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| The moss-covered, ancient charm of old houses in Gia Hoi Ancient Quarter |
The traces of the past in Gia Hoi Ancient Quarter remain vivid. These include numerous ancient pagodas, palaces, religious and colonial communal architectural works that still exist today. Without preservation, the risk of these treasures fading away with time is inevitable.
Tracing back through history, Gia Hoi was established quite early and gradually flourished under the reign of Nguyen Lords. In 1687, after Lord Nguyen Phuc Thai relocated the capital from Kim Long to Phu Xuan, Gia Hoi enjoyed even more favorable conditions for development. This place became the “municipal” component in the urban structure of Hue during its early days, closely tied to the Perfume River. In the early 19th century, when Emperor Gia Long unified the country and established the imperial capital in Hue, Gia Hoi experienced even greater development and prosperity. By the early 20th century, although it was no longer in its golden age, Gia Hoi remained the most thriving quarter of Hue’s Imperial Capital.
Now that Hue has become a centrally-governed municipality, Gia Hoi Ancient Quarter belongs to Gia Hoi Ward, Phu Xuan District. Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, remarked that this quarter was home to numerous historical and cultural relics of various types, such as royal residences, guild halls, pagodas, communal houses, ancient homes, and ancestral shrines. Among them are renowned landmarks like Dieu De National Temple, The Lai Thuong communal house and shrine, Chinese guild halls, and several residences of princes and princesses.
In addition, this quarter is famous for its intangible heritage, such as traditional festivals, hereditary crafts, and diverse culinary arts. However, it is still considered a quiet, tranquil quarter with little change or development.
“How to uplift Gia Hoi is a significant question and a shared concern of many, from generations of leaders to residents and Hue lovers. Decades ago, Hue’s municipal government was determined to preserve and promote Gia Hoi Ancient Quarter with the vision of turning it into a Hue version of Hoi An. However, it has yet to succeed,” said Mr. Hai.
In a study conducted by Hue City’s Institute for Development Studies on Gia Hoi Ancient Quarter, a dual approach of preservation and development was proposed. It emphasized the need to establish a comprehensive database of tangible and intangible cultural values in Gia Hoi as a scientific basis for research, collection, digitization, and documentation of valuable architectural structures. Additionally, it proposed orienting the quarter’s development toward commerce, tourism, and services rooted in its distinctive cultural heritage. This should be accompanied by spatial management policies and regulations for the restoration of valuable architectural works.
Mr. Hai further added that Hue’s municipal government is currently implementing the city’s master plan, urban development plan, and the conservation and restoration plan for the Complex of Hue Monuments. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize a detailed plan for Gia Hoi. This is a critical first step that will play a decisive role in ensuring sustainable and appropriately directed development.
Following this, appropriate investment is needed to preserve, utilize, and fully promote the rich heritage in Gia Hoi. Efforts should be made to create conditions and foster connections that enable all residents to maximize their abilities and strengths in leveraging the local resources, particularly Gia Hoi’s inherent cultural and heritage potential.
“Most of Gia Hoi’s heritage belongs to the community and its people. Therefore, there needs to be a shift in awareness regarding how to approach and use heritage for development goals. In this regard, the people of Gia Hoi in particular, and Hue in general, should learn from the residents of Hoi An. They need to acquire skills in heritage utilization, promotion, and service provision so that Gia Hoican transform into a service hub capable of meeting the diverse needs of various types of visitors,” analyzed Mr. Hai.