Hoi An ancient houses risk collapse over degradation

Many ancient houses in the central ancient city of Hoi An have deteriorated, but restoration is not feasible due to their designation as protected heritage sites.

Tran Thi Thanh Tam and her four family members reside in a house on Le Loi Street that is around 200 years old. Covering an area of over 50 m2, the house is designated as a conservation site due to its architectural and historical significance.

The house has been deteriorating for the past decade and now faces the risk of collapse. Authorities have surveyed the site and proposed financial assistance for renovation.

« The estimated cost for repairs is about one billion VND ($39,439). The state has offered to cover 60% of the expenses, with the remaining portion being the owner’s responsibility. However, our family’s financial situation is tight, » Tam explained.

The wooden beams and brick roof have deteriorated over time, causing leaks during rain. To manage this, Tam uses plastic sheets and buckets to catch the rainwater.

« It’s manageable during the dry season, but when it rains, water spreads throughout the house, » she shared, adding that the whole family has to evacuate during storms and floods due to fears that the house might collapse on them.

As he was concerned about downpours triggered by storm Trami, Duong Thanh Cuong, who owns an ancient house on Tieu La Street, uses plastic sheets to collect rainwater into one spot.

Cuong’s house spans 100 m2, with half of the house being degraded and the other half having been renovated. He lives with his wife, two brothers, one child and one grandchild.

His house is among 36 degraded sites in the city, according to a 2024 statistics by Hoi An City.

A wooden staircase leads to a deteriorating attic.

Cuong shared that his house, built 70 years ago, holds a conservation status, which means any renovation requires official approval.

Cuong mentioned that his house is at risk of collapsing at any moment, yet he continues to live in it. Authorities have inspected the house and proposed financial assistance for renovation. The repair work would cost over VND1 billion, with the state providing 60% of the funding. However, his family’s financial situation makes it difficult to afford the remaining amount.

The walls are riddled with cracks, and the wooden beams have deteriorated. Gaps formed by ceiling cracks let rainwater seep through, prompting the use of plastic sheets to catch the water.

Approximately 300 meters from Cuong’s residence, an ancient house owned by 82-year-old Ngo Thi Gan and her two sisters, which is around 100 years old, is also in a state of severe deterioration. In recent years, Hoi An authorities have reinforced sections at risk of collapsing with wooden beams, while Gan uses plastic sheets to stop rainwater from seeping in.

To combat termites, the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation uses traps to eliminate the pests.

« If the house is damaged, we just have to accept it. We have no money for repairs, » Gan stated.

Pham Phu Ngoc, the Center’s director, emphasized that the city actively provides support for house owners to renovate in accordance with regulations. For privately-owned properties, the state can cover up to 70% of renovation costs. If owners lack sufficient funds, they can receive interest-free loans for three years.

For heavily deteriorated properties that cannot be renovated, are collectively owned, and lack a legal representative for repairs, the Center has consulted with the Hoi An People’s Committee to seek approval from the Quang Nam People’s Committee to fully fund the renovations.

« While awaiting the province’s decision, the Center has requested the Hoi An People’s Committee to allocate budget resources to renovate severely degraded sites within its jurisdiction, » Ngoc added.

Another house on Tran Phu Street has also experienced damage to its wooden components due to termites. The Center has installed supporting beams to stabilize the structure.

The homeowner mentioned that authorities have proposed covering 40% of the renovation costs. However, due to unresolved legal procedures, a final solution has not yet been reached.

Vuong Huu Phuoc, 68, the owner of an old house on Bach Dang Street, also uses plastic sheets to catch rainwater leaking from the roof.

Cuong explained that he lacks the financial means for renovation, and the house’s status as a heritage site restricts renovation efforts. As a result, he resorts to using plastic sheets. He noted that the house serves as a place for worship rather than a living space.

Hoi An experienced flooding of approximately one meter on October 18, 2021. The ancient town is home to over 1,000 historical houses and sites, with around 10% managed by the state, 20% collectively owned, and 70% privately owned. The area faces 2-3 floods annually, accelerating the deterioration of these structures.

Nguyen Van Son, the chairman of Hoi An, explained that many of the degraded houses without renovations are collectively owned. Due to residents living separately, there is no single decision-maker to approve renovations. « The issue isn’t a lack of funds for renovations, but rather the absence of a unified ownership. This is a civilian matter, and authorities cannot intervene, » he said.

By Dac Thanh- VnExpress.net – October 28, 2024