Reporters from the Da Nang Newspaper have recently interviewed some local residents, including architects, to hear their opinions about the projects for improving the landscapes of both banks of Da Nang’s Han River.

The Chairman of the municipal Urban Planning and Development Association, architect Hoang Quang Huy, remarked that the river is an invaluable asset to the city.  Like the Son Tra Peninsula, Marble Mountain and Da Nang Bay, the river is considered a lung of the city.  It plays a vital role in connecting local centres for administration, trade, tourism, culture and sports and in furthering the development of a civilised, modern and prosperous city.  He, therefore, stressed the need to ensure a harmonious combination between the architectural innovations of landscape improvements and the preservation of the natural values of the river.

(Photo: baomoi.com)

The architect also agreed with the suggestion of a contest to design landscape improvements to the banks of the river in the near future in order to collect even more ideas from both domestic and foreign architects.  He also proposed that more buildings should not be constructed on Bach Dang and Tran Hung Dao streets because they could hide the panoramic views of the river.  Also, he stressed the need to preserve local cultural and historical sites and traditional craft villages, cultural events and entertainment activities in the riverside areas, and ensure environmental sanitation along the riverbanks.  Chairman Hung also suggested that local relevant agencies should be responsible for giving consultancy services and collecting comments and opinions from the general public about landscape improvements along the banks of the river.

Mr Le Van Hoa, a local resident from Thanh Khe District, stressed the need for landscape improvement projects not to encroach on the river’s water surface.  He explained that, like other localities in the central region, Da Nang is located at the foot of the majestic Truong Son mountain range.  The city used to suffer huge floods with strong currents in the rainy season.  He recalled the destructive flood in 1999 which inundated Bach Dang street, destroyed the eastern end of the Tran Thị Ly Bridge, and damaged some facilities at the Han River Port.  With the city’s rapid urbanisation, many rivers, lakes, ponds and paddy fields, which help to distribute water flows in many local districts, have been filled in for urban development projects.  As a result, the inner-city has experienced flooding problems in heavy rain.  He remarked that thoughtless construction could cause obstructions to the river's flow which might result in negative environmental consequences.