Clarifying the responsibility for the task of "requisitioning Bao Dai building as accommodation for officials"

In July 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Khanh Hoa province reported to the Provincial People's Committee on the inspection and handling of the case of "requisitioning Bao Dai tower as accommodation for officials".

Previously, on July 7, the Provincial Monuments Conservation Center - under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (referred to as the Center) issued document No. 465 to Khanh Ha Investment Joint Stock Company with the content of requesting temporary support to arrange 2 rooms in Vong Nguyet villa - Cau Da villa relic site (also known as Bao Dai tower) as accommodation for 2 officials (one Deputy Director of the Department and one Deputy Director of the Center) during the time of job transfer without being able to arrange stable accommodation.

On July 9, the Center issued document No. 475 to withdraw document No. 465 dated July 7 with the reason that "after reviewing, it was found that the issuance of the above document was inappropriate and not in accordance with regulations".

Vong Nguyet Villa at Bao Dai Palace seen from above. Photo: HIEU GIANG

After receiving the information, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism requested the Center to inspect and handle the matter. On July 11, the Center reported the incident and asked for lessons learned from the shortcomings in issuing document No. 465 due to inappropriate content and non-compliance with regulations.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that the Center's issuance of document No. 465 was flawed because it did not seek the opinion of the Department's leaders. The Center's proposal to temporarily arrange accommodation for civil servants and public employees at the relic site was not within its authority and was not in accordance with current legal regulations on the management and use of relics.

The Department has directed the Center to conduct a review and clarify the responsibilities of individuals and groups involved in the errors that have negatively affected public opinion; and send the results of handling responsibilities to the Department to report to the Provincial People's Committee.

Bao Dai Palace is located on Canh Long Mountain, Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province. Photo: HIEU GIANG

Bao Dai Palace is located in Nha Trang ward, including 5 villas named Xuong Rong, Hoa Su, Hoa Giay, Phuong Vy and Cay Bang, built in 1923. In 1995, Bao Dai Palace was included in the list of provincial-level architectural and artistic relics.

In 2011, Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee allowed Khanh Viet Corporation (the management unit of Bao Dai Tower) to join forces with Ha Do Group to establish Khanh Ha Investment Joint Stock Company to implement the Bao Dai luxury villa project with a total investment of 478 billion VND.

In 2014, the Provincial People's Committee decided to reclaim 13.5 hectares (8.8 hectares of land and 4.7 hectares of water surface) to hand over to the enterprise to implement the project. During the project implementation, the authorities determined that the investor had many violations, including the encroachment of relics, so it was stopped in 2018.

By February 2023, Khanh Ha Investment Joint Stock Company returned the 5 ancient villas mentioned above and the Provincial People's Committee took them back and handed them over to the Provincial Monuments Conservation Center for management. Since then, the 5 ancient villas on Canh Long Mountain have remained abandoned and seriously degraded.

HIEU GIANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lam-ro-trach-nhiem-vu-trung-dung-lau-bao-dai-lam-cho-o-cho-can-bo-post805950.html