The appearance of Cau Pagoda, a bridge more than 400 years old in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, after restoration has provoked mixed opinions from the public over the past few days.

After the construction barriers were removed, revealing the pagoda, residents and tourists have left their opinions in groups on social media.

Some said the pagoda was more beautiful and imposing, while others claimed the pagoda to be different from its previous version.

Many people praised the city’s efforts to restore the pagoda as it had been severely dilapidated.

“We pass through Cau Pagoda every day, so we know how the relic site had degraded," a Hoi An resident said.

“Every time I walked through it, I was nervous and felt like it was about to collapse. Fortunately, it was restored promptly.”

Restoration involves replacing old elements with new ones, he noted, adding that people might initially find it difficult to adjust to the mix of old and new. However, over time, the relic site will blend seamlessly with the surroundings of Hoi An Ancient Town, where the pagoda is located.

The old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in Hoi An City's Minh An Ward.

Quang Phu, a resident of Da Nang, a neighbor of Quang Nam, who often travels to Hoi An, praised the restorers of the pagoda.

Regarding the new color of some parts of the pagoda, Phu said it was normal.

"Time and climate will soon make the pagoda look as ancient as before," Phu added.

He mentioned having seen similar situations at relic sites in central Thua Thien-Hue Province and Hanoi.

In a group of expats who enjoy exploring Hoi An, many expressed their disappointment with the renovation of Cau Pagoda.

They noted that some new details created an inconsistency. Tiles, walls, and other components looked too new, making the pagoda lose its ancient charm.

Some experts knowledgeable about Hoi An told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that it is necessary to wait before assessing whether the restoration of Cau Pagoda is a success or not.

However, it is evident that the post-restoration Cau Pagoda differs from its previous version.

Nguyen Duc Minh, former deputy director of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, said the wooden structure at the pagoda was well handled, but tourists paid more attention to the exterior.

Restorers are fully capable of restoring the pagoda to its previous color.

“They have made great efforts, but frankly, [the pagoda] is not beautiful," Minh noted.

“It’s problematic if we have to wait three to four years for the color to fade naturally. It would be better if the restored pagoda resembled its previous version from the start.

“If I were to give the renovated pagoda a grade, I would give it six out of ten."

Tran Phuoc Thao, a resident of Hoi An City, claimed that all restored projects in Hoi An need time to harmonize with the surrounding space.

A Hoi An official told Tuoi Tre that the city would reopen the pagoda for tourists on August 3.

Local workers are tidying up the construction site of the Cau Pagoda renovation project.

The official informed that as the pagoda was opened for tourism purposes for a long time, coupled with floods in Hoi An, many components seriously deteriorated and had to be replaced.

In late 2022, Quang Nam Province approved a plan to renovate the pagoda on a large scale at a cost of over VND20 billion (US$790,400).

The pagoda was originally built on a bridge over a small creek by Japanese tradesmen in the 17th century.

Cau Pagoda is an icon of Hoi An and Vietnamese tourism.

The whole pagoda and bridge are made of painted wood and sculpted with sophisticated patterns.

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