A lifelong attachment to Hanoi's heritage

Professor, Doctor, architect Hoang Dao Kinh has just been awarded the title “Outstanding Citizen of the Capital” by Hanoi City in 2025. This is a worthy honor for a person who has devoted his whole life to preserving Hanoi’s heritage. For him, every tiled roof, every corner of the old town needs to be cherished and preserved with passion and responsibility.

Professor Hoang Dao Kinh talks at the 2025 Hanoi City Patriotic Emulation Congress. (Photo: NHAT BAC)

Among those honored as Outstanding Citizens of the Capital, Professor Hoang Dao Kinh is a very special case because many generations of his family have contributed to the Capital and the country. He was born and raised in Ke Lu village, famous for its tradition of mandarin examinations. He is the son of culturalist and revolutionary Hoang Dao Thuy, grandson of patriot Hoang Dao Thanh. His father and grandfather's names have been used to name streets and roads in Hanoi.

His father left behind many books about Hanoi, such as: “Thang Long - Dong Do - Hanoi”, “Old Hanoi Streets”, “Hanoi People and Scenery”, “Elegant Hanoi”… His father’s vast and rich knowledge and affection for Hanoi were passed on to him early. Therefore, the sense of responsibility to contribute to the cause of preserving and promoting Hanoi’s cultural values ​​came to him very naturally from the foundation of family tradition.

Having worked in many different positions such as Director of the Central Center for Monument Design and Restoration (now the Institute for Monument Conservation), Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Architects..., he left his mark in many heritage conservation projects across the country...

Professor Hoang Dao Kinh's journey of dedication and contribution to Hanoi is very long. More than half a century ago, when the country was still facing many difficulties, he left his mark with the restoration of Tay Dang communal house.

At that time, the viewpoint on relic restoration in Vietnam was just taking shape. Tay Dang Communal House is a famous communal house of the Doai region, which is more than 5 centuries old. Faced with different viewpoints, the young architect Hoang Dao Kinh defended his viewpoint: Do not bring the existing architecture back to a predetermined historical period, maintain the current architectural state of the relic as much as possible. Damaged structures are repaired and replaced to make the relic sustainable, while at the same time affecting the relic in the most modest way. That viewpoint contributed to laying the foundation for the current viewpoint on relic restoration.

Professor Hoang Dao Kinh's mark is reflected in a series of other famous architectural works in Hanoi such as: Kim Lien Pagoda, Tay Phuong Pagoda, Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Hanoi Old Quarter... In which, the Old Quarter is where he devoted much of his heart and soul, cooperating with the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter. One of the most outstanding works he participated in was the conservation of the Heritage House at 87 Ma May Street.

Compared to heritage conservation in general, there is not much experience in preserving “living heritage” such as ancient villages and old streets in Vietnam. In the conservation of old streets, he has a new approach, suitable to the actual conditions, that is, conservation does not mean “freezing” heritage. Preserving “living heritage” is preserving it to fit the flow of life, otherwise people will turn their backs on heritage. On the contrary, the consensus of the people is the fundamental factor for heritage to be sustainable over time.

Born in 1941, at the age of over 80, Professor Hoang Dao Kinh still appears in many major forums and seminars on activities to preserve and promote the value of Hanoi's heritage, contributing valid opinions on the city's architecture and planning. He is currently a member of the Hanoi Architecture and Planning Council and the Hanoi Cultural Heritage Association.

Faced with the strong development and rapid modernization of the capital, he always wondered about preserving the unique identity of Hanoi - the values ​​that make up the "uniqueness" of the thousand-year-old city. At the recent Hanoi City Patriotic Emulation Congress, he shared: "The old architectural works of Hanoi are not massive, not too beautiful, but they are very close and evoke love. Therefore, they are also very easy to lose. We must develop, modernize, internationalize but still preserve the uniqueness and sophistication of Hanoi."

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tron-doi-gan-bo-voi-di-san-ha-noi-post915161.html