Monument in danger of collapse after more than 50 years
House No. 4 Pham Hong Thai (formerly House No. 2) is a 2-storey building of 50 m2 built on plot E-3-64 with an area of 68 m2. Since 1957, the building has been classified as an ownerless house managed by the state. From 1957 to 1972, the Housing Business Company managed to rent out the house. In 1972, this area was bombed by American bombs, and since then the Housing Business Company has not managed to rent out this house.
In 1977, the People's Committee of Hai Phong City decided to grant land to build a relic site of American imperialist war crimes at house number 4 Pham Hong Thai, and assigned the Department of Culture and Information to manage it (now the Department of Culture and Sports of Hai Phong).
In 2005, Hai Phong City People's Committee issued Decision No. 177/QD-UB on ranking and granting a certificate of recognition for house No. 2 Ton Dan Street (now No. 4 Pham Hong Thai, Phan Boi Chau Ward, Hong Bang District) as a war crime relic.
According to voters in Hong Bang district, this relic has seriously degraded, the wall is at risk of collapsing and causing danger. There is only an old, degraded house with no exhibits left, promoting the value of the relic and educating about traditions is ineffective. People hope that the city will consider and, if the above construction meets the conditions for preserving the relic, clearly assign the management agency. In case the conditions for preservation are not met, voters recommend that the city have a plan to handle it according to regulations, avoiding danger to the house and people traveling in the above area.
Consider canceling monument ranking
Previously, according to information from the People's Committee of Phan Boi Chau Ward, since 1979, this house was assigned to an officer of the Department of Culture and Information to live in, look after and manage. After that, this officer sold the first floor of the house to another household. The second floor area was also occupied and sold later. Currently, the house is being used by 2 households, Mr. Do Van Ha and Tran Thi Oanh. Mr. Ha rents out the first and second floors as a warehouse for materials and hardware. Faced with the dangerous state of the house, in January 2024, the People's Committee of Phan Boi Chau Ward issued a document requesting Mr. Do Van Ha's household to move goods and materials out of the house.
However, as of the afternoon of November 25, Lao Dong reporters noted that the first floor of the house was still operating. The local authorities have fenced off the wall on Ton Dan Street with B40 steel and hung up warning signs of danger. At the same time, they have reported to higher authorities to take measures to renovate, repair, and limit the danger to the house, residents, and vehicles passing through.
According to the report responding to voters' petitions of Hai Phong City People's Committee, based on reality and the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage, the City People's Committee assigned the Department of Culture and Sports to review and consider canceling the classification of the relic house No. 4 Pham Hong Thai according to regulations in the second quarter of 2025. After canceling the relic classification, the city assigned the Hong Bang District People's Committee to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments, branches, organizations and individuals to determine the origin of the land, resolve land ownership and use; consider the restoration of the stele recording the vestiges in the area according to regulations.
