Ba Vì residents say no to a Safari Park; Hà Nội wants their land cleared by Dec. 8.
The Latest: Hà Nội approved the Ba Vì Safari project and broke ground on Oct. 9.
- Following the approval, the city ordered the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Ba Vì Commune People’s Committee to “ensure completion” of land clearance for “all or part of the land within the project area” within 60 days, setting a clearance deadline of Dec. 8.
The Details: On Oct. 9, the Hanoi People’s Committee issued Decision 5648, which approved the investment policy for the Ba Vì Safari park project and designated Sun Real Estate Group JSC (Công ty Cổ phần Tập đoàn Bất động sản Mặt Trời) as its investor.
- The approved project covers nearly 300 hectares, a reduction from the 580 hectares originally proposed, with a total investment of more than 6.5 trillion đồng (about $247 million).
According to Pháp luật Việt Nam newspaper, the groundbreaking ceremony took place the same day the city signed Decision 5648, which was one day earlier than the Oct. 10 target set by the Party Committee.
- State media has not specified how many people the project affects, but an Oct. 10 Bloomberg report noted that a preliminary assessment by authorities found “nearly 4,000 people could be affected.”
At the groundbreaking, Pháp luật Việt Nam quoted a “Sun Group representative” who stated, “The Ba Vì Safari park is not only a tourism project but also a conservation space,” and added, “Sun Group hopes to work alongside the local community to preserve cultural identity and develop sustainably.”
Project Details: The table below shows the project’s basic details under the Hà Nội government’s approval decision.
| Item | Details |
| Investor | Sun Real Estate Group JSC |
| Study area | About 299.51 hectares |
| Total investment | 6.506 trillion đồng (about $247 million) |
| Investor’s equity | About 976 billion đồng (about $37 million), or 15% |
| Mobilized capital | About 5.503 trillion đồng (about $209 million), or 85% |
| Operating term | 50 years from land allocation, lease, or change of land use |
| Timeline | Q4 2026 to Q2 2030 |
The Background: On Sept. 28, domestic media reported that Sun Real Estate Group JSC, a Sun Group subsidiary, was asking Hà Nội for permission to build an eco-tourism area in Ba Vì without competitive bidding.
- Although the project had not yet been approved at the time, Ba Vì commune authorities announced an Oct. 10 groundbreaking date.
On Oct. 5, the Hanoi Party Committee issued Resolution No. 29, which “unanimously approved the policy of immediate implementation and the investment policy for the Ba Vì Safari park project in Ba Vì commune, Hà Nội.”
- Fearing that their land would be taken without consultation, outraged residents guarded their property day and night, hanging banners opposing the project.
Why It Matters: Since early October, Ba Vì residents have opposed Sun Group’s safari project, with authorities repeatedly promising to make information public and properly “consult” the residents.
In a span of nine days, officials promised consultation three times.
- On Oct. 2, a representative of the Ba Vì Commune People’s Committee stated that the commune would publish information, noting that “the commune level is responsible for coordinating, providing information, and ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of the people,” according to Tiền Phong.
- On Oct. 5, Đỗ Thu Hằng, deputy director of the Department of Finance, claimed that “the city is reviewing the project’s investment policy proposal” and stated that during the planning process, “information will continue to be made public and transparent, with full consultation of the local community. She added that the process would be “in accordance with the law.”
- On Oct. 10, a day after the groundbreaking had already occurred, a Bloomberg report republished by The Star claimed that Hà Nội authorities had once again promised to consult the local community fully.
There remains no sign that any of these consultations have taken place. Notably, the most recent consultation promise came after the project had already broken ground.
- The company later “promised” to help affected residents find new livelihoods.
Thành Phương wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on October 14, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
