Located south of the Hải Vân Pass, between the mountains and the sea, Vân Village once stood almost entirely isolated from the rest of Đà Nẵng. Beginning in 1968, people with leprosy settled there, and for decades, the area was known as a “leper village.” These residents were separated from society by both the stigma surrounding the disease and the difficult terrain of the village, which also happened to possess a rare, pristine natural beauty.
Following its official recognition as an administrative unit of Đà Nẵng in 1997, the village gradually attracted visitors drawn to its picturesque scenery. However, this growing attention eventually transformed the secluded enclave into the site of a controversial megaproject, stirring public debate and raising significant concerns regarding its ecological impact in Việt Nam just over two decades later.
June 17, 2002: Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng signed Decision No. 465/2002 to approve adjustments to the master plan of Đà Nẵng through 2020.
This document marked one of the first instances where Vân Village was formally included in the urban and tourism development planning of the city, specifically designating it as a concentrated tourism zone.
Nov. 25, 2004: Đà Nẵng People’s Committee Chairman Hoàng Tuấn Anh signed Decision No. 188/2004. This approved a program titled “Strongly developing tourism and services in which the city has advantages and building Đà Nẵng into one of the country’s major commercial, tourism, and service centers.”
Within the document, the tourism strategy of the city repeatedly highlighted Vân Village as a key area.
The plan aimed to attract domestic and foreign investment between 2004 and 2010 to build international coastal tourism centers across the Sơn Trà Peninsula, the Sơn Trà–Điện Ngọc corridor, Vân Village, Nam Ô, and the city center.
It also noted that the Quảng Đại Joint Stock Company anticipated starting construction on the Vân Village Project in September 2005.
2006: Đà Nẵng initiated a policy to relocate Vân Village households to the mainland, ostensibly to improve their living conditions, provide access to essential infrastructure, and facilitate community integration.
Despite this public announcement, further details regarding its implementation were sparse, and the relocation effort largely vanished from official reporting for a significant period.
April 7, 2008: Đà Nẵng authorized the U.S.-based Oaktree Capital Group to survey a proposed $5 billion investment project in Vân Village. The proposal envisioned transforming the area into a sprawling resort and entertainment complex equipped with a marina and a casino.
During negotiations, Đà Nẵng officials urged Oaktree Capital to expand the scope to over 1,500 hectares, encompassing roughly 15,000 residential and accommodation units, including 5,000 apartments for sale.
According to the Vietnam News Agency, an Oaktree Capital representative assured that the development would minimize environmental impact and ensure the long-term preservation of the ecosystems in Vân Village and its surrounding areas.
During these discussions, then-Đà Nẵng Party Secretary Nguyễn Bá Thanh demanded a concrete commitment, setting a deadline of May 5, 2008, for the investor to confirm its decision and submit a deposit. He promised municipal assistance to expedite licensing and implementation procedures, noting that other investors were also eyeing the location.
Ultimately, the deadline passed without any public indication that Oaktree Capital formally committed to the project.
Oct. 6, 2008: The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee officially approved the land-use boundary map for the project by signing Decision No. 8175/QĐ-UBND.
Dec. 4, 2008: The Đà Nẵng People’s Council issued Resolution No. 68/2008 outlining socioeconomic development tasks for 2009.
Under Clause 2, Article 1, authorities were directed to accelerate the Vân Village Tourism Project. This resolution highlighted that the project remained a tourism priority for the city, particularly emphasizing the inclusion of entertainment services featuring prize-based gaming for foreigners.
Dec. 23, 2008: Đà Nẵng unveiled its preparation plans to rehouse households relocated from the Hòa Vân leprosy village. The city mandated the construction of 114 adjoining houses within the Hòa Hiệp Residential Area.
Simultaneously, plans were made to build a Leprosy Patient Care Center equipped with separate rooms for families affected by the disease.
Đà Nẵng People’s Committee leaders projected that construction of the resettlement area would commence in early 2009 to properly facilitate the relocation.
Oct. 8, 2010: Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng signed Decision No. 1866 to approve the socioeconomic development master plan of Đà Nẵng through 2020.
Within the territorial spatial development section concerning tourism, the plan maintained the designation of Vân Village as the proposed site for an international tourism zone, demonstrating that the development of the area was now officially embedded in national-level planning.
Dec. 3, 2010: The Đà Nẵng People’s Council issued Resolution No. 105/2010, which outlined socioeconomic development tasks for 2011.
