VNExpress-Oct 28
Around 40% of all original homeowners have moved out of Hoi An, while rents for state-owned properties have soared to hundreds of millions of dong a month, putting the ancient town at risk of gradually losing its local population. Hai, a native of Hoi An, a well-preserved 15th-to-19th-century Southeast Asian trading port that is now part of Da Nang City in central Vietnam, made the decision to relocate his family from the heart of the historic town to the modern conveniences of Da Nang. The move was largely driven by the daily challenges of living in a carefully conserved heritage zone. Despite its cultural charm, the cramped environment imposed severe restrictions on even the most basic home improvements. Simple, everyday tasks like repairing a broken door or updating a bathroom required navigating rigid conservation rules. Furthermore, the property lacked direct vehicle access, making routine logistics and transportation a constant struggle for the family. But Hai has transformed his former residence into a highly lucrative asset: His sprawling, 200-sq.m ancient house on Nguyen Duy Hieu Street commands a monthly rental of VND120 million
(US$4,560). “Among those who actually hold land-use certificates for properties in the ancient town, 95% have sold or rented out their houses,” he says. Data presented at a recent seminar on developing tourism in Hoi An, organized by the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, showed that in 2023 the town’s core area only had over 3,000 original owners remaining out of almost 10,000 in 1990-2000. Around 30% of owners were from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, while 40% of the original ones had moved elsewhere. A year later, in 2024, only 20-30% of heritage buildings remained occupied by their original owners. Many families with roots in Hoi An struggle to live in deteriorating old houses that have not been restored. Read more at:
