Published:  13:32 Tuesday - March 07, 2017

The Japanese government has given a VND225bn (USD9.8m) non-refundable aid to the VND243bn project to clean the channel runs through Japanese Bridge in Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province.

Nguyen Van Dung, chairman of Hoi An Town said on March 5 that the project to clean the channel had started. The waste water treatment plant will be located in Cam Pho Ward. It covers 3,752 square metres and has the capacity to deal with 2,000 cubic metres of water a day.

The plant uses new low-energy technology that cleans the waste water before it is discharged into the Japanese Bridge channel.

The project will not only help improve the scenery and value of the bridge, but it will also help 1,000 households in various residential areas in various wards and communes including Thanh Ha, Tan An and Minh An wards.

Last year, during an international conference with 120 experts and Quang Nam Province's authorities, most people agreed to dismantle the bridge for restoration. Quang Nam Vice Chairman Le Van Thanh said they had carried out seven rounds of maintenance and repairs but the bridge is rapidly deteriorating.

It receives 4,000 visitors a day and the river has also badly affected the piles. In addition, the bridge is located in the middle of Hoi An's most vulnerable area to flooding.

Japanese Bridge was recognised as a national heritage site in 1990 and a symbol of Hoi An.