Among its principal tasks and solutions, the resolution reiterated the need to invest in and open the Vân Village Tourism Area.
May 2011: The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee granted in-principle approval for the Vân Village Luxury Tourism and Resort Complex in Hòa Vân Hamlet, simultaneously launching a plan to relocate local residents to a new area.
News of the development and the impending December 2011 deadline to move households to the Hòa Hiệp resettlement area sparked a frenzy in the real estate market. According to media reports at the time, brokers and speculators flocked to Vân Village to buy land using informal, handwritten agreements. Unauthorized structures were erected by individuals hoping to claim compensation once the project commenced.
Local residents noted that land transfer prices hovered around 20 million to 30 million đồng (about $970 to $1,450 at that time) per 100 square meters, while constructing a temporary house cost between 10 million and 12 million đồng.
July 10, 2011: To outline future economic strategies, Đà Nẵng People’s Committee Chairman Trần Văn Minh signed a decision approving the 2011–2015 Tourism Development Program, featuring a total investment of 3.19 trillion đồng.
More than 3 trillion đồng of this budget was earmarked for priority projects, including the Sơn Trà Peninsula master plan, Ngũ Hành Sơn Cultural Park, and development planning for Vân Village, the Hải Vân Pass, the Bạch Đằng tourism street, and various commercial zones.
July 14, 2011: The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee formalized the involvement of a major developer by issuing Official Dispatch No. 4138/UBND-QLĐTh, officially approving Vinpearl Joint Stock Company as the investor for the Vân Village Integrated Resort and Entertainment Project.
August–September 2011: Relocating Vân Village residents to the mainland proved highly challenging, largely due to opposition from the receiving community.
According to media reports at the time, displaced residents claimed they faced severe discrimination and were “ostracized” in their new neighborhoods.
Facing mounting tension and conflicting views, authorities from Đà Nẵng and the Liên Chiểu District organized multiple meetings with residents to explain the relocation policy and secure the public consensus needed to move forward.
Oct. 19, 2011: Vinpearl Joint Stock Company and the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee signed an in-principle investment agreement for the Vân Village Integrated Tourism and Entertainment Project.
The city tasked Vinpearl with studying and executing a sweeping development across 1,500 hectares—1,065 hectares of land and 500 hectares of water—with an estimated total investment of $5 billion. Phase one alone would demand around $1 billion.
According to Vinpearl, the megaproject would feature five-star accommodations, luxury villas, commercial centers, a golf course, sports facilities, a marina, and a cable car system.
A company representative remarked at the signing ceremony that this was their largest endeavor to date, expressing a strong desire to elevate Vân Village into a premier international destination.
Subsequently, Vinpearl contributed 300 million đồng to the Liên Chiểu District Social Development Support Fund.
November 2011: When Vinpearl communicated with its shareholders regarding an impending merger into Vincom Joint Stock Company, the Vân Village development was explicitly featured (see archived file) within its active portfolio.
The documents identified it as a flagship initiative for the company, reiterating the projected $5 billion investment and the grand ambition of building an international-scale resort and entertainment complex.
Feb. 14, 2012: During a meeting with Compensation and Site Clearance Management Board No. 3, then-Đà Nẵng Party Secretary Nguyễn Bá Thanh approved specific compensation rates for the clearance work in Vân Village. Residential land was valued at 100,000 đồng per square meter, while agricultural land was set at 22,000 đồng per square meter.
Alongside this land compensation, households were promised financial support for existing structures, a relocation assistance grant of 7 million đồng per household, and livelihood stabilization support of 6,000 đồng per square meter of agricultural land, which was capped at 4,000 square meters per family.
For local gravesites, the city committed to covering all related expenses while encouraging residents to opt for cremation.
Addressing the issue of land speculation, Nguyễn Bá Thanh stated:
“Those who bought land here after hearing that a project was planned for Vân Village will not receive resettlement land or occupational conversion assistance. Their land will instead be calculated collectively at the agricultural land price.”
May 2012: Facing numerous implementation hurdles, Đà Nẵng was forced to revise its resettlement strategy for the residents of Vân Village.
Instead of moving 124 households—primarily families affected by leprosy living at the foot of the Hải Vân Pass—into the previously constructed housing complex, the city relocated them to a newly planned 3-hectare site in the Hòa Hiệp Bắc Ward of Liên Chiểu District.
Consequently, the 116 originally built apartments were reassigned to poor women, individuals living alone, and families eligible for social welfare programs.
