Robin Dalat Resort Project Delayed 17 Years, Numerous Violations Revealed

The Robin Dalat Resort project in Lam Dong province is mired in controversy, facing a 17-year delay and a litany of legal and regulatory violations, according to a recent inspection report by the Lam Dong Provincial Inspectorate. The project, developed by TNHH Khu du lịch Đồi Rô-Bin in the Tuyen Lam National Tourist Area, has been cited for significant breaches concerning land use, investment, planning, and construction.

A key finding highlights the irregular selection of the investor and land lease without an auction. The report states that the project, intended for commercial resort services, should have required an auction for land use rights under the 2003 Land Law. However, relevant agencies recommended the provincial People's Committee proceed with land allocation and investor selection without an auction, failing to comply with legal provisions.

Furthermore, the project's master plan is inconsistent with land use and forestry plans, despite a large portion of its over 17.4-hectare area being situated on protective forest land. This lack of synchronized planning has reportedly hampered the project's development over multiple phases. Issues also arose in 2009 regarding land use conversion for road construction, with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment failing to fully assess land needs and consult relevant agencies before submitting proposals to the provincial authorities.

Compounding these issues, the land handover process lacked proper boundary demarcation, leading to the discovery of approximately 1,600 square meters of encroached land within the project's scope. The report also points to shortcomings in state management, noting that from the project's investment certificate issuance until 2023, the Department of Planning and Investment did not conduct adequate inspections. Despite the developer failing to report progress or seek extensions, the department continued to advise the provincial People's Committee on adjusting and extending deadlines without fully evaluating the company's implementation capacity.