HCM City has a total of 321 recognised heritage sites at various levels — .Photo nguoidothi.net.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City is struggling to preserve and classify 231 sites and structures that have yet to receive heritage status, as authorities work to balance cultural conservation with rapid urban development.

As of October, HCM City has a total of 321 recognised heritage sites at various levels, including four special national relics, 99 national relics, and 218 city-level relics, according to the city’s Department of Culture and Sports.

These sites reflect the rich historical and cultural legacy of the more than 300-year-old city.

However, the department said 231 other structures and locations have not yet been classified as heritage sites due to various challenges.

Since early 2025, the city has added 14 new sites to its list of city-level relics, including well-known landmarks such as Tân Định Market, Sài Gòn University, Trưng Vương High School, the Chợ Lớn Provincial Party Committee Base, Sài Gòn - Chợ Lớn City Party Committee at Vườn Thơm, the Vườn Cau Đỏ Memorial Site, and the Gò Quéo Ancient Tomb Park.

Despite these achievements, the city still faces many difficulties in heritage preservation and classification.

According to the department, the unclassified sites can be divided into three main groups.

The first group includes urban architectural structures located in the city centre, “golden” areas with high commercial value and complex ownership under central government agencies.

These structures face strong development pressures and economic exploitation demands, making preservation efforts difficult.

The second group consists of religious buildings such as pagodas and churches.

Due to specific ownership and management conditions, many remain reluctant to be classified as heritage sites because of disputes over protected boundaries and complicated legal procedures involved in restoration or renovation.

The third group comprises historical sites, which face obstacles in classification as many war witnesses are now elderly or have passed away, while original documents and artifacts have been lost over time and during wartime, creating difficulties in verifying historical evidence.

The Department of Culture and Sports said the city is implementing synchronous measures to address these issues.

The focus is on developing mechanisms and policies to support owners and investors in restoration and preservation projects, ensuring a balance between conservation and urban development in line with existing planning and legal frameworks. — VNS