Dec. 4, 2013: Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng signed Decision No. 2357 to approve adjustments to the master plan of Đà Nẵng through 2030, alongside a vision extending to 2050. Within this document, the “Vân Village Tourism Area” was highlighted under Section 8 regarding spatial development orientation.
Dec. 18, 2013: The Office of the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 3293/VP-KTTH, instructing Vinpearl Joint Stock Company to promptly pay 200 billion đồng in land-use fees for the Vân Village Integrated Resort and Tourism Project.
According to state budget receipts obtained by the Vietnam News Agency, Vinpearl fulfilled this obligation by paying the amount in two installments across late 2013 and early 2014.
2014: The project began to face environmental regulatory hurdles, specifically concerning the boundaries of protected and special-use forests.
The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee was forced to adjust the 1:500 detailed plan of the project, issuing Decision No. 1755/QĐ-UBND on March 22, 2014, and Decision No. 9043/QĐ-UBND on Dec. 15, 2014 (see archived file).
July 31, 2015: The environmental boundary issues culminated in the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee issuing Decision No. 5515/QĐ-UBND, which officially adjusted the land-use boundary map (see archived file).
Because protected and special-use forest land had to be removed from the site, the total project area was significantly reduced from approximately 1,565 hectares down to 1,145.64 hectares.
Aug. 15, 2016: The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee issued Decision No. 5462/QĐ-UBND to adjust the 1:500 detailed plan once more.
Mirroring the adjustments made in 2014, the primary goal was to excise protected conservation forests from the project boundaries.
Aug. 27, 2016: Through Decision No. 5805, the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee officially approved Vinpearl Joint Stock Company as the project investor.
Concurrently, the city allocated and leased Vinpearl more than 10,446,951 square meters of land to initiate the first phase of the project.
Sept. 27, 2016: The land transfer was vastly expanded when the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee issued Decision No. 6566/QĐ-UBND, leasing and allocating 10,446,951 square meters (approximately 1,044.7 hectares) to Vinpearl for the first phase.
Although the project received a 50-year operating mandate starting from the handover date, it remained completely unimplemented for years due to a host of unresolved barriers.
November 2018: Seeking to pivot its strategy, Vinpearl petitioned the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee to modify the project plan to include a luxury urban area alongside the tourism facilities, shifting away from the strict resort and entertainment parameters approved in 2016.
According to the Đà Nẵng Department of Planning and Investment, Vinpearl was simultaneously drafting an environmental impact assessment to submit to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
As reported by Đà Nẵng Newspaper, the development was stalled by serious obstacles, including required consultations with the Ministry of National Defense, ongoing forest land removal, logistical conflicts with an existing railway line, and pending reassessments of land prices and subdivision uses by the Department of Planning and Investment.
The project remained dormant for several more years.
March 15, 2021: Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc officially approved Decision No. 359 to adjust the master plan of Đà Nẵng through 2030, with a long-term vision to 2045.
The strategy prioritized investment in several major developments, including:
- An integrated financial, commercial, service, and entertainment center
- A cultural and entertainment park southeast of the memorial monument
- The VinaCapital Đà Nẵng Golf Course
- A complex for the Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival
- A theme park south of the Sơn Trà Peninsula
- The Bà Nà–Suối Mơ ecotourism complex
- The Bà Nà Hills Tourism Area
- The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort.
Distinct from these, the Vân Village Project was specifically designated as an “integrated resort tourism area.”
March 30, 2021: Following years of delays, the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee and Liên Chiểu District People’s Committee formally announced the restart of the Vân Village Tourism and Resort Complex.
The development, spearheaded by Vinpearl Joint Stock Company, was set to cover nearly 1,000 hectares in Hòa Hiệp Bắc Ward, Liên Chiểu District, backed by an estimated total investment of approximately 35 trillion đồng.
During the announcement ceremony, Đà Nẵng People’s Committee Chairman Lê Trung Chinh acknowledged that while the project had been promoted since the initial agreement in principle in 2011, it had been derailed for a decade by complex investment procedures and shifting economic conditions.
July 8, 2021: A site-clearance report from the Liên Chiểu District People’s Committee noted that 1,123 out of 1,389 clearance files were processed.
The figures accounted for 595.46 cleared hectares out of the 914.7-hectare total, which included 128.66 of the 447.9 hectares of land and the entirety of the 466.8 hectares of seawater (see archived file).
