After more than a year and a half of restoration, Covered Bridge (also known as Lai Vien Kieu) has a new look, causing many mixed opinions among the local community and tourists.
The project to renovate the Cau Pagoda relic has a total investment of more than 20 billion VND, starting on December 28, 2022. The relic renovation project is invested by the Hoi An City People's Committee and managed by the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Conservation Management Center.
According to Lao Dong's records, main items such as reinforcing, replacing rotten structures, repainting damaged walls and tiles... have been completed. Items such as tiling around the monument, cleaning paint stains, and the interior of the Cau Pagoda are being urgently completed.
However, the new appearance of the Cau Pagoda relic has caused many opinions among the tourist community and local people. The restored Bridge Pagoda has a sturdier structure, brighter paint color and roof tiles than before.
Most people commented that the new appearance of Cau Pagoda after winning the award no longer retains its ancient features and is unfamiliar to the eye.
Mr. Dat and Ms. Chung, tourists from Ho Chi Minh City, commented on the new appearance of the monument: "Previous Covered Bridge had an ancient appearance, retaining its mark in the eyes of viewers more. Because it is called "old town". "So the new look of the Covered Bridge is not really suitable."
In fact, the new color of paint and lime is considered bright, deviating quite a bit from the old moss-tinged lime layer, causing many objections.
The leader of Hoi An City People's Committee affirmed that this is a legitimate opinion and said that the agency is currently discussing and finding solutions to make the color of the project more suitable.
However, the local community expressed sympathy and satisfaction with the "major surgery" on Cau Pagoda.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Ha, a resident of Quang Nam, said: "In my opinion, the structure of the Covered Bridge is still preserved. After 400 years, the Covered Bridge has degraded. If not repaired, the monument will be damaged.
At first, visitors may not be used to it and feel uncomfortable with the new look, but a year or two later, the rain, wind... will make the Covered Bridge return to its mossy, ancient look."
Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Le - a small merchant selling tofu in Hoi An ancient town, shared: "Personally, I think the Cau Pagoda is more beautiful after being renovated. Previously, the Pagoda was also degraded, showing signs of collapse many times.
Many people do not like the fact that the Covered Bridge is being repaired, but in fact, they should be happy because if it is not repaired, perhaps in the future visitors will no longer see the Covered Bridge."
Some other opinions believe in the research and calculation process of experts during the restoration process and believe that after a few rainy and sunny seasons, the new paint layer will have the same mossy color as the old one.
This is not the first time Cau Pagoda has been restored. This work has undergone at least 7 major renovations in 1763, 1817, 1875, 1917, 1962, 1986, 1996.
Previously, responding to Lao Dong, Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee, said that the restoration was closely supervised by cultural sector officials, central agencies and Japanese consultants participated. participation, on the principle of openness and transparency.
Covered Bridge was restored to ensure it approaches its originality and originality. The restoration project only replaces rotten or damaged columns, pillars, and wooden bars that pose a risk of building collapse, ensuring the monument's safety and sustainability.
Covered Bridge is expected to reopen in early August 2024, on the occasion of the 20th "Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange" event, 2024.
