With the expensiveness of restoring old buildings in large urban areas, some people opt for the opinion that such resources should be allocated to constructing new houses and developing roads. From my perspective, while the latter opinion appears plausible in several cases, I still believe that there are some exceptions in which old buildings should be restored.
The idea of re-allocating fundings to build new houses and develop roads is justifiable in a few aspects. Chief among these is the increasingly growing population in metropolises. With more and more people moving to these areas, it puts a strain on the capacity of accommodations there. As a result, it would be of critical importance that residential housings be built to meet the demands. Regarding the need of constructing road systems, since there are more people residing in cities, it comes with the increased number of vehicles. This has given rise to traffic congestion, one of the thorniest issues for urban dwellers, resulting in them being involved in long unproductive commuting hours and accelerated level of stress. Therefore, if more roads are built, it can ease traffic flow and make commuting hours more pleasurable.
While it is beneficial for residents if more houses and roads are constructed, it is essential that old buildings of great significance in cultural, historical and economic values should receive money for restoration. For instance, former president Ho Chi Minh’s house in Nghe An, recognized as one of the national heritage sites in Vietnam, is restored and maintained every year. This is because this site serves as a wonderful place for people to learn about Vietnam’s history and the distinguished life that Ho Chi Minh lived. Moreover, with the arrival of thousands of tourists to this place every year, it has made significant contributions to tourism for this province, which boosts the country’s economy overall. As a result, it is believed only old buildings that no longer serve any functions should be demolished to make room for new houses and roads.
In conclusion, while urbanites will be the main beneficiaries when money is spent on construction new accommodations and roads, the government should continue to allocate money to maintain old buildings that embody values in culture, history and economy.