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According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, although the Panorama building was constructed outside Zone II of the Ma Pi Leng scenic area, it is located within the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark - a UNESCO-recognized heritage site (Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark).
The Panorama project is said to have a negative impact on the natural landscape and environment.
Article 36 of the Law on Cultural Heritage clearly states: "When approving projects for the renovation and construction of works located outside the protected areas of historical relics as stipulated in Article 32 of this law, if it is deemed that there is a possibility of negatively affecting the natural landscape and the ecological environment of the relic, a written assessment from the competent state agency for culture, sports and tourism must be obtained."
The Ministry concluded that the construction of the Panorama project did not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned regulations and failed to achieve the goal of protecting and promoting the scenic value of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Park.
From an overall aesthetic perspective, the design of the Panorama building is incompatible with the natural landscape, traditions, and cultural identity of the ethnic communities in the area, obstructing the view for visitors; and negatively impacting the environment as the building is operational without an approved environmental impact assessment. The Ministry affirms that this is a serious violation that needs to be dealt with strictly to avoid negative impacts on the local community and the entire country.
Following strong online backlash, the owner of the building repainted the entire house blue to better "blend in" with the surrounding landscape.
Accordingly, the Ministry requested the People's Committee of Ha Giang province to direct relevant agencies to handle violations in accordance with the law; consult with experts to find appropriate solutions to remediate the situation, aiming to renovate and beautify the area into a scenic viewpoint for tourists with a suitable scale and architecture, without affecting the panoramic view, ensuring safety, harmony with the natural landscape, no negative impact on the environment, and in line with the traditional cultural identity of the ethnic groups in Ha Giang.
At the same time, the Ministry requested Ha Giang to fully comply with all procedures for project planning, appraisal, and approval in accordance with the law before implementation.
Previously, on October 14th, the project was also ordered to temporarily cease operations by the People's Committee of Ha Giang province.
The People's Committee of Ha Giang province is also requested to develop a master plan for the Ma Pi Leng scenic area and surrounding landscape, in accordance with the content of the three sections of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark Plan approved by the Prime Minister.
