Vung Tau's 30-Year Land Project Remains Unresolved, Leaving Residents in Limbo

For over three decades, hundreds of residents in Vung Tau have endured an uncertain future due to the stalled Chí Linh Central Area project. Their homes, located within the project's planned boundaries, have fallen into disrepair, with residents unable to obtain permits for essential repairs or legally transfer their land rights. This "planning freeze" has left their property and lives in limbo.

The project, initially approved by the Prime Minister in 1996 as the nation's first urban development zone, was slated for completion within 10 years. However, it has undergone seven planning revisions and three deadline extensions. The most recent adjustment in late 2016 pushed the completion date to the end of 2023. Further delays, attributed to the provincial authorities' slow land handover, have now extended the project's timeline to February 2027.

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From when the land was in the project, the house deteriorated and was damaged, but I wasn't allowed to repair it. A storm in 2006 collapsed part of the house, and I couldn't get permission to fix it. It's a shame to have a house and land but no rights.

Despite these extensions, the core issue of compensation and land clearance remains unresolved. Residents like 77-year-old Le Thi My, who has lived in the area since 1980, recount stories of homes damaged by storms that could not be repaired due to the planning restrictions. "I have a house and land, but no rights," she stated, longing for the state to finally acquire the land so she can live in peace.

Others, like Tran To Trinh, 62, have faced similar frustrations. After her land was partially acquired for road construction, she was promised an alternative 60-square-meter plot. However, over two decades later, she still does not know its location. She also purchased an additional 400 square meters within the project, paying half the price, but has yet to receive the land from the developer, who cites the ongoing land clearance issues as the reason for the delay.

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I also bought more than 400 m² of land in the project and paid 50% of the value, but to this day I don't know where the land is because the developer doesn't have land to hand over.