The Race to Deliver: Dong Nai’s Urgent Push for the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway Project

Following the directives of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Dong Nai, the Bien Hoa City Party Committee has organized six working groups to the wards of Tam Phuoc and Phuoc Tan (Bien Hoa city) from February 17th to promote and encourage households to hand over land for the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway Project. This promotion campaign will last continuously for 10 days, including nights and weekends, with the goal of acquiring all necessary land for project construction by March.

According to the People’s Committee of Bien Hoa city, up to now, nearly 44.5/59.5 hectares of land has been handed over for the project in the two wards of Phuoc Tan and Tam Phuoc, achieving nearly 75% of the total area required. The consecutive length of the route that meets the conditions for construction handover is 4.68/6.2 km, equivalent to 75.5% of the route’s length through the locality. The remaining area belongs to 666 households, most of whom bought and sold land through informal agreements and built houses illegally, thus not meeting the conditions for resettlement consideration. Over 200 such cases are located in the starting section of the route, which falls under the jurisdiction of Phuoc Tan ward.

On the first day of the promotion campaign by the six working groups, nearly 30 households agreed and signed a commitment to hand over their land for project construction. Some households also provided feedback and suggestions regarding land prices, resettlement considerations, and support for structures on the land. The working group members clarified these issues according to current regulations on land compensation when the state retrieves land.

Mr. Ho Van Nam, Secretary of the Bien Hoa City Party Committee, emphasized that the city’s leadership prioritizes promotion and encouragement to ensure people’s understanding and agreement to hand over the land, thus avoiding the need for compulsory land retrieval, which could cause property damage for residents. However, for cases where the authorized state agencies have completed all procedures for compensation, support, and resettlement in accordance with regulations, and where persuasion has been attempted but the households still refuse to hand over the land, a compulsory land retrieval will be resolutely implemented as per regulations. This determination aims to complete the site clearance for the project in March 2025, in alignment with the direction of the Provincial Party Committee Secretary, to accelerate the progress of this key national project.

Compulsory land retrieval will be carried out

Previously, at a working session with the Standing Committee of the Bien Hoa City Party Committee on planning and key projects in the city on February 12th, Mr. Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, acknowledged the efforts made by Bien Hoa city and relevant provincial units in site clearance for the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway Project. However, he pointed out that the implementation has lacked synchronization and decisiveness, and some officials have even evaded responsibility, resulting in repeated delays in meeting the province’s commitments to the Prime Minister’s instructions.

Mr. Van requested that, in addition to completing the legal procedures for compensation, support, and resettlement in accordance with regulations, it is necessary to intensify promotion and encouragement efforts. The promotion campaign must be conducted continuously, day and night, without any breaks, with a sense of urgency and determination. Issues within the authority and responsibility of agencies and individuals should be proactively addressed without delay, with clear timelines and specific outcomes.

The Provincial Party Committee Secretary directed the departments, sectors, and Bien Hoa city to focus on accelerating the progress of site clearance for this key project. He instructed that the 25% of the area facing obstacles must be resolved by March 2025.

Mr. Vo Tan Duc, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai province, also proposed that Bien Hoa city come up with a plan for temporary accommodation and a plan for compulsory land retrieval in February for land plots without houses. Subsequently, at the beginning of March, compulsory retrieval will be carried out for the remaining households with residential buildings and other structures.