On September 10, 2022, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Son (residing at K3, Cua Nam Ward, Vinh City) sent to Nghe An Newspaper a notice of the conclusion of the Department of Construction at the meeting on the project to adjust the detailed planning at a scale of 1/500 to preserve and restore the Vinh Ancient Citadel Relic Site (Document No. 3260/TB-SXD.QHKT dated September 8, 2022).
According to this document, on August 26, the Department of Construction held a meeting to listen to the report on the detailed planning adjustment project at a scale of 1/500 to preserve and restore the Vinh Ancient Citadel Relic Site. Attending the meeting were representatives of the following departments: Natural Resources and Environment; Culture and Information; Vinh City People's Committee (the investor who made the planning adjustment); Cua Nam Ward People's Committee; Nghe An Association of Architects; TH Group Construction Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company (planning consultant); representatives of the leaders of specialized departments under the Department of Construction...
After listening to the opinions of the participants, chairing the meeting, Director of the Department of Construction Nguyen Truong Giang concluded: “The project dossier for adjusting the detailed planning at a scale of 1/500 to preserve and restore the Vinh Ancient Citadel Relic Site, invested by Vinh City People's Committee, surveyed and planned by TH Group Construction Investment and Consulting Joint Stock Company (consultant) was carefully researched, closely following the planning tasks approved by the Provincial People's Committee. The structure of land use planning and the organization of landscape architecture space were researched and arranged reasonably, in accordance with the current construction status in the area and other relevant regulations on relic protection.
Because this is an area of national historical relics. Pursuant to Decree 166/2016/ND-CP dated December 25, 2018 of the Government stipulating the authority, order, procedures for establishing, appraising, and approving plans, projects for preserving, renovating, and restoring historical-cultural relics and scenic spots, it is necessary to consult with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Therefore, it is recommended that the Vinh City People's Committee consult with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the planning scheme before submitting it for appraisal and approval according to regulations.
In addition to the above contents, during the process of completing the planning project, the investor is required to direct the consulting unit to receive comments from departments and branches at the conference to supplement and complete the project.
As a retired cultural official, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Son understands that in order to adjust the planning of Vinh Citadel, it is necessary to get the opinion of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. What he is concerned about is how long it will take to get the opinion of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism? And after the planning is adjusted, will it be suspended like the planning in 2008?
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Son said: “We have lived in the collective housing areas in the Citadel since our youth until now, but the planning adjustment has not been implemented, so although we see some movement, we are still worried and anxious. At the meeting of National Assembly deputies with voters of Cua Nam ward recently, I attended and had the opportunity to express my opinion. That day, the Provincial Party Secretary, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of the province listened to the people's wishes, and then gave close instructions. Therefore, I hope that relevant agencies will show their responsibility to the people, speed up the planning adjustment process, and implement the planning…”.
Grasping the viewpoint of the Department of Culture, it is known that the Department of Culture and Sports supports the project to adjust the planning of Vinh Ancient Citadel Relics, in the direction of doing a good job of preserving and embellishing relics and resettling on-site collective housing areas to stabilize people's lives. Specifically, on August 3, 2022, the Department of Culture and Sports issued Document No. 2079/SVHTTDL-QLDSVH with the following opinion:
“Redefine the specific objectives of the Planning and the name of the Planning in accordance with the purpose of serving the orientation of cultural, economic and social development of Vinh city in the future. Propose that the People's Committee of Vinh city, the consulting unit closely coordinate with the Department of Cultural Heritage Management, the Provincial Monument Management Board to determine the protection zone of Area 1, Area 2 of historical and cultural relics in the Citadel (according to Decision No. 95/QD-BVH dated January 24, 1998 on the national ranking of Vinh Citadel Relics), add to the Planning and carry out the work of preserving and embellishing the relics.
Based on the Planning of the relic system in Nghe An province towards 2030, with a vision to 2050, to develop a suitable planning of functional areas in Vinh Citadel, to build a diverse integrated historical, cultural, ecological, resort and entertainment tourist area. Sports facilities system: Maintain the current status of Vinh Stadium. Other locations can study and develop a backup plan for service facilities, to be implemented after moving out of the citadel area to the Provincial Sports Complex.
Do not implement the following items: Square, Historical Library. In front of the two museums: do not build a food court. Research can choose to arrange a green park, a souvenir sales service area, and a parking lot at this location. The planning of the two museums' campus ensures beauty and the land is not cut. Need to study more ideas such as restoring the stone bridges in the moat area...
Agree on the on-site resettlement plan of collective housing areas in the Citadel area, renovate them into old quarters to stabilize the population and organize services in the old quarter.
Mr. Bui Cong Vinh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports shared that the Vinh Citadel relic has been ranked as a national relic, so when implementing the planning adjustment project, according to the law, it is necessary to ask for the opinion of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Regarding this content, the Department of Culture and Sports will accompany and be responsible to the city. Mr. Bui Cong Vinh said: “According to the 2008 planning, all households living in the collective housing areas will have to move and resettle elsewhere. According to the draft planning adjustment that the City People's Committee has just submitted, the collective housing areas will be resettled on-site to stabilize the people. The Department of Culture and Sports highly agrees with this plan. The Department has also researched and proposed to the City People's Committee that after agreeing on the planning, these new residential areas should be built with a suitable architecture, in harmony with the overall landscape, becoming one of the highlights of the Vinh Ancient Citadel Relic. Therefore, we hope that the Vinh City People's Committee will soon complete the related contents so that the competent authority can approve the planning...”.
In the Vinh Citadel area, the relics that have been ranked at the national level include: the moat, the citadel bank, the front gate, the left gate and the right gate, the guard post, the Vinh prison, the stele recalling Uncle Ho's visit to his hometown. These relics, according to the adjusted planning project invested by the Vinh City People's Committee, will strictly comply with the Heritage Law, ensuring their integrity; for relics that have lost their traces such as the citadel bank, a protected area will be zoned, and investment will be made to restore them step by step... The project also clarifies the existing architectural and landscape works and those that will be implemented in the future such as: Museum works (cultural - historical area); Public works area; Commercial and service area associated with tourism; Green and sports area; traffic system, parking lot...
For residential areas, maintain the stable residential areas in the Northwest, West and South, only renovate the technical infrastructure to improve the quality of the living environment. Regarding resettlement land, the resettlement housing area in the East will be arranged to serve the relocation of existing collective housing areas that are not in accordance with the planning (total construction land area of 26,992.8m2, maximum construction density 90%, maximum height 2 floors).
According to the representative of Vinh City People's Committee, the city will soon have a document reporting to the Ministry of Culture - Sports and Tourism on the project to adjust the detailed planning at a scale of 1/500 to preserve and restore the Vinh Citadel relic site. "In the report, the city will ask for the Ministry's opinion on zoning the relic protection area to serve the development of social infrastructure. Thereby, ensuring the stability of people's lives associated with the good implementation of conservation and restoration work to promote the cultural - historical values of the relics in the Vinh Citadel area" - the representative of Vinh City People's Committee discussed.
