Hue is not only a Festival city, not just a place where the Huong River flows slowly along the ancient citadel. Hue is also the city of memories, the only place in Vietnam where a complex of relics has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Dai Noi, the mausoleums of the Nguyen Dynasty kings, An Dinh Palace, Tang Thoau... are not only architectural works but also symbols of the historical and cultural flow of the nation.
But that is why those heritages are very vulnerable to natural disasters. In recent years, there have been cases of relics being soaked in long-lasting rain, with mold, fallen ancient tiles, and easily cracked ancient wooden structures. Not only that, Hue royal palaces, which were built with traditional structures and did not have reinforced concrete like modern works, are even more vulnerable to environmental impacts.
More worryingly, extreme phenomena are appearing with higher frequency. Unseasonal rain, prolonged rain, and heavy rain in a few days like the recent rain is an example. If Hue previously had a "slow" flood law - water rises slowly, recedes slowly - now, with the impact of climate change, the situation is increasingly unpredictable. This raises an urgent need to change the approach to heritage protection.
The Hue Monuments Conservation Center has been very proactive in preventing and combating natural disasters in recent years with measures such as guiding, protecting, covering... prepared before each rainy and stormy season. But those are still mainly passive measures. However, with the current climate change, those solutions will no longer be enough. We need to think proactively about conservation, adapt to climate change, not just "run after natural disasters".
It is time to have a national policy on heritage protection against the impact of natural disasters and climate. Especially research a separate Fund to respond to natural disasters for heritages of special value. There is a mechanism to support research on the application of new technologies in heritage protection. Clearly define the coordination role between the sectors of culture, natural resources, environment, transportation, construction, etc. when natural disasters occur.
Preserving heritage in the era of climate change must therefore become a strategic priority, and must be prepared from today. Because otherwise, when we realize that the most precious things have been swept away, it may be too late.
