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PRESERVING THE PAST
Updated: 07-04-2008
Hoi An City is set to introduce a new zoning guideline to prevent mushrooming business from crowding its ancient streets.
Recent statistics from the Hoi An Vestige Preservation Center revealed that 21 ancient houses in the central Hoi An City had been transferred or sold since 1999, raising alarm about whether local authorities will be able to preserve the sanctity of the world cultural heritage site or lose the battle against the encroachment of businesses and modern facilities.
In an earlier article reported by Thanh Nien, Nguyen Chi Trung, director of the preservation center, said the new owners of the 150-yearold dwellings are mostly wealthy businesspeople and local authorities are concerned the houses’ distinctive cultural characteristics could be altered.
A Vietnamese ambassador also recently relayed to Quang Nam Province officials during his visit that businesses overcrowding the streets threatened the town’s cultural authenticity.
According to the latest statistics from Hoi An City’s government, 751 families use their residences for business purposes out of the 928 street-front ancient houses in Area I, which describes the area clustered around Minh An, Cam Pho, and Son Phong wards.
Although the city has designated Area I as a location that must be preserved in its original format without any renovation, businesses have currently invaded most of the street space in this area, taking up 97 percent of Tran Phu Street, 95 percent of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street and 96 percent of Bach Dang Street,
Shops and stores cover the entire areas of main streets such as Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Hoang Van Thu, among others, while the situation is similarly grim in Area II, where the city has declared its intent to preserve the natural scenery and ecological system.
According to Le Van Giang, chairman of Hoi An People’s Committee, the city hopes to finalize its new zoning guideline for businesses in Area I by May 1, though in 2006 it already said it would limit business activities in Area I to only souvenir shops.
"It’s ironic that some of the artists and photographers coming to Hoi An struggle to find the perfect angle to capture the spirit of this city," Giang said.
"Some of the streets are simply being turned into a wholesale supermarket, with shop after shop lined up.
We even discovered that some households have widened their business space by demolishing walls between ancient houses."
Professor and architect Nguyen Ba Dang said ancient houses create the distinct ambiance of Hoi An streets that date back to the 17th century.
The city was founded as a port with mostly open fronted houses for trading.
A Hoi An government official even told Thanh Nien that at one time, a business license to operate on one of Hoi An ancient streets was sold for VND150 million.
Though that is no longer the case, starting May 1, businesses must comply with new regulations restricting mannequins in street-front displays or selling products indecorous with the cultural environs of the age-old footpaths.
Last December, Francesco Bandarin, director of the World Heritage Center, had warned Hoi An that the city was slowly losing its authentic feel due to the replacement of street lanterns with neon lights and the encroachment of traffic and pollution.
"Preserving Hoi An isn’t just for the sake of sightseeing and pleasing tourists," Giang said.
"It’s about preserving a community."
Source: Thanhnien News
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