Stepping up project implementation, ensuring resettlement comes first for people’s stability

Dong Nai City is implementing and will continue to carry out a number of strategically important infrastructure projects. To keep these projects on schedule, compensation, support, resettlement and site clearance have been identified as critical tasks. Recently, the Dong Nai City Party Committee (CPC)’s Standing Board established a Steering Committee for compensation, site clearance and resettlement to strengthen leadership and direction and promptly address difficulties and bottlenecks.

In an interview with Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the CPC and Head of the Steering Committee, stressed the need to ensure sufficient resettlement land, expedite land-price determination, use technology to monitor project progress, and hold those in charge accountable for the results of site handovers.

Driving change through stronger leadership

*What is the significance of the CPC’s establishment of the Steering Committee for compensation, site clearance and resettlement amid the implementation of a number of major projects in the city?

-Dong Nai City is entering a major new phase of development, with a series of transport, urban, industrial, logistics and railway infrastructure projects, along with inter-regional connectivity projects, being implemented simultaneously. These strategically important projects will directly expand development space, strengthen connectivity, attract investment, boost economic growth and improve people’s living standards.

 In this process, compensation, support, resettlement and site clearance are among the most critical stages. A project can only move forward once the site is cleared and handed over, while delays in site clearance can affect construction schedules, investment disbursement and the efficiency of resource use.

Therefore, this is not merely a task for the agricultural and environmental authorities, the Land Fund Development Center (LFDC) or local administrations in areas where projects are being implemented. It is a shared political responsibility of the entire political system of the city.

On June 18, 2026, the CPC issued Decision No. 799-QD/TU establishing the Steering Committee for compensation, site clearance and resettlement in Dong Nai. Under the decision, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the CPC, was appointed Head of the Steering Committee.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of CPC and Chairman of the City People’s Committee, was appointed Standing Deputy Head. Huynh Thi Hang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC and Chairwoman of the city Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and Thai Bao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC and Head of the CPC’s Organization Commission, were appointed Deputy Heads.

The establishment of the Steering Committee demonstrates the CPC’s strong political determination to strengthen leadership and direction and promptly remove difficulties and bottlenecks. It is also intended to ensure that land recovery, compensation, support and resettlement are carried out in accordance with regulations, openly and transparently, while balancing the interests of the State, residents and investors and ensuring timely site handovers.

The Steering Committee must go beyond monitoring and urging implementation and become a focal point for accurately identifying bottlenecks, clearly assigning responsibility and setting deadlines for resolving each issue. Each member must be held accountable for the results of their assigned tasks, rather than waiting for written reminders before taking action.

No room for prolonged bottlenecks

*How do you assess compensation, site clearance and resettlement work in recent times? What issues need to be addressed as a priority?

-Compensation, support, resettlement and site clearance are of particular importance to the city’s development. They are not merely one stage of project implementation but a decisive factor in public investment progress, investment attraction, infrastructure development, the effective use of land resources and the creation of new growth space.

In recent times, the city People’s Committee, departments and agencies, the LFDC, project management boards, and Party committees and administrations at commune- and ward- level have made considerable efforts. Some long-standing difficulties have been resolved, while progress has been made in land inventory, dossier preparation, approval of compensation plans, resettlement arrangements and site handovers.

Ton Ngoc Hanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the CPC and Chairwoman of the City People’s Council:

This is one of the CPC’s highest-priority steering committees at present, bringing together four deputy secretaries and many members of the CPC’s Standing Board and Executive Committee. The Steering Committee should promptly issue its operating regulations, clearly assign tasks to each member and take responsibility for monitoring each project throughout its implementation until 100 percent of the site is handed over to the investor.

I acknowledge and highly appreciate the sense of responsibility demonstrated by agencies, units and local administrations that have stayed close to the areas concerned, worked directly with individual households and dealt with each dossier and specific case.

