Hoi An Ancient Town

https://hoianheritage.quangnam.gov.vn

Promoting resources to build and develop Hoi An into a City of ecology, culture, and tourism

The historical process of formation and development of Hoi An Urban - Commercial Port has had a decisive significance in the appearance of a cultural heritage that is quite diverse, rich and has a strong identity. At the same time, on this land of gentle humanity, an intangible cultural heritage has also been preserved that has become a tradition - that is the spirit of community cohesion in the countryside as well as the city. Hoi An also has a natural environment that has not been much affected by the urbanization process and other human activities. In particular, Cu Lao Cham not only affirms its superiority in ecological environment but is also a typical example of the connection between World Cultural Heritage and the World Biosphere.
     On the other hand, this place has the advantage of being an attractive destination of the World Cultural Heritage triangle Hue - Hoi An - My Son. The above premises and conditions are of special importance, a solid foundation for Hoi An to choose and affirm its determination to successfully build an Ecological - Cultural - Tourist city.

     The process of building, promulgating policies and directing the implementation of the orientation for building and developing Hoi An – A city of Ecology - Culture - Tourism has many favorable conditions based on the foundation of policies, plans, attention, direction, support and assistance from the Central Government, from Quang Nam - Da Nang Province (old) and from Quang Nam Province today.

     Since the 1980s, the results of domestic and international scientific research have clarified many issues on history, archeology, culture, architecture and conservation of Hoi An Ancient Town. This is an important premise for local leaders to use as a basis for planning the direction for the city. Recently, the 18th Congress of the Hoi An City Party Committee, term 2020 - 2025, continued to set out the direction: "Effectively preserving and promoting cultural values ​​and natural resources for socio-economic development associated with ensuring national defense, security and social safety; Strengthening the building of a strong Party organization and political system, consolidating the great national unity bloc; improving the quality of human resources, especially the contingent of cadres who are worthy of the requirements of the tasks; focusing on mobilizing all resources, taking advantage of the support of the Province and the Central Government in terms of appropriate mechanisms and policies; strongly, comprehensively and synchronously innovating to continue to promote the building of a friendly, safe, and sustainably developing Hoi An city in the direction of Ecology - Culture - Tourism”.

     On the basis of firmly grasping and properly operating the economic - cultural - ecological relationship, the City continues to promote strong economic restructuring with the Tourism - Service - Trade sector playing a leading role; both in line with the guidelines and policies of the Party, the State, and Quang Nam province; and closely following the practical situation, potential and advantages of Hoi An. The types of tourism are diversely and dynamically developed on the basis of promoting cultural resources and humanistic values, combined with the reasonable exploitation of ecological resources. That is the premise and driving force for the city's development process.
 
pho co hoi an nhin tu tren cao
Hoi An Ancient Town from above - Photo: Quang Ngoc
 
     In the field of ecology and environment, the City always considers environmental protection a requirement throughout the development process, considering the environment a pillar for the goal of sustainable development. The City has focused on directing and supporting investment in projects and issuing directives on strengthening waste management, monitoring and controlling environmental quality, proactively responding to climate change; integrating environmental protection into local development strategies, planning, plans and projects. The City Party Committee issued Directive No. 15-CT/TU, dated November 12, 2019 on strengthening control and minimizing the use of disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose plastic bags; continuing to implement the policy of sorting waste at source to protect the city's environment; Resolution 04-NQ/TU dated April 6, 2022 on "Environmental protection of Hoi An city to 2025, orientation to 2035", regularly maintaining and implementing 5 major environmental protection programs: Waste classification at source; Minimizing the use of nylon bags; Treating kitchen waste; Environmental education in schools; Improving environmental protection capacity in enterprises. Mobilizing all social forces to participate in environmental activities has achieved many good results. The program "One hour for a cleaner Hoi An" has gradually become a familiar habit of the whole community. Potentials and advantages in terms of ecology, landscape, and human resources are exploited, tourism is developed, creating a shift in economic structure and labor structure in rural areas. The project "Building Cam Kim into an village of Ecology - Crafts in the period of 2017 - 2025", the project "Sustainable development of Tan Hiep island commune on the basis of preserving and promoting the value of the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve, period of 2017 - 2025" achieved many results, notably the management and conservation of biodiversity associated with sustainable tourism and community livelihood development.

