Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – Japan has helped conserve the tangible and intangible values of theComplex of Hue Monuments – a world heritage site in Hue, the imperial capitalof Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Japan began providing aid for relic conservationin Hue (the central province of Thua Thien-Hue) in 1990. The first large-scaleproject with Japanese funding, 100,000 USD, was to restore the Ngo Mon (NoonGate) – the main gate to the Hoang Thanh (Imperial City) and a symbol of Hue.

Japan’s total funding for the city has amountedto more than 4.6 million USD, compared to the total foreign sponsorship of 10million USD for culture-related activities in the Complex of Hue Monuments.

The UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Japan’sWaseda University is working with the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre to studylocal traditional architecture to preserve relics under the Nguyen Dynasty(1802 – 1945). They focus on the Can Chanh Palace, which was destroyed in 1947during war. This project hopes to receive funding from the Japanese Government.

Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Hue MonumentsConservation Centre, said advanced techniques have been applied to restoremonuments thanks to Japan’s sponsorship.

He added his centre has been coordinating withWaseda University to conduct a study to restore the cultural scenery in thebasin of the Huong River between 2016 and 2018. It also worked with the AllJapan Society of Architects to hold a seminar on conserving traditional woodenstructures.

Additionally, the centre and the Osaka-basedInternational Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in theAsia-Pacific Region are working to devise measures to preserve intangiblecultural heritage amid natural disasters.

Hai said aside from restoration support, Japanhas helped in personnel training and technology transfer for the conservationof Nha Nhac (Vietnamese court music).

He said that the country financed an action planon the conservation and promotion of Nha Nhac and a project on Nha Nhacconservation, research and training activities. They have formed a foundationfor the study, documentation and teaching of Nha Nhac skills to youngergenerations while raising awareness of the heritage among locals and foreigners.

Japan currently ranks eighth among the top 10sources of foreign tourists to Hue. More than 25,100 Japanese visitors came tothe city in 2016, accounting for 4.14 percent of foreign holiday makers.-VNA