Dec. 17, 2021: Despite the restart, delegates at a Đà Nẵng People’s Council meeting raised fresh concerns over the progress of the megaproject at the foot of the Hải Vân Pass.
Responding to the inquiry, Đà Nẵng People’s Committee Vice Chairman Lê Quang Nam revealed that Vinpearl had submitted a request to adjust the project plan and investment policy to include a 100-hectare urban area. Nam noted this proposal required a review by the Ministry of Planning and Investment before final submission to the prime minister.
Concurrently, the Liên Chiểu District People’s Committee confirmed it had handed over 100% of the water area and 50% of the land area.
Authorities set a goal to host a groundbreaking ceremony by Sept. 2, 2022, planning to execute the project across six phases over five years.
However, the 2022 groundbreaking target was missed.
April 22, 2023: The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee issued Decision No. 841 to approve localized master plan adjustments around Liên Chiểu Port and the Vân Village Project.
This decision updated port boundaries, realigned the coastal road, and redistributed land-use categories across the site.
Designated tourism land was reduced by 56 hectares. To balance ecological and national priorities, a portion of this land was restored to production forest to protect natural woodland areas, while another section was reclassified as defense and security land.
Nov. 15, 2023: The Đà Nẵng People’s Council convened a special meeting to review urgent proposals submitted by the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee.
A key item on the agenda was a proposal to convert forest land to facilitate the 35 trillion đồng Vân Village Project developed by Vinpearl.
The city proposed converting land in Hòa Hiệp Bắc Ward, Liên Chiểu District, for alternative uses, specifically targeting 29.73 hectares of planted forest that is currently classified as production forest.
In the ensuing months, further adjustments to its planning, forest land status, and investment documentation bogged down the project.
No actual construction was publicly reported.
May 16, 2024: The Đà Nẵng People’s Committee approved the Western Ecological Subdivision Plan, outlining a new development orientation for the Hải Vân Pass that prioritized urban spaces and ecotourism.
Driven by adjustments to the master plan of the city through 2030 (with a vision to 2045), the Vân Village area was designated to become a tourism complex and resort city heavily integrated with its natural surroundings.
The strategy centered on green spaces, seamlessly connecting residential zones with commerce, public facilities, and entertainment venues. Planners mandated that local projects harmonize with the mountain, forest, and coastal aesthetics of the Hải Vân Pass while facing the East Sea.
The Vân Village complex and the Hải Vân Pass road were highlighted as the primary landmarks.
Furthermore, the plan decreed that forestry land across the three legally recognized forest categories would remain untouched, prioritizing conservation to support sustainable development.
Only production forest areas classified as forestry land would be considered for low-impact uses, such as experiential tourism or ecotourism.
November 2024: Vinpearl Joint Stock Company drafted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Vân Village Project (see archived file), which was subsequently posted on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
The EIA was compiled by Thành Tâm Development Investment Joint Stock Company—a consulting firm that, according to the National Business Registration Portal, had been established less than three months prior to the preparation of the report.
On page 13, it outlines lofty goals, stating the objective is to:
“Prevent the increasing trend of pollution and environmental degradation; address urgent environmental issues; gradually improve and restore environmental quality; prevent the decline of biodiversity; contribute to strengthening proactive capacity to respond to climate change; ensure environmental security; build and develop circular, green and low-carbon economic models; and strive to achieve the country’s 2030 sustainable development goals.”
However, the report downplays local ecology on page 190 under “General Assessment,” stating:
“The area of the Vân Village Tourism and Resort Urban Complex is located in a coastal ecological zone with a relatively attractive natural landscape. However, biodiversity is not highly concentrated, with 369 plant species belonging to 97 families of vascular plants distributed across tropical moist evergreen closed forests, coastal sandy vegetation on shifting and stabilized sand, and planted forests.”
This conclusion directly conflicts with a finding on page 191 (Chapter 2), which acknowledges that “five reptile species listed in Việt Nam’s 2007 Red Data Book require conservation, along with several species classified under Groups IB and IIB of Decree No. 06/2009″ living in the surveyed area.
Beyond contradictions, the report exhibits several regulatory failures and omissions. Page 300 features Section 6.2, titled “Results of Community Consultation,” which was left completely blank—a direct violation of Article 33 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection and Form No. 04 in Appendix II of Circular No. 02/2022/TT-BTNMT, which mandates this information.
Similarly, while page 299 claims that “consultation documents and consultation minutes are attached in Appendix I,” the actual Appendix I on page 304 contains only a cover page; the documents are entirely missing.
