Preserving and promoting the value of relics in Vinh City: "Gaps"

(Baonghean) - Monuments and scenic spots are tangible heritages of great spiritual and historical value, an important premise for Vinh City to become the province's tourist center, an important destination on the Central Heritage Road. However, up to now, the promotion of the value of monuments in Vinh City is still very limited. Many monuments have been damaged, to the point of becoming ruins, or have been forgotten without investment in restoration, embellishment and preservation. The reasons are loopholes in management work; limitations in exploiting the value of monuments and people's awareness of conservation and preservation still has many shortcomings...

Vinh Citadel was encroached to make a car wash.

Damaged monuments

In Vinh City, there are 76 relics and scenic spots, of which 11 are ranked nationally, 7 are provincial-level relics; 1 relic is managed by Nghe An province, 17 relics are directly managed by the City People's Committee and 56 relics are managed by wards and communes. Vinh Citadel, also known as Nghe An Citadel, was built in 1804 under King Gia Long. After many historical events, the Citadel now only has 3 gates and a surrounding lake. In 1998, the Citadel was recognized as a National Historical Relic, but to date, it has not been marked with a protected area according to the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage. Less than 1.5 m north of the right gate of the Citadel is the car wash of Ms. Pham Thi Huong's family, block 3, Cua Nam ward. Ms. Huong's land was used for housing since 1980 and was granted a land use right certificate by Vinh City People's Committee in 2005. At the end of 2013, Vinh City People's Committee revoked and canceled this land title, but until now, compensation and resettlement procedures for Ms. Huong's family have not been completed. Also related to the encroachment on the relic, the front gate of the Citadel (next to Vinh Football Field, facing South) has been zoned for protection, but due to its spacious terrain, this area is often used to set up a tent for weddings, the foot of the citadel gate has become a place to set up a kitchen...

Diec Pagoda relic - the largest pagoda in Vinh City in the past, was built in 1742. During the war against the US, Diec Pagoda was bombed and destroyed. After its establishment, the Nghe An Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee proposed to restore the pagoda and the Provincial People's Committee decided to restore Diec Pagoda in 2011. However, up to now, the restoration of Diec Pagoda is still unfinished. Mr. Nguyen Thai Quang, Provincial Buddhist Communication Committee said: The pagoda currently has a tower-shaped gate, stone stele and some newly built rudimentary structures. The pagoda should have been quickly completed and majestic, a gathering place for many Buddhists in the province, but for the past 3 years, the progress has been almost at a standstill, because the area behind the pagoda has been encroached upon by some people for residence and business, so the construction and restoration work cannot continue. These households and businesses are waiting for compensation to move.

The situation of the Red Village relic cluster in Hung Dung is similar. Trung Communal House, where the Hung Dung people's struggle movement took place in the years 1930-1931, is now severely damaged by tiled roofs, the wooden pillars of the house have been destroyed by termites, and the surrounding area is overgrown with weeds. Mr. Nguyen Trung Hung, former Party Secretary of Hung Dung Commune, said: "The communal house is badly damaged due to lack of investment."

Trash strewn in front of Hong Son Temple - Vo Mieu.

Not yet promoted

Among the 11 national historical and cultural relics in Vinh City at present, many have been newly restored and embellished. These are Hong Son Temple (Vo Mieu), Can Linh Pagoda, Uong Family Temple, Hoang Family Temple, Tria Temple, Phuong Hoang Trung Do, Con Mo - Ben Thuy Intersection... However, there are still many shortcomings in these relics. At Hong Son Temple, for many years now, the area of ​​the campus has been continuously encroached upon, the place of worship of Saint Tran is surrounded by the Vinh market area - Vinh River is polluted, full of garbage. Con Mo relic - and the Soviet Workers and Peasants Monument Truong Thi - Ben Thuy are deserted and uncared for. Phuong Hoang Trung Do complex - Quyet Mountain Forest Park is monotonous. The Lotus Pond in front of Can Linh Pagoda is deserted, the situation of begging and selling goods in front of the pagoda is offensive. Uong Family Temple, Hoang Family Temple, Tria Temple in Hung Loc Commune have not promoted their value,...

Vinh City is home to many relics commemorating Uncle Ho's two visits to his hometown: a memorial stele in Road Management Area 4, a memorial stele in the central stadium, a memorial stele in the Department of Trade - now the Department of Industry and Trade; a stele at the relic site of Uncle Ho talking to cadres and workers of Vinh Power Plant (now Nghe An Electricity) although carefully protected, it is difficult to promote the traditional educational value well because it is located in the premises of offices.

Another very impressive monument located right in the city center is the Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Memorial House. The building was built in a spacious area right in the old foundation of the family and preserves many artifacts that were associated with the female revolutionary soldier during her activities from 1930 until her death in 1941. In particular, this place also preserves the handwriting of General Vo Nguyen Giap sent to the Vinh City Party Committee and People's Committee about re-determining the location of the house of Mr. Han Binh - Nguyen Huy Binh, father of comrades Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Nguyen Thi Quang Thai... However, since its inauguration, the Memorial House has always been in a state of "closed doors and bolts".

Besides the monuments, Ho Chi Minh Square, Central Park, Nguyen Tat Thanh Park, and Cua Bac Flower Garden are the scenic spots that create highlights of Vinh City. However, these highlights also have "problems": The Chung Mountain simulation area behind the square is prohibited from visiting because the management board here cannot control visitors; Central Park - not exploited effectively; Cua Bac Flower Garden lacks security guards, many people come here to organize gambling and drug addiction; north of Nguyen Tat Thanh Park, beer and beverage shops occupy the corridors and sidewalks, affecting traffic safety for pedestrians and passing vehicles.

