Tackling bottlenecks one by one

The Mường Thanh A Urban Residential Area project is one of the province’s major non-budget-funded investment projects being implemented in Điện Biên Phủ ward. With a total investment of more than VND 600 billion and a planned area of nearly five hectares, the project includes a coordinated development of adjoining houses, resettlement plots, a green public square, parking facilities, roads and drainage systems.

Construction began in late August 2025, but progress remains behind schedule, primarily due to land clearance difficulties. More than 49,965 square meters of land must be acquired and compensated for, affecting 147 households and other entities.

Responsibility for land clearance was initially assigned to the provincial Land Fund Development Center. However, to accelerate the project, on October 12, the provincial People’s Committee decided to transfer responsibility for compensation and land clearance to the Điện Biên Phủ ward Project Management and Land Fund Development Board.

Following the handover, the project encountered a number of difficulties. Land acquisition notices had expired; some households requested revisions to land ownership records and the boundaries of the acquisition area; and several households had structures built on agricultural land, making it difficult to determine compensation for the remaining assets. Some residents also disagreed with the proposed compensation and support plans.

Immediately after taking over, the ward’s Project Management and Land Fund Development Board focused on reviewing records, conducting surveys and inventories, publicly disclosing compensation plans, and submitting them to the competent authorities for approval in accordance with regulations.

By October 14, the ward had completed surveys and inventories for 146 of the 147 affected households and organizations. It had also approved 24 compensation plans covering 51 households, individuals and organizations, with a total area of more than 30,637 square meters. Land already handed over included 1.39 hectares under another project and 0.7 hectares under the new compensation plans.

Nguyễn Đức Lượng, Director of the Điện Biên Phủ ward Project Management and Land Fund Development Board, said: “For cases involving unresolved issues over land ownership records or the boundaries of land acquisition, our unit works with the investor to review and complete survey documents and make adjustments to reflect actual conditions. Based on the revised records, we will continue publicly disclosing the compensation plans, submitting them for approval and coordinating with the investor to arrange funding for compensation and support payments.”

The ward has mobilized the entire political system to conduct public outreach and build consensus among households that have not yet received compensation or have raised concerns during the public disclosure of compensation plans. Working groups have been established to visit residents individually, listen to their concerns, address questions and verify land origins.

In addition to face-to-face discussions, the ward has created Zalo groups with residents in project areas to share information promptly, receive feedback and resolve problems, while ensuring that compensation and support policies are implemented transparently.

Phạm Công Chinh, Vice Chairman of the Điện Biên Phủ ward People’s Committee, said: “The ward People’s Committee has continuously organized meetings and discussions with households in project areas to provide information, encourage cooperation and build consensus on compensation plans, payments and land handovers. Through these discussions, local authorities can promptly identify residents’ concerns and difficulties and consider appropriate solutions, helping build consensus throughout project implementation.”

Thanks to timely and determined efforts, land clearance for the Mường Thanh A Urban Residential Area project has made progress. By October 31, the ward had successfully persuaded more than 20 households and individuals to accept compensation and hand over their land, covering approximately 1.1 hectares.

Working alongside residents

One notable aspect of the ward’s land clearance approach is the mobilization of local forces to help residents dismantle houses, move belongings and relocate structures and other assets after they agree to hand over their land. This assistance has been provided for both publicly funded and non-budget-funded projects, demonstrating a spirit of solidarity and support for residents while helping accelerate land clearance.

Đỗ Quốc Quân’s household in Him Lam residential group had 127 square meters of land acquired for the comprehensive investment project to build the Điện Biên provincial Sports Center. After receiving information and encouragement from local authorities, his family agreed to hand over the land. During the relocation process, ward personnel helped dismantle the house and transport household belongings.

Quân said: “Thanks to the support of the local teams, dismantling the house and moving our belongings and other structures went smoothly. This helped our family hand over the land sooner so the project could proceed.”

The comprehensive investment project to build the Điện Biên provincial Sports Center has been delayed for many years and was only recently assigned to Điện Biên Phủ ward for implementation. The project requires the acquisition and clearance of 13.5 hectares of land, affecting 198 households and individuals, as well as six organizations.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the entire political system, by October 15, 138 of the 198 affected households and individuals had received compensation. All 138 households and all six organizations had handed over their land, covering a total area of 9.94 hectares.

The total compensation approved for households that had received payments exceeded VND 120.9 billion. The land handover has enabled contractors to mobilize workers, machinery and equipment to carry out site grading and road construction. Work completed to date is valued at approximately VND 14 billion, equivalent to 40% of the contracted workload. The entire contracted workload is expected to be completed in December 2026.

Điện Biên Phủ ward is currently implementing 19 major investment projects, including both publicly funded and non-budget-funded projects. The volume of land clearance work is substantial and affects numerous households, while each project presents its own specific characteristics and challenges. Proactively reviewing and categorizing individual cases, strengthening coordination among agencies and organizations, and promoting the role of the grassroots political system are therefore essential to keeping projects on schedule.

When concerns are addressed thoroughly and residents agree to hand over their land, investment resources can be unlocked and projects can move forward more quickly. This, in turn, helps accelerate public investment disbursement, promote socioeconomic development and contribute to making Điện Biên Phủ an increasingly modern and well-developed city.