The relic has been degraded for many years.
According to the History of Hai Phong City Party Committee, Nghieng wharf in Van Huong ward, Do Son district was built by the French colonialists in 1950 with the intention of invading. From the water surface up, the wharf has a gentle slope of about 3-5 degrees for tanks to land, so people call it Nghieng wharf.
According to the provisions of the Geneva Agreement in 1954, on May 15, 1955, the last French soldiers withdrew from Hai Phong. In 2005, the city erected a memorial stele to mark this historic event, completed on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation Day. On January 22, 2009, Nghieng Wharf was ranked as a National Resistance Historical Relic, according to Decision No. 321/QD-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
However, over the years, Ben Nghieng relic has deteriorated. In June 2023, Lao Dong Newspaper published an article reflecting the deterioration of this relic. In particular, the area of the memorial stele built in 2005 is overgrown with weeds. The sea embankment located within the relic site has also peeled off in large pieces... The Do Son Center for Tourism Services and Historical Relic Management - the relic management unit - said that Hai Phong City authorities have conducted a survey since 2021 and have a budget to restore and embellish Ben Nghieng.
According to the Department of Culture and Sports of Hai Phong City, on June 9, 2023, the People's Committee of Hai Phong City issued Plan 173/KH-UBND on the implementation of Resolution No. 82/NQ-HDND dated December 9, 2022 of the People's Council of Hai Phong City on public funding for the restoration and embellishment of national monuments in Hai Phong City, period 2023 - 2027. Accordingly, the city will restore and embellish 73 national monuments in the period from 2023 - 2027 with a total amount of 103 billion VND. Ben Nghieng National Monument is one of 30 level D monuments, receiving public funding of 2 billion VND to carry out restoration and embellishment in 2024.
Speed up the progress of restoration and embellishment of relics
On the afternoon of October 3, speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Le Duc Hop - Head of the Tourism, Culture and Information Division of Do Son district said that, implementing the resolutions of the City People's Council on public funding for the restoration and embellishment of relics, Do Son district has developed a plan, invited a design consultant, and submitted it to the city for approval. It is expected that the restoration of the Nghieng wharf relic will be carried out in late 2024 and early 2025. However, due to the impact of storm No. 3 that made landfall in Hai Phong on September 7, the relic collapsed and was severely damaged.
According to Lao Dong reporters, the large memorial stele at Nghieng wharf collapsed completely. The fence and railings were broken. Trees around the memorial stele area were also broken, fell down, and piled up in large and small piles around the relic site. The sea embankment area was already degraded, and is now even more dilapidated.
A representative of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Information of Do Son district also said that, in the face of the Ben Nghieng relic being affected by storm No. 3, the district accelerated the progress and quickly completed related procedures so that the project could be implemented soon. At the same time, the entire relic area was cleaned up to ensure aesthetics and environmental hygiene.