Finally, Chapter 4 on page 288, titled “Environmental Renovation and Restoration Plan and Biodiversity Offset Plan,” consists of just three lines. It offers no specific biodiversity compensation measures, merely citing Resolution No. 64/NQ-HĐND of the Đà Nẵng People’s Council, which previously approved the conversion of 29.73 hectares of forest land.
Nov. 20, 2024: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính issued Decision No. 1432/QĐ-TTg to approve major adjustments to the investment policy for the Vân Village Integrated Resort and Entertainment Project. With these changes, the project was scaled to approximately 512 hectares (comprising 506 hectares of land and 5.3 hectares of seawater) and designed to accommodate a population of around 19,000.
The updated scope included villas, adjoining houses, commercial and service facilities, and necessary infrastructure. Notably, land designated for social housing accounted for approximately 20% of the total residential area.
The estimated total investment for the project stood at approximately 43.922 trillion đồng.
Dec. 31, 2024: The Liên Chiểu District People’s Committee issued Decision No. 7064/QĐ-UBND, adjusting the 1:500 detailed plan for the renamed Vân Village Tourism and Resort Urban Complex.
This decree officially reduced the project area from 1,068 hectares to just 512 hectares. The bulk of this reduction came from removing nearly 477 hectares of seawater. Other excised lands included 63.3 hectares of natural forest, 6.4 hectares of natural sandbanks, a 6.6-hectare overlap with Liên Chiểu Port, and 2.7 hectares reserved for an archaeological survey and excavation site.
Maintaining a target population of approximately 19,000, the new blueprint outlined the delivery of more than 4,500 unfinished villas and adjoining houses alongside approximately 2,100 social housing units, schools, parks, a health clinic, and commercial zones.
Backed by nearly 44 trillion đồng in total investment—including almost 6.6 trillion đồng in investor equity—the 50-year project is slated for construction through the fourth quarter of 2029, with initial components expected to become operational in 2027.
February 2025: The Đà Nẵng Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported steady progress on site clearance.
As of Feb. 20, the Site Clearance Council had finalized 510 of 679 clearance files (75.1%), leaving 169 files (24.9%) unresolved.
The department set a target to finalize all site clearances by early April 2025 to ensure that the project could commence without further delay.
April 23, 2025: The regulatory pathway was further cleared when the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued Decision No. 1054/QĐ-BNNMT (see archived file), formally approving the appraisal results for the environmental impact assessment of the Vân Village Project.
May 6, 2025: Tensions over land recovery escalated when Đà Nẵng ordered 15 holdout households to contact the Land Recovery Enforcement Board by May 7, 2025, to sign their land handover records. The households had previously boycotted dialogue sessions held on April 21, 23, and 25, primarily disputing the official inventory of their land and attached assets.
A leader from the Đà Nẵng Department of Natural Resources and Environment explained that because many individuals had unlawfully purchased forest land within the project zone, their eligible compensation was lower than anticipated, sparking the disputes.
This became the first project in Đà Nẵng to necessitate compulsory land and property inventory measures.
Late May 2025: On May 27, the Liên Chiểu District People’s Committee announced enforcement measures against 26 cases where individuals refused to comply with land recovery decisions, executing these operations in the final days of the month.
By the end of May 2025, officials had secured handover consent for 639 out of 683 land-recovery files in the second phase of the project, leaving only 22 cases unresolved.
June 22, 2025: Vinpearl Joint Stock Company officially broke ground on the Vân Village Tourism and Resort Urban Complex in Liên Chiểu District, Đà Nẵng.
The high-profile ceremony drew prominent officials, including:
- Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình
- National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyễn Đức Hải
- Đà Nẵng Party Secretary Nguyễn Văn Quảng
- Đà Nẵng People’s Committee Chairman Lê Trung Chinh
- Quảng Nam Party Secretary Lương Nguyễn Minh Triết.
Addressing the attendees, Vingroup Vice Chairman and CEO Nguyễn Việt Quang promised that the nearly 44 trillion đồng development would prioritize nature conservation, honor local heritage, and deliver high-quality living spaces.
“When completed, this will be a paradise for resort tourism and settlement for local residents and domestic and international visitors,” he said.
Đà Nẵng People’s Committee Chairman Lê Trung Chinh commended Vingroup and Vinpearl for their pioneering vision, noting that their commitment signaled strong confidence in the local investment climate. He emphasized that western Đà Nẵng possessed vast untapped potential and required catalytic megaprojects like Vân Village to generate jobs, elevate living standards, and drive socioeconomic growth.
Chinh pledged that the municipal government would actively support the developer by removing remaining obstacles to ensure the project stayed on schedule.
Sept. 4, 2025: The Vinpearl Board of Directors issued Resolution No. 17/2025, appointing Vinhomes Joint Stock Company as the general contractor to oversee construction, supply, and equipment installation for the Vân Village Project.
Feb. 25, 2026: Đà Nẵng Permanent People’s Committee Vice Chairman Hồ Kỳ Minh signed a decision approving specific land prices for the Vân Village Tourism and Resort Urban Complex.
Based on the previously approved detailed plan as of June 12, 2025, urban residential land was valued at 15,428,811 đồng per square meter, while public-service facility land was set at 5,042,812 đồng per square meter.
A unified rate of 7,146,525 đồng per square meter was applied to commercial land coded TMO, service facility land (CTDV-01, CTDV-02, CTDV-04, CTDV-05, and CTDV-06), and tourism service facility land (DL01-65-BTND and DL3-01).
Meanwhile, land for tourism services coded DL02-04 was valued separately at 1,155,313 đồng per square meter.
March 14, 2026: At approximately 8 a.m., freight train AH1 derailed at Km769+850 after falling rocks bent and broke sections of the railway. Although some services resumed after six hours of repairs, additional rockfalls that evening forced Railway Safety Management Division II under the Việt Nam Railway Authority to close the Hải Vân–Hải Vân Nam line for a second emergency halt.
Domestic media cited preliminary assessments suggesting that the rockfalls were linked to the construction of a tourism and resort complex on the mountainside near the Hải Vân Pass. While these reports did not explicitly name the development, a review by Luật Khoa Magazine noted that the Vân Village Project by Vinpearl was the only such complex under construction in the area.
Further fueling these suspicions, a document (No. 833/ĐS-QLHT) purportedly issued by the Vietnam Railways Corporation surfaced through Người Việt newspaper and Facebook user Phương Ngô. The document claimed that inspecting agencies initially determined a contractor working on Subdivision 4 of the Vân Village Project had caused a large boulder to crash onto the tracks. It also warned that several other rocks remained at risk of rolling downhill, posing an ongoing threat to lives and railway property.
Accusing the contractor of a serious legal violation, the Vietnam Railways Corporation reportedly petitioned the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee to suspend construction immediately and urged authorities to intervene.
The Vietnamese Magazine has not independently verified the above-mentioned document.
April 14, 2026: The Đà Nẵng Department of Construction declared 2,437 future housing units within the Vân Village Tourism and Resort Urban Complex eligible for sale.
The department explicitly noted that the project is located in a restricted area, legally barring foreign organizations and individuals from owning housing there.
Despite this official restriction, several websites marketing the units published contradictory and misleading information, claiming the following:
“According to information from the developer, foreigners are fully permitted to purchase and own real estate in the Vinhomes Hải Vân Bay project, also known as Vinhomes Vân Village.”
June 3, 2026: The Đà Nẵng Department of Construction cleared an additional 966 future housing units for sale.
According to a report by the investor, neither these 966 units, the overarching future housing project, nor the associated land-use rights were directly mortgaged to any credit institution.
Nevertheless, under a mortgage agreement signed on April 2, 2026, the investor was still actively mortgaging the property rights related to that specific section of the development to the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB). The Vietnamese Magazine will continue to update on this project.
Transforming from a forgotten enclave at the foot of the Hải Vân Pass, Vân Village has become the site of one of the largest real estate megaprojects in central Việt Nam.
From the outset, the multibillion-dollar price tag and massive ambitions of the development triggered waves of population displacement, aggressive land brokerage, and feverish speculation in an area that had been quiet for decades.
Despite these grand declarations, the plans remained dormant on paper for years. This allowed Vân Village to retain much of its original, pristine appearance, even after authorities relocated nearly all of its longtime residents.
However, the recent revival of the project and the emergence of its initial construction phases tore up the landscape and left it in disorder. This ignited widespread controversy, with the public raising numerous concerns regarding the impact of the development on the local environment, landscape, and identity. Different currents of public opinion surrounding Vinpearl’s project in Lang Van will be the focus of Part 2.
Hoàng Lam and Bối Thủy wrote this article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on July 27, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine has the copyrights to the English translation.
