Expecting a new look
Located in a prime location, Da Vien Islet is one of the famous landmarks in the Feng Shui element of Hue Citadel. If Hen Islet is called "drawn dragon fruit", Da Vien Islet is called "the tiger's net". Seen from above, Da Vien islet appears in the shape of a prominent "oasis" in the middle of the Huong River, this is originally a alluvial land with an area of about 10.5 hectares.
On the islet, the trees are shaded all year round, notably the bamboo rows and the old moss-prone trees. Early in the morning, the fog spread slightly, as strong as a band of misty silk floating in the middle of the river. In the late afternoon, the sunset color the water surface red, making the scene even more magical and enchanting.
Previously, through a survey and inspection of the western area of Da Vien Islet, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue Province (now Hue City) said that the implementation of the renovation of the western area of Da Vien Islet must aim to form a public space, synchronize the landscape space of the area, contributing to creating a space for entertainment and sports for people and tourists.
This place is expected to become a new highlight in the landscape system along the Huong River when the local government decides to invest in comprehensive renovation.
Since 2021, Hue City has renovated the eastern area of the islet (using Da Vien bridge as the boundary), leveled the ground, built a walking path, bicycle, created a grass field, flower carpet, forest, square, water, lighting, modern toilets, installed a wooden bridge leading from Da Vien road bridge to the islet.
The work was assigned to the Hue Green Park Center (now the Thuan Hoa District Green Park Center).
The highlight of Da Vien is the winding stone-lined road, embracing the entire East bank along the Huong River, becoming a stop and sightseeing destination for people and tourists. At the end of the islet, there is a typical apricot garden of Hue that often blooms during Tet.
Updated page is not synchronous
Since the completion of the renovation of the Da Vien Islet East and its use, there have been almost never left no human steps, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. Crowds of people gathered to exercise, check-in, sightsee...
However, in contrast to the spaciousness, cleanliness and bustle of the eastern area, the western part of Da Vien islet, which has also been invested in for renovation but is currently abandoned, many construction items are temporarily suspended and show signs of deterioration and desertification.
According to Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, in many locations, weeds and trees grew wildly, even covering the entire path. The sections of the road where the granite was being paved were temporarily suspended, the stone materials were piled up, covered with grass, and lying around on the land that had not been leveled synchronously. There are still houses that have not been cleared, and there are still people living inside.
Many power panels were damaged, exposed to the sun and rain for a long time. Because the area is so deserted and has few visitors, it should become a place for grazing cows, reducing the value of the public space that the project is aiming for.
"On the western side of Da Vien islet, there are only a few people coming occasionally, on normal days, very few people" - Mr. Tran Van Minh, a resident of Hue City said.
According to the plan, the project to renovate the western part of Da Vien Islet will clear about 6.6 hectares, clear, clean the ground, invest in electricity and water systems, and pave a walking path about 1.5km long, synchronously connecting with the eastern part of the Islet and the walking path on both sides of the Huong River.
The goal is to create an open space axis, associated with the landscape of the Huong River, serving the needs of entertainment, sports and recreation for the community. However, after a long time of launching, the renovation work of the western part of Da Vien is still not in place, lacking synchronization. In particular, at the foot of Da Vien Bridge is a black spot of social evils, where many syringes appear, so people and tourists are still hesitant to go through these paths to the western side of the island.
con Da Vien today is like two different worlds. The eastern half has beautiful green landscape, is very well renovated and is crowded with people coming. The western half is completely opposite, just as we reached the foot of Da Vien bridge to go to the western side, we encountered a syringe, looking further away, we saw all the dust and darkness, so I and many people did not dare to go" - Mr. Tran Minh Tien, a resident of Hue City shared.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper, a representative of the Thuan Hoa District Green Park Center - the unit carrying out the renovation of Da Vien islet - said that the unsynchronized renovation of Da Vien islet is due to site clearance problems. "Currently, there is only one household stuck in the site, we are rushing to complete the renovation to create a synchronous environment for Da Vien islet, serving the community," said a representative of the renovation unit.
