The country’s heritage is under threat as newer buildings are perceived to be more appealing.
As Vietnam’s development surges forward, the skyline in Ho Chi Minh City is changing at a rapid rate. Shiny skyscrapers are being built high into the sky for new residential and commercial schemes. As response to demand and the growing economy, the flip side is that some of the country’s treasured past is being lost.
Recently the city’s Tax Trade Centre was pulled down to be replaced by a 43-storey building that will boast direct access to Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line. Built in 1924, this building was an architectural example of the period of Vietnamese French colonisation. It had an Art Deco facade with an impressive double sweeping staircase adorned with handmade mosaic tiles from Moroccan. It was agreed by the owners that they would preserve the original tiles, but they have since been removed along with the staircase.
Sadly, this is not the only example. Many historic buildings are being destroyed as their value is not recognised. Those who oppose their destruction say that these buildings do not fit with modernity that the city is striving for. It is these architecturally interesting buildings that make the city attractive to tourists. Figures suggest that the 8 million tourists that visit Vietnam each year are drawn by the country’s French villas that are over 100 years old as well as the colonial government buildings.
Hoi An is a great example of this. Owned by the state, Hoi An is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and tourists roll in to enjoy its ambience and crumbling architecture. That being said, this has not restricted development at this tourist mecca. Rather it is situated close by such as Hoiana.
Planning policies urgently needed.
Currently the government do not have any protocols in place to protect colonial buildings. Therefore a number of websites and apps have been launched to cater for the growing interest in saving the heritage and to fill the government’s void. The hope is to give the government a nudge, but also to educate people and to give them to opportunity to pinpoint the locations of these buildings as no records exist.
Cities such as London and New York have stringent planning regulations in place. Older buildings that are rich in the city’s history cannot simply be pulled down and replaced with something newer. Without such policies, both cities would look vastly different than they do today and would certainly not retain their appeal. This is what Vietnam needs to adopt. But to achieve this, it needs to come from the top.
One point that must be recognised is that many of these colonial buildings can be hard to maintain. It is easier and more cost effective to demolish them down and start again. However period buildings in the UK increase more in value than newer ones. It is in the owner’s best interest to preserve the features of the building whilst modernising the remainder. It is is possible for old and new to go hand-in-hand. The issue is wider than that, perception of older buildings needs to shift to understand their benefits. It is not just about preserving the heritage, it is also to help economically too. Some of examples of staircases and wrought-iron railings in Vietnam cannot be found in France. This creates an opportunity to capitalise on these features.
Changing mindsets.
Attitudes are slowly changing. Ho Chi Minh City’s Council for Planning and Architecture are attempting to put a limit in place for the demolition of privately owned villas. Whether sufficient funds will be gathered to support this, is yet to be answered. Many owners cite rising costs mean that they have little choice other than to pull them down.
In 2015 the Ba Son Shipyard built in 1790 for the Vietnamese royal navy was demolished. This was in spite of it being designated a national heritage site. In its place, a private firm will develop it. A park, cultural centre and 60-storey skyscraper are all in the pipeline.
It feels like that there is a differing opinion between individuals versus firms. The former not being in a position to afford the upkeep of their historic villa, the latter wanting to capitalise on the potential of the land site. It will be interesting to see what the future holds, but there is no doubt that this is one tricky balancing to achieve.
