THỪA THIÊN HUẾ — Authorities of two central localities have reached agreements on protection work and profiling to nominate a shared historical landmark as a national heritage site.

Hải Vân Quan, a giant brick gate built on top of Hải Vân Mountain, lies on the border of Thừa Thiên - Huế Province and Đà Nẵng City. Built during the Trần era (1226-1400), the gate was rebuilt in 1826 under Emperor Minh Mạng (1820-1841).

For years, the gate has been left unattended due to disagreements between Huế and Đà Nẵng over responsibility of managing the gate as it lies on their common border. Many parts of the gate, once praised as the country’s most magnificent gate, have fallen into ruin.

Last week, the departments of culture and sports of Huế and Đà Nẵng agreed to work together to protect the gate. Following a memorandum of understanding signed by the two sides, a joint team of Huế’s Phú Lộc District and Đà Nẵng’s Liên Chiểu District will manage security, tidiness and tourism at the site.

The brick gate Hải VânThe brick gate Hải Vân Quan. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Văn Sum Quan. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Văn Sum

The two will work together to nominate the gate as a national heritage to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. According to Huỳnh Văn Hùng, director of Đà Nẵng’s Department of Culture and Sports, the work is expected to be completed in 2017.

Hùng told local newspapers that authorities of the two localities would devise conservation methods for the gate.

This is the second time that two localities submitted one application to the ministry to recognise one heritage site. Earlier, central Hà Tĩnh and Quảng Bình provinces did the same for Hoành Sơn Quan, a gate on the top of Ngang Pass separating the provinces.

Hải Vân Quan lies beside a road going through the Hải Vân Pass connecting Huế and Đà Nẵng. It is a busy tourist site thanks to the spectacular view over the mountain and sea. — VNS