Vietnam Reviews Stalled Projects Amid Resident Frustration Over Delays

Authorities in Dong Nai, Vietnam, have initiated a review of numerous stalled infrastructure projects after media reports highlighted their prolonged inactivity. Residents voiced deep frustration over decades of delays, describing the situation as a "frozen" state that wastes economic resources and hinders local development. The reports from Bao Thanh Nien detailed infrastructure projects in Binh Phuoc and Dong Xoai wards that remain unfinished due to unresolved land clearance issues.

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Frozen planning not only makes a few households miserable but impoverishes an entire area. Going through places introduced as land for parks, commercial centers, or future urban areas makes one feel disgusted. Grass grows wildly, trash piles up, and some people use it to raise cattle or goats. No one thinks this is a piece of land in the center of the city. It's a shame that these areas are often in very beautiful locations.

Readers expressed weariness with the ongoing delays. One reader lamented that "frozen planning" not only inconveniences a few households but impoverishes an entire area. They described overgrown, trash-filled plots in prime locations, some even used for grazing cattle, instead of serving as planned parks, commercial centers, or future urban zones. This neglect deprives the community of jobs, services, and local revenue, turning valuable land into unproductive assets.

Another concern raised is the significant waste of economic resources and land. With land being a finite resource, leaving plots undeveloped for 15-20 years represents a substantial loss of development opportunities for the locality. This "land waste" is seen as equally serious as budget overspending. The stagnation also impacts local economies, discouraging new businesses and slowing infrastructure growth.

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A city needs spaces that are used effectively. Instead, many planned areas have been empty lots for decades. Some have become illegal dumping grounds, dusty in the dry season and messy with stagnant water in the rainy season. People often say wasting the budget is worrying, but wasting land is just as serious. Land is a finite resource.

The most severe and persistent damage, however, falls upon residents living within the project zones. They face daily life disruptions, unable to expand homes for growing families or make necessary repairs due to planning restrictions. Obtaining loans using property as collateral becomes difficult as banks hesitate due to the uncertain development status. While some initially waited in hope, the prolonged inaction has led to widespread disillusionment.

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There is a point that is rarely mentioned: frozen planning traps entire families in very ordinary decisions. Children getting married cannot add rooms. Elderly people wanting to repair their homes for safety must reconsider. If they want to mortgage their property to raise capital for business, the bank becomes hesitant when looking at the planning.