However, overall site clearance progress for some projects still falls short of requirements. Some difficulties and bottlenecks identified months ago have yet to be resolved, while coordination among agencies has at times been inadequate. Determining the origin of land use, land prices and assets attached to land, as well as assessing resettlement eligibility and handling complicated legal cases, still takes considerable time.

Notably, some issues falling within the authority of departments, sectors or local administrations have not been proactively resolved, with some agencies still waiting for guidance from higher-level authorities. Some projects have yet to establish a detailed critical path for each task, area and household, meaning that a delay at one stage can hold up the entire project.

This situation must be addressed immediately through new, systematic and breakthrough approaches. We must shift decisively from a “dossier-processing” approach to “progress management.” For each project, it’s necessary to clearly identify the remaining area of land to be acquired, the number of households yet to undergo land inventory, the number of compensation plans awaiting approval, the number of households yet to receive compensation, the number requiring resettlement, and which agency is responsible for each outstanding issue.

We cannot continue to make vague reports saying that matters are “under implementation,” “under coordination” or “awaiting instructions.” Every difficulty must be assigned to a specific agency, a specific person responsible and a specific deadline.

Deputy Secretary of the CPC, Head of the Steering Committee, chairs a meeting with the committee’s members. Photo: Hoang Loc

Resettlement must stay one step ahead

*In site clearance, compensation, support and new housing are matters of particular concern to residents. What is the City Party Committee’s position on this issue?

-The city’s consistent position is to safeguard people’s lawful and legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law. When the State acquires land for socio-economic development projects, all procedures must comply with regulations and be conducted openly and transparently, while due attention must also be paid to people’s living conditions, employment and long-term livelihood stability after they hand over their land.

An urban-scale resettlement area in what was formerly Nhon Trach district. Photo: Hoang Loc

Resettlement arrangements must be prepared proactively and, wherever possible, be completed one step ahead, minimizing the risk of land being recovered before adequate resettlement conditions are in place.

The City People’s Committee must review the resettlement needs of all projects, balancing available land, infrastructure investment schedules and actual capacity to provide resettlement. Resettlement areas must have convenient transport connections and synchronized technical and social infrastructure, including electricity, water supply, roads, schools and healthcare facilities, as well as conditions that allow residents to secure their livelihoods. The principle should be that new accommodation is equal to or better than the previous place of residence, not only in terms of a house or land plot but also living conditions and the ability to achieve long-term stability.

In particular, resettlement demand must be calculated based on medium-term plans, avoiding a situation in which projects have to wait for resettlement arrangements before sites can be cleared, or construction has to wait for site clearance before investment can begin.

As part of public communication and mobilization efforts, grassroots Party organizations and local administrations must step up meetings and dialogue with residents, clearly explain policies and people’s rights, and carefully consider cases involving special circumstances, fully applying the relevant policies within the framework of the law.

Public communication and mobilization must stay one step ahead. Such efforts should not be intensified only when enforcement measures are about to be taken. When meeting residents, authorities must clearly explain the project’s objectives, the scope of land acquisition, the legal and policy basis, the rights of affected land users, the method of determining land prices, and compensation, support and resettlement policies. At the same time, they must listen to residents and engage in direct dialogue to thoroughly address legitimate petitions and concerns.

Clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear deadlines

*What tasks and solutions will the Steering Committee focus on to remove bottlenecks?

-First, all projects currently undergoing site clearance must be reviewed and classified, with clear identification of key and urgent projects; projects funded by public investment; transport and infrastructure projects with connectivity and spillover effects; urban, industrial, commercial and service projects; and long-delayed projects involving large numbers of households that have yet to hand over their land.

Site clearance has recently been completed at Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park for conversion to a new function. Photo: Hoang Loc

For each project, a detailed progress schedule must be drawn up, identifying every milestone from land inventory, determination of the origin of land use and land prices, preparation and approval of compensation plans, payment and resettlement arrangements to site handover. Based on these schedules, city leaders can directly monitor delayed projects and overdue dossiers, enabling timely follow-up and direction, while also providing a basis for evaluating task performance and preventing responsibility from being shifted from one agency to another.

