Vietnam: Unauthorized 'Goddess of Liberation' Statue Dismantled After Planning Violations

A controversial "goddess of liberation" statue, along with other unauthorized structures, has been dismantled and removed from the E.City Tan Duc urban area in Tay Ninh province, Vietnam. The developer voluntarily took down the statue and associated constructions after being issued a notice of administrative violation by the Duc Hoa commune People's Committee.

According to local authorities, the developer, Tan Tao Investment and Industry Joint Stock Company, illegally constructed several facilities on a 907.46 square meter plot. These included a 9.1-meter tall concrete statue, a four-story technical building, and an underground water tank. The construction was completed externally, with interior work ongoing.

An investigation revealed that the entire complex was built on land designated for transportation infrastructure in the approved 1/500 scale detailed construction plan for the E.City Tan Duc urban area. This deviation from the approved zoning and urban planning was deemed a significant violation. Furthermore, the project lacked necessary investment procedures, construction permits, and professional approval from cultural management agencies.

The construction of the statue complex reportedly began in April 2026. Following the discovery of the violations, the Duc Hoa commune People's Committee consulted with provincial departments of Construction and Culture, Sports, and Tourism. On June 27, a notice of violation was issued for constructing a project not in accordance with approved planning, leading to a halt in construction and the subsequent dismantling of the unauthorized structures.