue has continued to implement solutions to preserve, conserve and promote the value of Hue's typical garden houses. In particular, support policies for restoration are resources to help garden houses preserve the unique architectural heritage of their ancestors, while opening up opportunities for tourism development.

The 134-year-old garden house of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngo's family in Kim Long ward, Hue city is being restored according to the "Policy project to support the protection and promotion of typical garden house values" in the period of 2023-2026 of Thua Thien Hue province. The house has the traditional Hue three-room, two-wing architecture along with a typical garden and green tree system. Over a long period of time, the project has been seriously degraded and damaged such as: the wooden frame is damaged by termites, the tile roof system is damaged, broken, leaking...; the garden landscape has not been renovated or renovated.

Supported conservation for 11 garden houses in the area

With nearly 1 billion VND in support from the province's policy, the family will mobilize more resources to restore the project to preserve and maintain the heritage as well as open up opportunities to exploit and promote its value.

Recently, in November 2024, the Hue Garden House Management and Protection Board also started the restoration and prevention of degradation of the ancient house of Mrs. Phan Thi Dieu Lien's family at 77B Bao Vinh (Huong Vinh Ward, Hue City). The house is over 110 years old, built in the architectural style of two floors and two compartments with closed gables, but has seriously degraded over the years. The project is ranked as grade one, the house of Mrs. Dieu Lien's family will receive a maximum support of 1 billion VND to carry out the restoration and conservation work. Ms. Phan Thi Dieu Lien happily said, “More than 20 years ago, the province planned to preserve and promote Bao Vinh ancient town. When we heard about the plan to restore the ancient houses, the people here were very happy. The cost of renovating each house was quite large, and the family could not invest, so we waited for support. Now, that dream has come true, and the family is very happy. In the future, if the locality implements tourism activities and welcomes visitors, our family will be ready.”

Mr. Truong Dinh Hanh, Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee informed: In the period of 2015-2020, the Project "Policy to support the protection and promotion of the value of typical Hue garden houses" supported the conservation of 11 garden houses in the area, concentrated in Kim Long, Thuy Bieu, Gia Hoi, and Duc Wards. After receiving support for restoration, the garden houses actively invested to promote their values, organized service business activities, attracted visitors and experienced Hue's unique tourism products. In the period of 2023-2026, Hue City continues to implement the project to spread the conservation and promotion of the value of garden houses. Up to now, 9 garden houses have been approved to participate in the project, including the garden houses of Mr. Ho Van Binh, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngo, Mr. Hoang Xuan Bac, and the temple of Duc Quoc Cong in Kim Long Ward; Ton That family temple, garden house of Mr. Ton That Phuong, Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Mr. Ho Xuan Doanh, Mr. Ho Xuan Dai in Thuy Bieu ward. Along with that, the locality also organized a project for Bao Vinh ancient house with 7 houses receiving support for restoration.

“In parallel with supporting the preservation of Bao Vinh ancient communal houses, Hue City has developed a plan to promote the value of Bao Vinh ancient communal houses. Such as investing in basic infrastructure (wharfs, parking lots, etc.); supporting owners of communal houses to build new ones, renovate toilets and accommodation rooms to serve tourism; vocational training, job conversion, and training in tourism skills for people; promoting and building tours to Bao Vinh ancient communal houses to exploit and promote their values, promote the development of tourism services, and cultural experiences in this ancient town,” Mr. Truong Dinh Hanh informed.

“Supporting” ancient garden houses in Hue - photo 2 — The stilt houses in Bao Vinh ancient town, Hue city await preservation and restoration.

Spreading people's awareness in heritage protection work

According to the decision of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province, the Project "Policy to support the protection and promotion of the value of typical garden houses" in the period of 2023-2026 of the province has many support contents; in particular, the cost of garden house restoration is adjusted to increase compared to the policy of the project in the period of 2015-2020. Specifically: typical garden houses type 1 are supported with a maximum of 1 billion VND/house (an increase of 300 million VND); garden houses type 2 are supported with a maximum of 800 million VND/house (an increase of 300 million VND) and garden houses type 3 are supported with 600 million VND/house (an increase of 200 million VND). Garden houses participating in the project are concentrated in localities in Hue city and Phuoc Tich ancient village (Phong Dien district). The estimated budget for implementing policies for typical garden houses and ancient houses in the 2023-2026 period is about 25.2 billion VND, of which the state budget ensures 80% and the rest is from socialized sources.

The Management Board of Phuoc Tich Ancient Village said that the project has brought about many positive results, contributing to preserving cultural heritage and developing community tourism in the ancient village. In the period of 2015-2020, 23 ancient garden houses in Phuoc Tich were supported for restoration, with a total cost of 14.9 billion VND; Phong Dien district supported and contributed by families to renovate the grounds and gardens of 20 houses. Up to now, there are 11 garden houses participating in sightseeing and homestay services, contributing to tourism development. The project will continue to be implemented in this new phase in Phuoc Tich ancient village to support the restoration and embellishment of ancient garden houses of Mr. Truong Duy Thanh, Ms. Ho Thi Thanh Nga, Ms. Su Kim Tien, Mr. Truong Van Thoan, and the ancestral houses of the Truong Cong and Le Ngoc families, etc.

According to statistics, there are about 120 typical ancient garden houses and houses on stilts in Thua Thien Hue province. Up to now, 55 garden houses in Hue city and Phuoc Tich ancient village have been restored and embellished from the budget according to the Project "Policy to support the protection and promotion of the value of typical Hue garden houses" and other legally mobilized sources. The implementation of the project to preserve Hue's typical cultural heritage simultaneously raises people's awareness in preserving traditional cultural identity, spreading people's voluntary awareness in protecting cultural heritage.

Along with supporting the preservation of Bao Vinh ancient houses, Hue City has developed a plan to promote the value of Bao Vinh ancient houses. Such as investing in basic infrastructure (wharfs, parking lots, etc.); supporting owners of old houses to build new ones, renovate toilets and accommodation rooms to serve tourism; vocational training, job conversion, training tourism skills for people, etc.

(Mr. TRUONG DINH HANH, Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee)

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/tiep-suc-cho-nha-vuon-co-xu-hue-116382.html