Hoa Vang District boasts great potential, advantages and space to develop into a modern ecological urban area, while still preserving and conserving cultural and historical values, ​​and promoting traditional origins to create a unique and rich cultural identity.

Rural scene in Bo Ban Village, Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District. This village is part of the project to build a 'typical cultural village' of Hoa Vang District. Photo: DAC MANH

Developing an ecological urban area

Hoa Vang is a land with a very diverse landscape, including vast plains, rolling hills, natural forests, river systems, canals and paddy fields. The natural landscape system has not been much affected by urban construction activities. It also has architectural works with low construction density interspersed with natural elements, and a rich system of villages, relics, communal houses, pagodas and temples interspersed with new residential areas.

“Currently, Hoa Vang is making a master plan, with the characteristics of natural landscape, historical and cultural traditions, as well as the goal of sustainable urban development, choosing an ecological urban model for its further development is appropriate. Ecological urban areas are also the goal of a number of advanced countries in the world, aiming to bring the best quality of life to people. Creating a modern, civilised urban space is always associated with environmental protection requirements”, Secretary of Hoa Vang District Party Committee To Van Hung shared.

According to Mr. Hung, ecological urban areas are organised according to the principle of ensuring the “balance” of ecosystems. It is necessary to preserve biodiversity, ensure the connection between natural and artificial landscape factors, strengthen the connection of landscape spaces with green areas (such as parks, walking gardens, forests), and green belts (such as rivers, canals, green street lines, etc.), and maintain the system of regulating lakes in the urban area.

As for urban traffic, priority will be given to solutions of public transport, “green” transport (such as bicycles, walking, electric cars, etc.), green architecture, ecological industrial parks, "green" economic development models, and organic and circular agricultural production.

However, in reality, Hoa Vang is also facing many challenges, such as the risk of ecological environment degradation, natural landscape degradation and biodiversity. "Urban development needs to be consistent with the environmental "threshold", and man-made factors must also be in harmony with the landscape elements bestowed by nature", Mr. Hung emphasised.

Preserving and promoting cultural, historical values

With a long history, Hoa Vang culture was formed from the products of agriculture, from the way of behaving, and from the cultural exchange between the residents of Quang Nam and many other places. This, thereby, created the unique features of Hoa Vang indigenous culture which is expressed in the character, soul, lifestyle, and behavior of Hoa Vang people.

Moreover, Hoa Vang is now home to many architectural works, sculptures, and systems of communal houses, temples, and cultural - religious - historical - revolutionary relics, all of which have high architectural value and are imbued with humanity. The solidarity among clans and families is always passed on and promoted.

Such extremely unique festivals as village communal house, Tat Bep and Muc Dong are vivid pictures of neighborhood affection, demonstrating the spirit of community solidarity as well as honouring the value of agricultural labour.

Traditional craft villages such as Tuy Loan rice paper and traditional brocade weaving of the Co Tu people (Hoa Phu Commune), along with and other intangible cultural values ​​such as ‘bai choi’ singing and ‘tung tung - da da’ dance have combined to create unique cultural values ​​in the district.

Hoa Vang is under the strong impact of urbanisation when new cultural values ​​have not yet taken shape, and traditional cultural values ​​are at risk of being lost. To solve the abovementioned problems, the district organises large-scale scientific seminars and discussions. The Hoa Vang District Party Committee issued Resolution No. 12/NQ-HU on "preserving, conserving and promoting the value of historical - cultural relics". After that, many projects and plans to concretise the Party's policies were issued. Included are projects to develop Bo Ban and Phong Nam into 'typical cultural villages' of Hoa Vang District, and Tuy Loan Rice Paper Craft Village; build the Co Tu Community Cultural Centre in Hoa Bac Commune; and regularly organise Tuy Loan and Bo Ban village communal festivals, Muc Dong Festival in Hoa Chau Commune, and the Tat Bep Festival in Tra Kiem Village, Hoa Phuoc Commune. Along with that, each village will issue a "Village Covenant" as an important basis for protecting community cultural values.

Hoa Vang is in the process of strong urbanisation but is still determined to preserve and conserve traditional cultural and historical values ​​in order to develop into an ecologically rich urban area.

Reporting by DAC MANH - Translating by M.DUNG