VietNamNet Bridge – The central localities of Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to clarify their responsibility for conserving the heritage gate Hai Van Quan, which is located between the two.

The ruin giant brick gate lying on the top of Hai Van Pass. VNS File Photo

The memorandum regulated the localities each would contribution half of the proposed budget for the conservation project of the site, which served as the gate to the capital city of Hue from the south during the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).

Thua Thien-Hue will hold the right to grant investment licenses, make investment decisions, authorise agencies and monitor conservation work.

Da Nang will have to approve conservation documents before they are enacted and the city’s Department of Culture and Sports will be a member of a management unit of the site conservation project, which will be formed by Thua Thien-Hue.

Last August, the two localities met and agreed a conservation proposal that would restore all relics inside the heritage site landmarks. Hai Van Quan was recognised as a national heritage site in 2017 after the two localities solved a dispute over the control of the site.

The site is located on the border of Lang Co Township in Thua Thien-Hue and Hoa Hiep Bac Ward in Da Nang. Earlier, the controlling rights dispute between the two sides had left the giant brick gate ruined for almost three decades.

The first gate was built in the Tran era (1226-1400). Later in 1826, the Nguyen dynasty’s second king Minh Mang (1820-1841) built a new gate on the same site to mark the border of Hue to the south.

Hai Van Quan is the giant gate built by bricks on the top of Hai Van Pass, a mountain cliff clinging from the Truong Son Range and pointing to the sea. In the past before the Hai Van Tunnel was built, the path on Hai Van Pass was the only road between Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang.    

The old giant gate today is a busy tourist site thanks to the spectacular view over the mountain and sea. 

Source: VNS