Half of Hanoi's industrial heritage destroyed

Half of Hanoi's 185 valuable industrial facilities have been destroyed, so architectural experts have suggested the city come up with a plan to rebuild the remaining structures.

At the Industrial Heritage Reconstruction Seminar in Hanoi on November 23, Dr. Architect Dinh Hai Yen, Vietnam Association of Architects, said that there were 185 valuable industrial establishments in the city, but currently only 95 remain.

Of these, 6 establishments were established before 1954; 36 establishments from 1954 to 1986; 42 establishments from 1986 to 2015; 11 establishments have no information. Hanoi Beer Factory, Hanoi Alcohol Factory, Yen Phu Power Plant, Gia Lam Railway Factory are establishments established under the French colonial period (before 1954).

Industrial heritage is factories and workshops built from the French colonial period to the period of building socialism. Some buildings represent a historical period in the context of the industrial revolution. These are buildings considered the most modern and beautiful in Hanoi and the North at the time of construction.

"The works generally have the potential to be preserved and reused to remind us of a historical period," said Dr. Dinh Hai Yen, suggesting that Hanoi should soon establish a set of criteria to evaluate and preserve industrial heritage through sociological research and community participation.

Hang Dau Water Tower, a building with many historical values in Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc Thanh — Hang Dau Water Tower, a building with many historical values in Hanoi. Photo: *Ngoc Thanh*

Dr. Architect Vuong Hai Long, Head of the Faculty of Architecture, Hanoi University of Architecture, commented that many industrial heritages have been demolished and replaced by new buildings such as Hanoi Mechanical Factory, Tran Hung Dao Mechanical Factory, Thang Long Tobacco Factory... These buildings have been converted to purely commercial purposes for housing, helping to increase the land fund but losing the heritage of the past.

"In the world, there are many projects that have been converted and reconstructed to become public works or spaces serving the people," said Mr. Long, arguing that industrial heritage should be considered a great asset in urban construction in the capital.

Regarding the solution to reconstruct industrial heritage , Dr. Dinh Hai Yen proposed that the Hanoi People's Committee issue a mechanism to strictly control the relocation of industrial works that cause pollution or are not in accordance with planning out of the inner city area. At the same time, the city should develop specific sanctions, clearly defining the responsibilities of local authorities, people, and investors in the management, use, and conversion of valuable works.

Dr. Yen also proposed that the city include valuable industrial works in the Project to adjust the Capital's General Planning, which is being consulted by the city's authorities and the people. Accordingly, sites with heritage value will be converted to "non-residential" land use functions such as cultural and creative spaces, with priority given to public services, and as infrastructure for the development of the cultural industry.

Supporting the policy of preserving and converting the functions of Hanoi's industrial heritage, Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Huong, Head of the Cultural Department of UNESCO Vietnam, said that the World Heritage Convention recognizes industrial heritage as a type of cultural heritage. However, Vietnam's Law on Cultural Heritage does not mention the concept of industrial heritage, making the management and reconstruction of works difficult. Therefore, the law needs to be amended to classify, inventory and put valuable works into conservation.

Speaking to the press before the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023 took place (from November 17 to December 31), Mr. Do Dinh Hong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, said that Hang Dau water tower is considered by experts and Hanoi lovers as one of the valuable industrial heritages that need to be preserved and promoted. However, the law does not have any provisions on "industrial heritage", so the project is still the property of the Hanoi Clean Water Corporation and has not been classified as a relic.

"Industrial heritage plays an important role in the cultural life of the capital, so the city can advocate for amending relevant laws, decrees, and circulars to better exploit them," said Mr. Hong, adding that the Department will propose that the city build a mechanism to preserve public assets with cultural value and attract tourists, such as the Hang Dau water tower and the Gia Lam train factory.

Doan Loan

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