La Châu Văn chỉ, a shrine to learning in Hòa Tiến commune, needs urgent restoration, Báo Đà Nẵng reports, but its expansion plan still has no approved investment policy.
The Văn chỉ stands on a raised mound in the fields of La Châu village, in the former Hòa Vang district. It was completed in 1852 on the initiative of Đỗ Thúc Tịnh, a La Châu native and the only doctoral graduate from the district under the Nguyễn dynasty. Spring and autumn ceremonies were once held there.
The building was destroyed by war in 1969, though some stone steles survived. In 2015 the district spent about 2 billion VND to rebuild it on the old site, and the city ranked it a city-level relic in July 2022. Standing alone in open fields, it has since deteriorated: the ceiling is peeling and mouldy, the roof and floor are damaged and the base is cracking.
Trần Em, a villager who looks after the site, estimated about half the roof tiles are damaged and said rain seeps into the concrete walls. He said he hopes authorities will plan a proper restoration. Lê Đình Ca, vice chairman of the commune People's Committee, said the commune hopes the city will allocate budget, since local funds are limited.
Under Decision 2779/QĐ-UBND of 15 December 2023, the city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is investor for a conservation and restoration project. In August 2024, after consulting residents, the former district chose an option covering 4,547 square metres: 1,393 square metres now protected and 3,154 square metres proposed for expansion. Planned works include the main shrine, ceremonial yards, side wings, bell and drum towers, a triumphal gate, a management house and parking.
The investment policy has not yet been approved. Decision 51/2026/QĐ-UBND of 20 May 2026 requires communes to carry out restoration only after the department gives a written appraisal. The department says it will ask Hòa Tiến to lead a review of the expansion scope, boundaries and site clearance, and the commune is building an access road to the Western Ring Road, with clearance and compensation expected to finish in 2026–2027.
Sources
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