Development plans for Hà Nội’s Red River have left thousands of residents unable to build, repair, or sell their homes.
The Latest: On Sept. 18, multiple news outlets reported that the People’s Committee of Mê Linh Commune in Hà Nội had suspended accepting and processing land-related administrative applications within the planned Red River Scenic Boulevard Project area, effective Sept. 17.
- This follows a similar decision made earlier in March 2026 by the People’s Committee of Hồng Hà Ward in Hà Nội to suspend the issuance of construction permits.
- Luật Khoa contacted the People’s Committees of communes and wards within the Red River project area to verify the situation, but authorities have not provided a response.
Local Anecdotes: Sources in communities within the Red River project area informed Luật Khoa that restrictions preventing residents from building homes began in January 2026, causing property transactions to stall throughout the year.
- In the historic village of Bắc Biên, located in Hà Nội’s Bồ Đề Ward, a local woman stated that authorities had prohibited home construction since the beginning of the year, while property sales stopped entirely. “The ban got everyone talking, saying we would definitely have to leave,” she said.
- In the historic village of Thúy Lĩnh, situated in Hà Nội’s Lĩnh Nam Ward, a young man reported that residents have been barred from building homes since early this year, leaving many to live in basic, single-story houses.
- “If you want to build a house, you have to apply for a construction permit. When people apply, the ward authorities tell them straight away that the land is now part of the project, and construction isn’t allowed,” he said.
- He added that “there hasn’t been any official document about anything—they just refuse to issue construction permits,” and that “now, if you want to sell your house, you can’t. So we just keep living here because we don’t know what else to do.”
- A woman in the historic village of Hải Bối, in Hà Nội’s Vĩnh Thanh Commune, told Luật Khoa that there had been no official announcement explaining how or when the land would be acquired.
- “At the end of last year, they said residents would be informed early this year. By March, there was still nothing, and they said June. When nothing happened in June, they said August. It just keeps dragging on. They keep leaving the project in limbo, and now we can’t sell our land,” she said.
- According to the woman, authorities have not prohibited property transactions, but sales have stalled because “once land is covered by a development plan, who would dare buy it?”
- She added: “Land prices here used to soar because we’re near [the Red River]. But now that there’s a project that will supposedly take the whole village, nobody wants to buy anymore. There are no sales at all.”
- She explained that only exceptionally low prices no longer attract buyers, except perhaps someone hoping to receive another plot as compensation. “It’s just a hope, really. Nobody knows how compensation will work. Some say land will still be exchanged for land, while others say we’ll get apartments,” she added.
The Background: In December 2025, the Hà Nội Party Committee and the municipal People’s Council agreed in principle to investment in the Red River Scenic Boulevard Project.
- On the morning of May 11, 2026, the municipal People’s Council approved the project’s investment policy.
- The project spans 16 communes and wards and covers approximately 11,418 hectares and has a preliminary estimated investment of 736.963 trillion đồng ($28 billion).
Why It Matters: The Red River Scenic Boulevard Project is expected to affect about 200,000 residents.
- Since the project’s approval, many residents have expressed concern about relocation, particularly concerning resettlement arrangements and adequate compensation.
- A family in Hồng Hà Ward summarized the growing frustration: “Leaving the project unresolved for 10 or 20 years would exhaust everyone. Now, anyone who wants to sell can’t—nobody will buy, and building or making repairs is difficult.”
Lê Sáng wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on September 25, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