At the same time, bottlenecks in procedures must be resolved decisively, particularly those involving land, planning, construction, land prices, land-use origins, financial obligations, support policies and resettlement.

Issues falling within an agency’s authority must be proactively handled without shifting responsibility or unnecessarily referring dossiers from one agency to another. Matters beyond an agency’s authority must be accompanied by a full legal basis, a clear analysis of possible options and a proposed solution for the competent authority to consider and decide. Reports should not merely identify difficulties without proposing solutions.

The Steering Committee will also assign members to take direct responsibility for specific projects and areas. Under Decision No. 799-QD/TU, each member must fully perform his or her assigned responsibilities, regularly inspect the relevant areas, work directly with implementing agencies and promptly report issues beyond their authority to the head of the Steering Committee.

For key projects or those falling behind schedule, officials must not rely solely on written reports. They must conduct field inspections to accurately identify where bottlenecks lie and which agency is responsible.

Site clearance paves the way for growth

*How will the city handle cases in which residents still refuse to hand over land despite information campaigns and mobilization? How will responsibility be monitored and assessed?

-The city’s position is to safeguard people’s lawful and legitimate rights and interests while at the same time maintaining discipline and ensuring the overall progress of projects.

The road project along the Cai river is being accelerated following the completion of site clearance. Photo: Hoang Loc

For cases in which all procedures have been properly followed, policies have been correctly applied, and information, mobilization and dialogue have been conducted but people still deliberately refuse to comply, all necessary legal documentation must be completed and land recovery procedures carried out in accordance with the law. Individual cases must not be allowed to affect the overall progress of an entire project.

Under Decision No. 822-QD/TU dated June 25, 2026, issued by the CPC’s Standing Board, there are seven national key projects and 15 city key projects in Dong Nai. Of the city’s key projects, five are currently at the project preparation stage, while 10 key works and projects are undergoing compensation and site clearance. More key works and projects will be added in the coming period. This requires compensation, site clearance and resettlement work to be carried out with greater urgency, determination and a systematic approach.

From now until the end of the year, the Steering Committee’s standing body must establish a regular progress-monitoring mechanism. Reports should be concise but quantify results, including the area of land handed over, the number of households whose cases have been resolved, the number of outstanding dossiers, the number of completed resettlement areas, newly arising difficulties and the agencies responsible for addressing them.

Conclusions reached by the Steering Committee must be strictly implemented. If a task is not completed by the deadline, the responsible agency must clearly report the reason, responsibility and revised completion date.

I ask the City People’s Committee to translate the Steering Committee’s conclusions into concrete tasks and timelines for each department, agency, unit and locality. Members of the Steering Committee must take responsibility for the sectors, areas and projects assigned to them. Party committees and administrations at commune- and ward- level must identify site clearance as a key task, mobilizing the entire political system to conduct communication and mobilization campaigns and build consensus among residents.

Site clearance must be viewed as part of the city’s overall socio-economic development agenda. Delayed site clearance means delayed projects; delayed projects mean slower public investment disbursement, fewer social resources being mobilized into the economy, and impacts on budget revenue and new growth space.

Therefore, priority must be given to resources and site clearance for works and projects capable of driving growth, strengthening infrastructure connectivity and promoting the development of urban areas, industry, logistics, trade and services. These projects must be addressed with the highest possible sense of urgency.

The overall principle is that matters within one’s authority must be resolved immediately; inter-agency matters must be addressed through proactive coordination; and matters beyond one’s authority must be promptly reported together with proposed solutions. No dossier should be left pending, no project should be held up by procedures, and no identified difficulty should remain unresolved through successive meetings.

For key projects, the city must stay close to the localities concerned, the projects, the schedules and each specific case, striving to hand over sites as soon as possible. This will help accelerate project implementation, speed up public investment disbursement, mobilize social resources and create momentum for the successful fulfillment of Dong Nai’s socio-economic development targets in 2026 and the years ahead.

By V. Nam, H. Loc – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha