Finding directions to preserve the soul of a heritage city
Hue's heritage mark is created from the harmony between the Citadel complex, temples, tombs, houses with poetic river and forest landscapes. Many researchers compare, if Da Nang is a city of stone, then Hue is a city of gardens, with "scene-creating" architecture where nature, works and people blend together.
Besides, Hue also owns a system of pagodas, churches, shrines, temples, shrines bearing the imprint of religious architecture and more than 200 garden houses. These spaces reflect the inward-looking, sophisticated lifestyle, hòa mình with nature of the people of Hue.
With such heritage potential, how to preserve the soul of a heritage city while still meeting the dynamic development requirements of the times is not a simple matter.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Manh (Hue City Historical Science Association) said that the work of preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage is inherently very complex, especially for a heritage city like Hue. Therefore, it is not possible to organize conservation in a mass and arbitrary manner, but it is necessary to develop restoration plans according to each stage, area and type.
Citing the successful experience of heritage conservation in many localities in the country and countries such as: Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Mr. Manh said that these are useful reference lessons for Hue.
According to him, people are the subjects of heritage. Therefore, the consensus and participation of the community will determine the effectiveness of the work of preserving and promoting the urban heritage value of Hue.
Researching and learning successful experiences from localities in the country and countries around the world, and creatively applying solutions suitable to Hue's specific characteristics is an urgent requirement" - Mr. Manh assessed.
Seeing the Perfume River as the "soul" of Hue city
Meanwhile, from the interdisciplinary approach of geography, hydrology, environment and history, Dr. Nguyen Dinh (Institute of Environmental Technology, Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change) affirmed that the Perfume River plays a particularly important role for Hue.
Over hundreds of years of development, thanks to the Perfume River, relying on the Perfume River and blending with the Perfume River, the ancient Phu Xuan city, now Hue City, has formed and integrated many precious material and spiritual values, creating a unique heritage city. The Perfume River is an important factor in the formation of Hue Capital, and at the same time is the main development axis, an essential resource to ensure people's livelihoods, socio-economic development, and environment, contributing to creating vitality and heritage memories of the city.
If there is no Perfume River, there will be no Hue heritage city" - Dr. Dinh likened. He cited that this river plays a special role in the culture and history of the land, because most of the landscapes and architectural heritage are built along both banks of the river. From palace architecture such as the Citadel, tombs to religious and belief works such as pagodas, temples, palaces; cultural and educational works, museums, monuments, scenic spots, offices, markets, craft villages and main roads all converge or originate from both banks of the river. The rich heritage system harmonizes with the beauty of the Perfume River, making Hue assessed as "a masterpiece of urban architectural poetry", contributing to the soul of Hue, creating a unique heritage city.
Hue's urban development vision is clearly stated in the General Plan to 2045 with 5 strategic areas selected as new industries, including: High-tech and digital industry, healthcare and healthcare industry, cultural and creative industry, green industry and circular economy, smart and sustainable tourism. The Perfume River basin - Hue's vast ecological and cultural space - is a suitable environment for these industries.
To do that, besides fully recognizing the value and importance of the Perfume River for Hue, it is necessary to study more deeply the change in the hydrological and hydraulic regime of the Perfume River system in relation to human factors that are and will strongly impact and potentially pose many disadvantages for the future and sustainable development of the city" - Mr. Dinh emphasized.
Along with that, the expert proposed to continue to embellish the landscape on both banks of the Perfume River. In particular, the works must comply with the principle of not encroaching or affecting the flow and flood drainage corridor; prioritize ecological solutions, harmonize with the natural landscape, and minimize riverbank concretization.
