The project to restore the Japanese Covered Bridge will be completed by the end of July.

The Japanese Covered Bridge relic is in the process of being tiled. Photo: NL

Officially starting at the end of December 2022, the project to restore the Chua Cau relic focuses on a number of contents including embellishing the general landscape and technical infrastructure; constructing auxiliary works to serve the relic restoration; dismantling the relic combined with methods of investigation, survey, drawing, recording, and digitizing the relic...

Hoi An City also held many seminars and consulted with experts to ensure the most accurate restoration of the Japanese Covered Bridge. The project is expected to be completed in 360 days.

However, the restoration process of the relic also encountered many conflicting opinions about whether the floor of the Japanese Covered Bridge is curved or straight.

The restoration process of Cau Pagoda always focuses on ensuring the original elements. Photo: NL

On April 15, 2024, the People's Committee of Hoi An City submitted a document to the Provincial People's Committee on extending the contract for the construction of the Chua Cau relic restoration project. On May 13, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 3347 agreeing in principle to allow the People's Committee of Hoi An City to extend the construction period for the Chua Cau relic restoration project by 180 days to ensure that the relic is restored in a systematic, effective and quality manner for a relic as symbolic and valuable as the Chua Cau.

Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc affirmed that the restoration must always be based on the factors, current status, and traces of the relic to come up with a restoration plan. Therefore, the restored Cau Pagoda will still be curved as it was before it was dismantled. "The project is expected to be completed by the end of July 2024 in time for the inauguration during the Vietnam - Japan exchange festival (August 2-4)" - Mr. Ngoc informed.

The restoration project of the Japanese Covered Bridge will be completed and open to visitors at the end of July 2024. Photo: KL

Built about 400 years ago, the Japanese Covered Bridge is not only a prominent symbol among thousands of relics and ancient houses in Hoi An but also an attractive tourist destination for many tourists when coming to Quang Nam. Although it has been repaired 7 times, due to its location in an area affected by weather, natural disasters, natural environment and humans, the relic has become increasingly degraded. Therefore, the implementation and completion of the Japanese Covered Bridge restoration project is considered a major surgery to promptly save this special national relic.

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