The People’s Committee of HCM City has told relevant agencies that they would be held fully responsible for illegal demolition of century-old villas.

In early June, two old villas were demolished in District 1 and Binh Thanh District without permission from the city.

Le Van Khoa, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee, urged the city’s Department of Construction to devise a strict monitoring plan to avoid further illegal dismantlement of such buildings.

The HCM City Institute for Development Studies has been asked to draft a list of criteria that would assess and classify old mansions, and draw up regulations on construction management at historic sites.

The city asked that the draft be submitted to the People’s Committee as soon as possible.

Demolition licenses would only be granted if villas are determined not to be valuable, Khoa said.

In June, an old villa at Binh Thanh District’s 237 Nơ Trang Long Street was torn down without permission from the city.

Another old building, located at the intersection of Ly Tu Trong and Chu Mạnh Trinh streets in District 1, was demolished after someone bought it for VNĐ200 billion (US$9 million). The new owner had not received permission to tear down the building.  

VNS