The Capital’s Conundrum: Two Decades and the Urban Project Remains Stuck in Limbo

The Hanoi People’s Committee has issued a document to the Hanoi Council in response to voters’ proposals regarding the new Chi Dong Urban Area project (formerly in Chi Dong town, Me Linh district, now in Quang Minh ward, Hanoi). The project has been delayed for many years, impacting the production activities of local residents.

According to the Hanoi People’s Committee, the Chi Dong New Urban Area project is invested by a joint venture between CEO and Construction Company No. 9. The investment project was approved by the People’s Committee of the former Vinh Phuc Province (now part of Hanoi) in Decision No. 1663/QD-UB dated May 28, 2004. The land retrieval and temporary handover to the investor for site clearance compensation were decided in Decision No. 2156/QD-UBND, issued on August 4, 2005.

The total land area retrieved for the project is approximately 66.8 hectares, and the approved compensation and support plan (according to the policies of the Vinh Phuc Provincial People’s Committee) covered an area of 70.02 hectares. So far, compensation and site clearance support have been paid for 52.67 hectares, leaving 17.35 hectares pending.

At the time of land retrieval for the project, the compensation and support policies followed the regulations of the Vinh Phuc Provincial People’s Committee. Households whose agricultural land was acquired were entitled to service land allocation as per the province’s policies. From 2004 to 2009, the investor proceeded to compensate and support the affected households according to the approved plan by Vinh Phuc province.

Following the integration of Vinh Phuc province into Hanoi, households and individuals requested the application of Hanoi’s compensation and support rates instead of the previously approved rates by Vinh Phuc province. Additionally, the project had to be temporarily halted to align with the master plan of the Hanoi capital and the sub-planning scheme.

The Hanoi People’s Committee has issued documents instructing the investor to coordinate with the Department of Planning and Architecture to complete the dossier for adjusting the 1/500 detailed planning of the Chi Dong Urban Area project. They were also directed to liaise with the Department of Planning and Investment (now the Department of Finance) to adjust the investment policy for the project.

Once the planning and investment policies are adjusted, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and local authorities will guide the investor through the procedures for compensation, support, site clearance, land allocation, land leasing, and determination of financial obligations for the project, in accordance with regulations.

Currently, the land area belonging to the Chi Dong New Urban Area project is a mix of cultivated and fallow land. For many years, the local residents have been unable to cultivate the land due to a dysfunctional irrigation system, resulting in wastage.