Preserve cultural heritage so as not to be ashamed of future generations.

At the conference, the directions and tasks for 2025 were outlined, including: building a dossier to propose UNESCO to recognize Cu Chi Tunnels as a world heritage; implementing the project "Preserving and promoting the cultural and historical values ​​of communal houses in Ho Chi Minh City"; continuing the work of naming and renaming streets and public works, organizing major holidays of the year...

Tourists visit the War Remnants Museum (HCMC)

Nearly 40 street names are incorrect or meaningless.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Minh Nhut said that the city currently has 312 streets with the same name, nearly 40 street names are incorrect or meaningless so they need to be adjusted such as Kha Van Can Street (Thu Duc City) should be Kha Vang Can, Truong Quoc Dung should be Truong Quoc Dung, Nguyen Thiep should be corrected to Nguyen Thiep... along with very offensive street names such as Kenh Nuoc Den, Ap Chien Luoc...

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Minh Nhut (left) and Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports Tran The Thuan at the conference

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau, General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Historical Science Association, commented: "There needs to be consensus from the people and state agencies in inventorying and ranking relics, from which to develop a restoration and conservation plan. This is very difficult because many structures need to be preserved in beautiful locations. The city's museums must create more differences in the way they display, have practical stories accompanying the artifacts as well as digitization work. Connect the museum system, add combo tickets to visit the museum system to attract more visitors, especially students. Ho Chi Minh City will have 5 more satellite cities. The Department of Culture and Sports needs to make a list of structures that need to be preserved and maintained because when urbanized, land prices in the suburbs increase very quickly, so there is a risk that the relics will disappear. The city still has many relics of historical figures from the 19th and early 20th centuries. I hope the Department's leaders will pay more attention to these relics. If these figures have not been included in the list, "If you don't list the official list, oblivion will come very quickly."

Promoting enforcement of violations at Vuong Hong Sen ancient house

On the other hand, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City has just sent a document to the People's Committee of Binh Thanh District regarding the enforcement of violations at the ancient house of Vuong Hong Sen, implementing remedial measures for construction works that violate the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage, seriously damaging the landscape of the ancient house of Vuong Hong Sen (Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, Binh Thanh District, ranked as a city-level relic since 2003).

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau

Regarding the fact that the enforcement order has not been implemented yet, Mr. Pham Van Hoa, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Binh Thanh District, explained: "More than 20 years since the recognition of the relic, the co-heirs of the ancient house have continuously filed lawsuits. Recently, they agreed to withdraw the petition. However, the co-heirs rented out the house to some households and built illegally. In 2015, the City made a record of illegal construction. On August 23, 2023 and September 12, 2024, the People's Committee of Binh Thanh District issued 2 decisions, assigning the People's Committee of Ward 14 to carry out the enforcement. However, there are still some legal issues. The cost of renting a demolition vehicle is up to 285 million VND, according to the law, it must be bid. The bidding period is 45 days. At the end of 2024, Binh Thanh District is preparing to merge the entire Ward 14 into Ward 24, so enforcement has not been possible. Since the beginning of the year, the The enforcement is waiting for the district to provide funding and conduct a bidding process for demolition fees. Currently, the district is urgently looking for a solution, mobilizing the households living in Mr. Sen's house to relocate. They agree but request that it will be done after Tet and ask Ms. Huong, Mr. Sen's niece, to refund them when they leave. This is a civil relationship between the parties, but the enforcement must still be carried out. At the latest, the illegal construction will be enforced by the end of March 2025, and then the households living there will be relocated."

Vuong Hong Sen ancient house was rented by some households and built illegally.

Regarding the Hung Loi Pottery Kiln relic, a representative of the Department of Culture and Information of District 8 commented: "Hung Loi Pottery Kiln is a national archaeological site. This is an empty plot of land covered with brick walls. Because this area was not previously protected by a fence, people came in to grow vegetables and ornamental plants. After that, the district proposed and the Department of Culture and Sports signed Official Dispatch 5193 dated October 12, 2023 to agree on the restoration of the Hung Loi Pottery Kiln relic. Up to now, the relic has been equipped with a camera system, lighting, and installed relic signs. The Department of Culture and Information advised the People's Committee of District 8 on management work, assigned the People's Committee of Ward 16 to disseminate information and propaganda so that people understand and participate in protecting the relic, and strengthen inspection to prevent acts of encroachment on the relic."

Hung Loi Pottery Kiln Relic Site

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau said that a corner of the Hung Loi Pottery Kiln relic will be restored for display, and the rest will be digitized so that visitors can understand the pottery production process from the late 19th century.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Minh Nhut confirmed: "Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has 193 relics; including 2 special national relics, 58 national relics, including 2 archaeological relics: Giong Ca Vo Can Gio and Hung Loi Pottery Kiln, the remaining 56 relics are historical, cultural, architectural and artistic relics and other types. Therefore, Hung Loi Pottery Kiln relic is very special".

If we are subjective, disregard, and only focus on urban development along with the economy without preserving and promoting heritage values, we will lose an extremely valuable asset of the nation. The perspective of those who work on heritage is not only to preserve old values. If the economy develops slowly, we can change, but the loss of heritage is a great loss. From there, we need to further enhance our responsibility in restoring and promoting heritage values, avoiding the situation where 10-20 years later, the younger generation and grandchildren criticize us. Now, if there is anything that belongs to cultural heritage, we must preserve it. That is the responsibility of our current generation.

Mr. Tran The Thuan (Director of Department of Culture - Sports of Ho Chi Minh City)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/gin-giu-di-san-van-hoa-de-khong-ho-then-voi-the-he-sau-185250117230853111.htm