The project of the golf course, hotel, and villas by Golf Joint Stock Company at Cua Lo Beach was granted an investment certificate by the People’s Committee of Nghe An Province on April 27, 2007. The project is implemented on more than 132 hectares, consisting of 2 areas: the golf course, hotel, and villas area and the warehouse area, auxiliary facilities, nursery, and staff housing. The total investment capital is VND 1,527.85 billion, with a implementation period of 8 years, from the date of investment certificate issuance until April 28, 2015.
Misconducts were found during the implementation of the golf course, hotel, and villa project by Golf Joint Stock Company
Many “on-paper” items
However, contrary to the initial expectations of “transforming” the beach of Cua Lo town, after 17 years of implementation, many construction items of this project still remain “on paper”. According to the record, the forest park area on the eastside of Binh Minh Road, with an area of more than 15 hectares, which was leased by the project, is still an empty land full of weeds.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuan, a resident of Cua Lo town, expressed discontent: “We heard that the project would build many items to create a beautiful landscape, which would be a focal point of the town. However, after many years, this area has been abandoned and turned into a place for waste dumping and accumulating various types of construction materials and components. The once beautiful, idyllic beach has become messy and ugly.”
In the western part of Binh Minh Road, where 284 villas were planned to be built surrounding the golf course, according to the survey, only about 10 villas have been constructed by the investor, while the rest of the area is still an empty land. In addition, in other areas of the project, many items have not been implemented, especially the 40-storey hotel building with a scale of 700 rooms at the intersection of Binh Minh Road and Vinh – Cua Lo boulevard.
The area where the golf course, hotel, and villa project by Golf Joint Stock Company is implemented is an empty land
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thanh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Nghi Huong Ward, Cua Lo town, said that currently, many items of the project have not been implemented, and the ward hopes that the project will be completed to avoid wasting land and meet the expectations of residents. The local government has also expressed opinions on this issue multiple times.
Proposal to recover part of the project
Regarding the slow progress of the golf course, hotel, and villa project by Golf Joint Stock Company, in September 2023, the People’s Committee of Cua Lo town sent Official Letter No. 1616/UBND-DT to the Department of Planning and Investment of Nghe An province. Accordingly, with an area of more than 15 hectares, the forest park area on the eastside of Binh Minh Road, which has been leased by Nghe An province to the investor since 2009 but has not been implemented, Cua Lo town proposed that the investor return nearly 3 hectares on the southern part according to Decision No. 168/QD-UBND on January 20, 2021, approving the adjustment of detailed construction planning (1/500 scale) for the forest park area on the eastside of Binh Minh Road according to the planning. The remaining area requires the investor to adjust the planning in a unified direction, fully developing the forest park area on the eastside of Binh Minh Road according to the approved planning by relevant agencies.
The area where the golf course, hotel, and villa project by Golf Joint Stock Company is implemented is an empty land
In addition, the People’s Committee of Cua Lo town also requested the investor to demonstrate the financial capacity to arrange capital for the project in accordance with the extended progress. A schedule for the construction of the remaining items of the project, especially the 40-storey hotel building at the intersection of Binh Minh Road and Vinh – Cua Lo boulevard, must be established. The investor must commit to implementing the project according to regular, monthly, quarterly, and yearly schedules and provide progress reports to the People’s Committee of Cua Lo town and relevant departments and agencies for supervision and monitoring.
As of the end of January 2024, the golf course, hotel, and villa project by Golf Joint Stock Company has undergone four adjustments to the investment certificate. Many violations of the project have been discovered during inspections by functional agencies in Nghe An. However, the handling of these violations has only involved the Department of Planning and Investment of Nghe An province taking charge, coordinating advice on the timeline and procedures for adjusting the project implementation schedule, as well as issuing documents to urge the investor to fulfill their financial obligations.
Mr. Doan Tien Dung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Cua Lo town, said that many items of the golf course, hotel, and villa project have been implemented slowly. The town has conducted multiple inspections, urged the investor, and reported the situation to the provincial department. However, the specific handling measures fall within the authority of the province. “The town always accompanies businesses, but if the progress continues to be delayed, the province will be requested to withdraw the project as regulated,” Mr. Dung informed.
Many violations during the project implementation
Regarding the implementation of the golf course, hotel, and villa project by Golf Joint Stock Company, in 2022, after an inspection, the Department of Construction of Nghe An province found many violations in the project. Specifically, although completing land clearance, land transfer, and land leasing procedures and implementing some items, the project has been delayed according to the regulations stated in the investment certificate. Infrastructure has not been completed, and certain services and public infrastructure have not been built, but contracts have been signed to transfer the rights to individuals and families to build houses. The investor still owes rent of over VND 6.1 billion. Additionally, at the time of the inspection, the constructed area of the project only reached 65%, and the investment capital only reached 30%-40% of the total investment.
