Lived-in heritage

Viet Nam is one of the few developing countries with impressive achievements in poverty reduction. Diversification of the resource base for local communities, responsive infrastructure development and expanding choices for the poor have been critical in the Doi Moi economic reform and poverty eradication programme. Further choices in public and private sector partnerships promise to provide for sustainable poverty reduction and human development. In this context, World Heritage sites have become demonstration projects where local community engagement has informed sustainable development. This case study presents Hoi An Ancient Town in central Viet Nam.

Hoi An has more than 1,390 architectural remains representing ten architectural forms. These are residential houses, places of worship for family ancestors, village communal houses, pagodas, temples, tombs, bridges, water wells, markets and assembly halls. The foundations of Hoi An go back to the late 16th century. However, the present architectural remains are mainly from the 19th century. There is evidence of the economic and cultural exchanges between Viet Nam and the world, between Hoi An and China, Japan, India and several European countries. The residents of Hoi An, generation after generation have been living and working in the same houses. In the Ancient Town, a large number of antiquities are kept; traditional crafts are maintained; and folk dishes, habits, customs, and festivities are fostered.

Forging partnerships for sustainable development

The boundaries of the Ancient Town and the surrounding District were established under the Cultural Heritage Law of Viet Nam and the Hoi An People's Committee Statute on Managing, Preserving and Utilizing the Hoi An Ancient Town.