Competent bodies and cultural experts have been discussing measures to restore the Hanoi Old Quarter for over ten years, but most of the measures are still only on paper.
The wish to preserve the 100ha of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, which was established in the 15th century, is still a wish since preservation measures have been implemented on a trial basis on only a few ancient houses, such as 87 Ma May Street and 38 Hang Dao streets, among the total of 245 ancient and 614 old houses in the old quarter.
Though these houses are small and in poor condition, they are the homes of around 80,000 people and a large number of nonresident people who are earning their livings in these houses.
There are 112 cultural, historical and religious relics located in the Old Quarter and many of them are being degraded. These relics are lively evidence of the cultural and historical development process of the Hanoi Old Quarter and they need to be restored urgently.
Many projects have been kicked off to preserve the 76 streets of the old quarter but none of them have been carried out thoroughly, though managers understand the great economic benefits from the preservation and restoration of the old quarter, besides its great cultural and historical values.
While waiting for state agencies to do something to restore the Old Quarter, thousands of people are trying to live in little and deteriorating old houses. There are “boys” of 40 years old who can’t get married because they are trying to live in 4sq.m houses, waiting to be permitted to repair their houses. The old house at 42 Hang Bac street is the home of 150 people and around 200 people are living at 53 Hang Buom, and have to share several toilets every morning.
And while locals are waiting for the action of state agencies, the situation in the Old Quarter is getting worse: the population is increasing; the living environment is worsening; the infrastructure is degrading.
(Source: HNM)
Tag: Hanoi , Environment , Old Quarter When will Hanoi’s Old Quarter be restored?
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