Vietnam’s Largest Province Plans to Relocate 952 Households for $75 Billion High-Speed Rail Project

On the afternoon of October 22, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Hong Hai chaired a meeting to review the progress of resettlement areas for the North-South High-Speed Railway Project passing through Lam Dong Province. Representatives from relevant departments, agencies, and localities attended the meeting.

The North-South High-Speed Railway Project is a national key transportation initiative with a total length of approximately 1,541 km, connecting from Ngoc Hoi Station (Hanoi) to Thu Thiem Station (Ho Chi Minh City). The entire route is designed to modern standards, featuring double tracks with a gauge of 1,435 mm, a design speed of 350 km/h, and an axle load of 22.5 tons. It includes 23 passenger stations and 5 cargo stations. The project utilizes electrified rail technology, ensuring safety, synchronization, and efficiency, while also serving dual purposes for national defense, security, and cargo transportation when needed. The preliminary total investment is estimated at VND 1,713,548 billion, funded through public investment.

In Lam Dong Province, the high-speed railway spans 156.5 km, including two stations (Phan Ri Station in Bac Binh Commune and Phan Thiet Station in Binh Thuan Ward) and four maintenance depots located in Bac Binh Commune, Hong Son Commune, Binh Thuan Ward, and Tan Lap Commune.

The route passes through 18 communes and wards (17 communes and 1 ward), requiring a total land clearance area of approximately 1,046.4 hectares. A total of 2,476 households and 36 organizations are affected, with 952 households expected to require resettlement.

According to the plan, 140 households will be relocated to existing local land funds, while 812 households will be moved to 8 newly constructed resettlement areas in the following communes and wards: Tuy Phong, Bac Binh, Luong Son, Hong Son, Ham Liem, Ham Kiem, Tan Lap, and Binh Thuan.

The report from the Project Management Unit No. 2 indicates that the eight resettlement areas cover a total area of 27.7 hectares, comprising 1,011 land plots, with a total investment of approximately VND 429 billion.

To date, 8 out of 8 communes and wards have established Compensation, Support, and Resettlement Councils, as well as Land Price Appraisal Councils. They have also organized community meetings to communicate compensation and support policies.

Specifically, 5 out of 8 communes have completed land measurement and cadastral mapping; 7 out of 8 communes have developed land recovery plans and notified residents; 3 out of 8 communes have completed inventory checks; and all 8 communes have approved specific land prices.

Currently, Project Management Unit No. 2 has submitted feasibility study reports for 7 out of 8 resettlement areas to the Department of Construction for appraisal. The Provincial People’s Committee has approved the construction of all 8 areas. Construction is expected to begin from December 2025 to early 2026, with completion by June 2026 at the latest.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman Nguyen Hong Hai directed Project Management Unit No. 2 to closely coordinate with relevant departments to expedite the completion of appraisal dossiers and approval of resettlement areas.

He emphasized the need to accelerate compensation and land clearance processes, ensuring compliance with the Provincial People’s Committee’s timeline and requirements to support the North-South High-Speed Railway Project’s construction schedule.