Mechanisms needed to manage heritage urban areas: insiders

A set of specific criteria and mechanisms are needed for localities to make planning schemes and handle the relations between modernisation and urban heritage preservation in the process of urbanisation, insiders said.

Pham Phu Ngoc, Director of the Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation in the central province of Quang Nam, noted that the ancient city is managing its heritage properties in the status of a heritage urban area.

The city is home to more than 1,400 classified relic sites, including 27 at the national level, 49 at the provincial level and 1,330 at the municipal level, he said. The restoration has been conducted regularly through joint efforts by local authorities and residents.

Yet a number of relevant regulations do not match the actual conditions in Hoi An, which has hindered the work, he pointed out, elaborating that it takes time to complete procedures for the restoration of national and special national relic sites.

Meanwhile, the northern province of Ninh Binh, home to 1,821 relic sites, including the UNESCO-recognised Trang An Landscape Complex; and the former imperial capital of Hoa Lu, the Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich Dong natural scenic site, and the Non Nuoc mountain site which have won the special national status.

Like others, the Hue imperial relic site in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue also needs distinct mechanisms to restore, preserve and promote its heritage values amid the rapid urbanisation.

Besides, ancient cities, towns and villages like Hue and Hoi An, which have been included in the Organisation of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), have also attracted crowds of tourists.

However, no legal documents have been issued so far stipulating heritage urban areas.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh province Pham Quang Ngoc said the evaluation and recognition of urban heritage values would create a foundation for urban areas to carry forward their potential effectively and sustainably.

Experts said it is necessary to soon specify the term “heritage urban area” and add it into a chapter of the law amending and supplementing the Cultural Heritage Law 2009 in order to meet heritage management requirements./.