     The urban landscape is given special attention, in which cultural and historical heritages are carefully preserved, restored and promoted with good values. New architectural works are imbued with national and local identity, while meeting advanced and modern requirements. Focus on exploiting and using clean energy, renewable energy and using environmentally friendly construction materials, preserving and developing green spaces, green corridors and urban trees. The quality of the environment and ecology in recent years has ensured green and clean factors. In the field of culture - society, Hoi An City Party Committee issued Resolution No. 04 dated September 20, 2017 on "Building and developing Hoi An culture and people to meet the requirements of building a city of Ecology- Culture - Tourism". Focus on building a cultural and civilized lifestyle, raising awareness and good behavior towards the cultural heritages created by our ancestors, towards the community, towards tourists and towards ourselves; guiding everyone and each person to have cultural awareness and behavior "for everyone, for the community".

     Cultural models in families, clans, residential areas, agencies, schools, businesses, shops, stores, and public places are strengthened. Focus on building Hoi An people with "kind and gentle hearts" and building a cultural and civilized lifestyle, creating a healthy social environment.

     Cultural resources and natural resources are researched, identified, preserved and promoted in conjunction with the city's socio-economic development. In particular, connecting the World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town with the World Biosphere Reserve of Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An and the cultural space of traditional villages and craft villages has been actively and quite well implemented. In addition, a number of large-scale cultural and artistic projects invested by enterprises such as the live art program "Hoi An Memories", the contemporary folk art program of Lune, etc. have become unique cultural products, attracting a large number of tourists to enjoy.

     Hoi An culture is a part of Quang Nam culture, contributing to enriching the national identity, and at the same time is a bridge connecting multi-regional cultures in the country and the world. The prestige and position of Hoi An are increasingly enhanced and have received sympathy, attention, support and sharing from provincial and central leaders, organizations and individuals at home and abroad. The image of Hoi An has become familiar on the internet, television channels, news agencies and various types of cultural publications, newspapers, domestic films and many famous television stations, news agencies and film studios in the world.
 
lang rau tra que
The Tra Que Vegetable Village - Photo: Quang Ngoc
 
     Hoi An tourism is developed in the direction of culture, ecology and community with the focus on leadership, direction and operation of the entire political system, combined with the efforts of enterprises and the consensus of the entire people. The space for tourism development is spread across urban, rural, island and village areas, but is basically regulated with focus on the basis of rational exploitation of resources, potentials and advantages of each locality. Hoi An is honored to be selected by the province to build a model green tourism destination according to the Green Tourism Criteria, as a basis for other localities and enterprises to replicate. This is also a recognition of the efforts and achievements of Hoi An in protecting the living environment and tourism environment. The expansion of tourism development space, especially for coastal areas, villages, rivers, seas and islands, has many new points. The network of tourism businesses has basically developed in the right direction, diversified business lines, and reasonably exploited resources and competitive advantages. The types and products of tourism are increasingly diverse; in which community tourism is focused on, has received consensus from the people and has brought about practical results. The service industries supporting tourism and consumer services have developed rapidly and are rich in types, especially accommodation, transportation, travel, travel agencies, restaurants, shopping, health care and especially express tailoring services, etc.

     Every year, Hoi An is honored through votes from tourists and has won many awards from international tourism organizations, continuing to affirm itself as one of the attractive destinations in Vietnam and the world. The city has developed the Project "Developing Hoi An tourism in the period of 2022 - 2025 with a vision to 2030" to gradually restore tourism after the Covid-19 pandemic.

     In the coming years, with the position of a provincial city, with world cultural heritage and a biosphere reserve of humanity; with ecological, cultural and tourism strengths; Hoi An has the basis for the province, the Central Government and international organizations to have specific and reasonable mechanisms and policies for the development process of the City. The requirement is to both firmly grasp and persistently implement strategic orientations but must promptly have appropriate solutions for each stage, each field and each specific time.

     We, the Government and People of Hoi An City, believe that: Promoting the important achievements gained in the past time, with the spirit of initiative, creativity, mobilizing the strength of the entire political system, with the hearts and love for this land, combined with the attention, support and help of the Central Government, the province, and friends near and far, the cause of building "Hoi An - Ecological - Cultural - Tourist City", dynamically developing and rich in identity will certainly be successful./.
 

Author: M.S. Tran Anh

Source: Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation:

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