Concerns

According to a survey, of the 74 relics of Vinh City, 25 have become ruins. The most regrettable of these is the Vinh Temple of Literature. The Temple of Literature has existed for a long time, located in Hong Son Ward, Vinh City. This is the place to worship Confucius, Chu Van An and other sages, and also the place to honor the scholars of Nghe An. In addition to its historical and cultural value, the Vinh Temple of Literature also has great educational value. However, at present, there is almost nothing left of this relic except for the house that is being used as a warehouse for Nghe An Printing Joint Stock Company. This house is increasingly dilapidated and dilapidated... Next is the Tran Hung Dao Temple in Doi Cung Ward, which is also in a similar situation. Part of the items have disappeared, while the other part has changed its purpose of use...

Restoration of the unfinished Diec Pagoda.

Mr. Bui Quang Phuong, Head of the Department of Culture - Information - Sports of Vinh City People's Committee said: In recent years, the city has focused on managing and embellishing relics, such as implementing well the projects of restoration and embellishment of relics with an investment of tens of billions of VND. However, the management, embellishment and promotion of historical and cultural relics in the area are facing many difficulties. For example, the restoration of Vinh Temple of Literature, a few years ago, the project was estimated at 58 billion VND, with this investment level, the city could not afford it, but really needed the support and contribution of the province and businesses. Or like Hong Son Temple, in 2010, Vinh City allocated a budget to expand the temple area, but could not do it because the cost was too large and site clearance was difficult.

Expecting funding from the province for restoration and renovation is unrealistic when Nghe An is still a poor province, the number of degraded and damaged relics in the area that need restoration and renovation is very large. Vinh City can learn from the lesson of preserving and promoting the value of relics in Thua Thien Hue. In 1993, when it was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage, the Complex of Hue Monuments had 17 different relic clusters distributed in many locations; many of which were damaged by the effects of war, natural disasters and even human consciousness. Over the past two decades, Thua Thien Hue has spent nearly 800 billion VND to restore, renovate and embellish nearly 100 architectural works and preserve and prevent degradation for hundreds of other works. Hue's restoration and renovation funds come from national target programs, local budgets, international support and reinvestment from ticket sales and donations.

The exploitation of relics has been well implemented, increasing revenue to fund relic restoration; creating products to serve visitors; creating jobs for local people and improving the lives of those who directly care for the relics. From 1996 to 2012, the direct revenue of the Hue Monuments Center reached nearly 825 billion VND; revenue from services reached more than 50 billion VND. For relics on residential land, the responsibility for preservation and exploitation has been assigned to the clans and families themselves. Thus, the work of preserving and promoting relics does not stop at the cultural aspect but is a long-term economic development strategy.

To build Vinh into an economic and cultural center of the North Central region, it is imperative that Vinh be attractive and retain tourists staying in Vinh. In reality, the association of tourism with historical and cultural relics in Vinh City is currently very limited. Because there is a reality that most travel companies in the province are not very interested in coordinating to promote destinations in the city to tourists. Ms. Hong Nhung - Minh Hong Travel Company, said: It is true that for a long time, travel companies have only focused on some main points of Vinh City such as the Square, Quang Trung Temple, Hong Son Temple... but the company has not really taken part in other destinations in the city. Or as the opinion of the representative of Thai Son International Travel Company - Mr. Nguyen Huu Bac: It is true that when coming to Vinh, tourists only stop at Hoang Muoi Temple mainly, and almost no other places.

There is a paradox that why the system of relics and scenic spots in Vinh is so dense, full of potential, and very convenient to attract tourists, but we still haven't done it? Because in fact, Vinh is just a stopover, Vinh has not been able to retain tourists. We can somewhat compare the potentials between Vinh and Hue, or Da Nang for example. Why, when coming to Hue, tourists have to stay there for 2-3 days, and have to visit all the tourist attractions inside and outside Hue City, have to enjoy all the dishes in Hue, and also buy Hue's products as gifts? When coming to Nghe An, tourists stay in Cua Lo for 2-3 days, and visit Uncle Ho's hometown, but we have not combined to promote and introduce to tourists that Vinh has many other attractive relics and scenic spots to attract them to visit? Is it because of our way of "doing" tourism, or because our relics are not attractive enough for tour guides to introduce?

I think, with the relics that have been restored and beautifully restored such as Hong Son Temple, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Memorial House, 3 city gates, the steles of Uncle Ho's two visits to his hometown, Ben Thuy worker-farmer-soldier monument, General Chu Huy Man's house... Vinh City needs to have a specific plan to promote. In the immediate future, coordinate with travel companies in the city, and further promote the connection between Vinh - Cua Lo - Nam Dan region to promote destinations. As for the relics that are being degraded, Vinh needs to determine which relics to restore first, which relics to restore later, should not be scattered, and above all, we must promote socialization work. Besides, localities with a system of relics also need to be determined and concerned to participate in preserving and promoting the value of the relics.

There is a sad reality that is currently happening in Vinh City, that is, when asked, many citizens of the city do not know the origin, location of the relics - the pride of the city, where they are now? A relic that is restored, embellished, renovated, the requirement is not only to keep it original but also to make it attractive, appealing and become a historical lesson, an experience passed down from our ancestors, a place to educate the tradition of patriotism, the will to rise up in life from the heroes in history...

Thanh Chung - Thanh Thuy