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In 1990, the Japanese Bridge was recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a national historical and cultural relic. In 1999, UNESCO inscribed the ancient town of Hoi An on the World Heritage List, with the Japanese Bridge being one of the important relics that make up this world heritage site. The image of the Japanese Bridge is also printed on the 20,000 dong banknote in the current currency system in Vietnam.
Over four centuries of existence, this architectural structure has suffered serious deterioration and damage, undergoing seven restoration and renovation projects. The most significant restoration began on December 28, 2022, with a total investment of 20.2 billion VND, funded by the budgets of Hoi An City and Quang Nam Province.
The ancient Bridge Pagoda before renovation.
According to plans, on August 3, 2024, Hoi An City will inaugurate the renovated Japanese Bridge during the 20th Vietnam-Japan Cultural Week held in Hoi An.
To date, the main part of the monument has been restored, and the construction unit has dismantled all the surrounding protective structures; only some minor items such as laying tiles and creating the surrounding landscape remain…
Over the past few days, with the removal of the entire roof covering, the Bridge Pagoda has been revealed to locals and tourists for viewing. It's easy to see that the Bridge Pagoda, after restoration, looks newer and brighter thanks to the repainted paint, roof tiles, and the patterns on the tiles, as well as the characters and inscriptions. However, the monument lacks the ancient charm it once possessed.
After nearly two years of restoration and repair, the Bridge Pagoda has donned a new look.
The roof tiles of the Bridge Pagoda are a mix of old and new tiles, yet they maintain a harmonious appearance. The pillars of the monument remain almost in their original state before restoration. Inside the monument, some previously damaged and rotten wooden frames have been completely replaced. Some wooden pillars have been joined together with new pieces of wood. The stele and the characters on it have been repainted. The floor structure has been curved in an arc shape.
Currently, the iron frame and corrugated iron roof surrounding the temple have been dismantled after the restoration work.
All restoration work, including the foundation, piers, and abutments of the bridge; the floor, wooden frame, and roof; the electrical system; and termite control, has been completed.
However, in the last few days of July 2024, when the protective structures used for the restoration of the Bridge Pagoda were dismantled, revealing the site after nearly two years of extensive restoration, with a different appearance, there were many conflicting opinions on social media.
Many locals and tourists say that after basic restoration, the Japanese Bridge still retains its original elements, preserving its inherent spirit, and its new appearance looks quite beautiful. However, some opinions suggest that the newly painted body and tiled roof make the monument look somewhat different and more modern than before. These opinions are mostly critical, arguing that the Japanese Bridge was improperly restored, "modernized," and that this has ruined a "symbol of Hoi An," a cultural heritage of humanity…
