Band 9: Some people think that too much money has been spent looking after and repairing old buildings, so we should knock down old buildings and build modern ones instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

An extensive amount of financial resources has been diverted to preserving ancient structures. In light of this, some people strongly oppose this practice, contending that it is cost-consuming, and call for the construction of modern buildings. Although this viewpoint holds certain merits, I would argue that historical buildings should be protected due to their tremendous value.

Granted, advocates of tearing down old structures might set forth some grounds to back up their argument. Standing out among these is the fact that preserving these buildings might warrant a substantial amount of money as they unceasingly deteriorate over time. This can be exemplified by the case of One Pillar Pagoda, an ancient site that has charged the Hanoi authority millions of dollars to uphold. This great amount of investment, these people claim, can instead be allocated to other imperative issues, such as illiteracy and poverty, which improve the general well-being. Besides, they also propose that the government should switch the focus to modern buildings, which are believed to bring various practical values. This results from the fact that most people would rather opt for these constructions rather than old ones as their accommodations and working places.

However, this line of thought fails to factor in the spiritual value and the economic advantages of ancient architecture. That is, historical buildings are the witnesses of the time flow, and they record all the milestones of a community. In other words, they serve as conduits to convey the stories of the past and praise the sacrifice made by their predecessors, thus instilling in us a sense of responsibility and pride. For this reason, many educational institutions often integrate hands-on trips to historical sites to educate students about history. Moreover, preserving historical sites can boost the growth of tourism as they often attract numerous visitors longing to learn more about the storyline of that region. This, in turn, can generate revenues, engender employment opportunities, and catalyze local economic development.

To conclude, while there are valid grounds for supplanting old buildings with modern ones, it is a worthwhile tradeoff to preserve ancient structures due to their indispensable spiritual roles and economic potential.