The director of Hội An's heritage conservation centre says auctioning state-owned old houses without limits could swamp the town's infrastructure, Tiền Phong reported on October 26. Phạm Phú Ngọc was quoted as saying: "If houses are auctioned and every one becomes a restaurant, the infrastructure cannot cope."
Ngọc said the town's roads, drainage and waste systems were built for a smaller population. He proposed keeping part of the state housing stock for long-term residents at preferential state rents, allowing small, suitable businesses, and classifying each house before it is used or leased.
On repairs, he said all work must follow conservation rules whether the owner is local or from another city. His centre reviews permit files and works with local authorities on inspections, and has recorded and penalised violations as small as replacing wooden doors with glass or using unsuitable paint.
Nguyễn Đức Bình, chief of the Da Nang People's Committee office, told the city's third-quarter press conference that the old town's value lies partly in everyday community life, and that issues affecting residents' rights need careful review during the reorganisation of local government. The report cites earlier figures that about 30% of core-zone owners are from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City; it does not say how they were measured.
Sources
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