Since 2019, the city of Hue has been implementing the "Preservation, Restoration, and Embellishment of Hue Imperial City System" project. This initiative involves clearing and relocating approximately 4,915 households residing within the heritage site to the Huong So resettlement area, with a total estimated cost exceeding 1,890 billion VND.

During giai doan 1 of the project, over 2,000 households in the Thuong Thanh and Eo Bau areas successfully handed over their land, restoring space to the historical site. However, in Eo Bau and several areas designated for giai doan 2, the relocation process remains incomplete, leaving some heritage zones in a disheveled condition.

Despite clearance efforts commencing in 2019, the Eo Bau heritage area still has many residents who have not relocated, and the surrounding vegetation is overgrown. Numerous houses within the heritage perimeter have had their roofs removed some time ago but have not been fully demolished to clear the site.

According to Project Management Board Region 1, site clearance for Thuong Thanh, Eo Bau, Ho Thanh Hao, Tuyen Phong Lo, and Tran Binh Dai has been allocated 35.5 billion VND, part of a 54 billion VND investment package. To date, 1,682 land plots, representing 75.3% of the total, have been handed over, with 551 plots remaining. Specifically in Eo Bau, 41 households have yet to surrender their land. The board has issued 27 enforcement decisions and expects to execute them in December, following the reorganization of Phu Xuan.

Nguyen Van Hung's family is dismantling their over 130-year-old traditional house in the Eo Bau area on Xuan 68 street for relocation. The family has hired workers to carefully remove and preserve the antique tiles for reuse.

For many years prior, Mr. Hung's family had not handed over the land due to disagreements over compensation. They recently reached an agreement and consented to relocate. Their neighbors moved over four years ago and are now settled in the Huong So resettlement area.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, 65 years old, is one of the 41 households in Eo Bau who have not yet relocated or handed over their land. He stated that he has not surrendered his 160 square meter house due to an unresolved compensation plan.

A house in the Eo Bau area on Xuan 68 street, whose roof was removed and handed over long ago but not fully demolished, has become a dumping ground for surrounding residents.

As part of giai doan 2 of the project (2022-2025), the Dan Xa Tac heritage area in Phu Xuan ward requires the relocation of over 1,000 households, with an estimated cost of 213 billion VND. Over the past three years, many households have removed their roofs and handed over their homes to Project Management Board Region 1.

Historical records indicate that Dan Xa Tac was constructed in April 1806, during the reign of Emperor Gia Long, to worship the deities of earth and grain. When building the altar, the Nguyen dynasty mobilized clean soil from various localities to build the foundation and planted mu u trees around it.

Dang Huu Vu Hoang and his three young children live in a collective house in the Dan Xa Tac area. Mr. Hoang stated that his family has not yet received compensation or land as a secondary household, forcing them to temporarily reside in his parents' old house. He raises chickens in abandoned homes, left by other relocated households, to supplement his income.

Houses with removed roofs, awaiting relocation, are interspersed with occupied residential homes in the Dan Xa Tac area.

Along Dinh Tien Hoang street, adjacent to Tinh Tam Lake, many households have yet to hand over their land. Some houses have had their roofs dismantled and belongings moved, but the full demolition process is incomplete. The plan involves relocating 210 households around Tinh Tam Lake, with a total projected cost of approximately 80 billion VND.

Project Management Board Region 1 announced that the estimated costs for site clearance at Hoc Hai Lake, Tinh Tam Lake, Dan Xa Tac, Kham Thien Giam, Xien Vo Tu, Luc Bo, and Thuong Thu Duong Bo Cong have been prepared and are awaiting approval from competent authorities.

Vo Thanh