Old houses in Hoi An have been seriously damaged by dyke construction work which ironically was intended to protect the town.

The dyke being built to protect the town

As Hoi An old river and sea defences have deteriorated over time, the town has been increasing affected by climate changes and recent storms and floods, prompting the authorities to invest in a 780-metre-long dyke.

Since construction started in November, many people living along Bach Dang Street have complained that the construction has caused cracks in their houses. There are about 50 houses that are several hundred years old along the street and five households have claimed that the construction has affected the foundations of their houses so much that they filed complaints with Hoi An People's Committee.

A restaurant owner said, "Two weeks after the construction started, the door has come off its hinges and we can hardly open it now. Then cracks appeared along the floor and walls. Even the titles outdoors and pavement have cracks. This dyke is supposed to protect the houses but I'm afraid the houses will disappear before the dyke is completed."

Cracks appeared along the floor and walls

Hoi An Vice Chairman Nguyen The Hung said they were working with the construction company to find a solution to subsidence and claimed the houses suffering from cracks would also be repaired.

The USD6.8m project is expected to be completed within a year.

The coastal area of Hoi An are also being damaged by erosion, with 300 metres of Cua Dai Beach washed away following strong waves.

At a conference on Cua Dai Beach's erosion in September, foreign and local experts alike agreed that hydropower dams on the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River system could be hindering sedimentation downstream and responsible for the problem. The authorities have also been told to tighten inspections of sand exploitation activities and hydropower constructions upstream while carrying out other preventive measures.