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TP.HCM: Public land occupied, illegally built upon for over 35 years, still unaddressed
🇻🇳 Vietnam /Economy & Trade

TP.HCM: Public land occupied, illegally built upon for over 35 years, still unaddressed

From Thanh Niên · (3d ago) Vietnamese Critical tone

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A large plot of public land in Ho Chi Minh City, originally designated for public use, has been encroached upon and illegally built upon for over 35 years.
  • Despite recent administrative changes and plans to survey state-managed land, the issue remains unresolved.
  • Local authorities have identified violations, issued fines, and reported efforts to restore the land, but the situation persists.

In Ho Chi Minh City, a significant encroachment on public land has persisted for over three decades, raising serious questions about land management and enforcement. A prime plot along Vo Nguyen Giap street, spanning thousands of square meters, has been illegally occupied and developed with numerous houses and businesses. This situation, predating recent administrative reorganizations, highlights a long-standing failure to protect state assets.

Phuoc Thang Ward People's Committee reported that Mr. C. had restored the original land condition, but according to the recording of Thanh Niên newspaper reporters on April 20, the land that Mr. C. illegally filled is still in its original state, even with a few banana trees planted on the land.

— Thanh Niên reportersObserving the unremediated state of the illegally filled land.

While the local People's Committee in Phuoc Thang ward has initiated plans to survey and manage state-owned land, including this specific parcel, progress appears slow. Reports indicate that violations occurred between the 1990s and 2014, with recent administrative fines issued for illegal land filling. However, photographic evidence from April 20, 2026, shows that the illegally filled land, even with some banana trees planted, remains unremediated, contradicting official reports of restoration.

In the coming time, to increase efficiency in management, the Phuoc Thang Ward People's Committee will continue to review and definitively handle pending violation cases; organize definitive enforcement for cases that do not voluntarily comply with regulations.

— Phuoc Thang Ward People's Committee leaderStating future plans to address land violations.

This prolonged issue underscores a critical challenge in Vietnam: the effective management and protection of public land. The discrepancy between reported actions and the reality on the ground suggests a need for more robust oversight and decisive action. From a Vietnamese perspective, the slow pace of resolution and the apparent inability to reclaim and properly utilize this valuable public space is a cause for concern, impacting urban development and public trust. The commitment to review responsibilities for land management within the ward signals an intent to address these systemic issues, but the long history of inaction demands sustained vigilance and accountability.

The Phuoc Thang Ward People's Committee considers the responsibility for managing the area of each organization and individual assigned to be in charge, to promptly rectify if violations persist.

— Phuoc Thang Ward People's Committee leaderEmphasizing accountability for land management.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Thanh Niên in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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