As Hà Nội authorities unveil the initial maps for the Red River Scenic Boulevard Project, frustrated residents fear permanent displacement—and suspect their mandated feedback will be ignored.
The Latest: On the morning of Sept. 7, Hà Nội authorities began seeking public feedback on plans for the Red River Scenic Boulevard Project, with consultations running through Sept. 27.
- Many residents had to locate their homes on the planning maps themselves or help one another interpret them, while information regarding compensation, resettlement, and the project’s timeline remained unclear.
- When asked about these issues, residents at the consultation sites stated they did not know and had received no notification.
According to Luật Khoa’s reporting from the consultation sites, most surveyed residents were confused about the plans and skeptical that their feedback would be taken into account.
Additionally, Luật Khoa surveyed 10 people who had visited the consultation sites, and all opposed the plan.
- The surveyed residents believed that the government had already made its decision and that their objections would not be considered.
- Some compared the consultation to voting in elections, describing it as a formality in which their views would not be accurately recorded.
From a Ward Official: A ward official told Luật Khoa that authorities had only released the planning maps for consultation, and no information was available about when the plans would be approved or when residents would have to relocate.
- The official stated that consultation results would be reported to Hà Nội’s Department of Construction twice daily: “once in the morning and once in the afternoon.”
- The official also confirmed that police had requested involvement in the consultation process.
From the Residents: In response to the uncertainty over immediate and long-term clearance plans, residents have mobilized both online and offline.
- Furthermore, residents held their evening meetings to discuss how to protect their neighborhoods and preserve existing residential communities.
On social media, residents shared posts and videos showing opposition to the project at government-organized meetings.
- On Sept. 8, a Facebook user identified as ***Giang asked:
“Why does the designation ‘Villages to be renovated and upgraded in the near term’ appear only in the ‘initial-phase plan’ and not in the ‘long-term plan’? What will the next phase involve?”
- On Sept. 9, a user identified as ***Tân noted that residents of Nam Phù Commune had noticed their neighborhood appeared only in the “initial-phase plan,” designated for “renovation and upgrading in the near term,” with no corresponding designation in the long-term plan.
- This omission left many worried about their future and seeking clarification from the city.
- That same day, ***Hung Nguyen shared reflections on the consultation, arguing that the Red River Project plans failed to reflect existing residential communities.
- The user also expressed concern that compensation would be insufficient to purchase comparable property and that resettlement could separate residents from their homes, livelihoods, and communities.
- On Sept. 10, Facebook user ***Nguyễn Thị posted a video stating that residents had identified an “irregularity”: their residential neighborhood would no longer appear on the long-term planning map.
- By Sept. 11, the same user posted a video of a meeting in Nam Phù Commune, Hà Nội, and said that residents there unanimously petitioned to preserve all existing residential areas.
Viễn Linh wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on September 14, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
