Dong Nai province is once again behind schedule in providing land for a series of key projects.

Mr. Phu explained that the procedures must be followed correctly, and the public posting period can last for several months, causing delays in processing applications. Many agricultural plots are subdivided by residents, who build houses and buy and sell them through multiple owners using handwritten agreements, making it difficult to locate the original landowners. Compensation for those whose agricultural land is confiscated but who do not reside in the area requires confirmation from both the commune where the land is located and where the person resides, which is very time-consuming.

"The main difficulty is that people still have many questions about compensation and resettlement prices. Many cases require consultation with relevant agencies and community feedback for months," Mr. Phu said.

Similarly, Mr. Tran Van Than, Vice Chairman of the Long Thanh District People's Committee, said that only 36 hectares of land have been allocated for component project 1, equivalent to over 46%. Component project 2 has allocated 81 out of 151 hectares, about 54%. Part of the reason for the delay is the unfinished construction of the resettlement area. "People will only be allowed to build houses in the Long Duc resettlement area this August after the land plots have been drawn. The Long Phuoc resettlement area is only 30% complete," Mr. Than said.

Even with available land, construction remains difficult.

The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway has a total length of 53.7km, with a 34.2km section through Dong Nai province and a 19.5km section through Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. The section through Ba Ria - Vung Tau province is progressing very well; the contractor is awaiting favorable weather conditions to lay asphalt concrete and open for technical traffic by April 30, 2025. Meanwhile, land clearance for the section through Dong Nai province is still incomplete.

Component Project 3 of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 has not yet had all the land handed over.

In component project 1A - Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, while the Nhon Trach bridge is under construction, the Nhon Trach access road has only just completed land handover. Similarly, in component project 3 (11.2km), also passing through Nhon Trach district, the land has not yet been fully handed over.

Mr. Nguyen The Phong, acting Chairman of the People's Committee of Nhon Trach district, said that there are still some households facing difficulties, so the district will continue to disseminate information and persuade them.

Besides the two inter-regional connectivity projects mentioned above, Dong Nai province also has provincial projects that, despite being due for completion in 2024, still lack land clearance, including: the central arterial road of Bien Hoa City, Thong Nhat Bridge, Vam Cai Sut, and Huong Lo 2.

According to Mr. Ngo The, Director of the Dong Nai Provincial Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transportation Projects, the investor of these projects, due to the failure to hand over the land in time, the projects could not be completed in 2024 as planned. The unit was forced to request approval to adjust the projects and extend the implementation time.

Similarly, a representative from Lizen, the contractor for the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, stated that they have mobilized machinery and personnel to work on component project 2, the section passing through Long Thanh, but the land handover is fragmented, making rapid implementation impossible.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Director of the Project Management Board for Component 2 of the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, said that the land handover was fragmented and not contiguous, making construction difficult. The local authorities handed over about 54% of the land, but in reality, only about 43% has been cleared for construction. The remaining area is only cleared because residents have not yet received compensation.

The details regarding supervision, rewards, and punishments have not yet been announced.

At the closing ceremony of the first "30-day and night" land clearance campaign for the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway in June 2024, Mr. Vo Tan Duc, acting Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province, stated that the expressway passes through two localities, with the section through Ba Ria - Vung Tau already having its land handed over and many sections of the road soon to be paved. Therefore, the provincial leadership is urging units and localities to accelerate land clearance even further, working day and night, including weekends and holidays. "If the land handover is delayed, and by April 30, 2025, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province opens the expressway, and vehicles reach the border with Dong Nai and then turn onto National Highway 51, Dong Nai will be very embarrassed," Mr. Duc said.

Locals are ceding land for the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway and reviewing the route and land clearance plan.

Dong Nai province subsequently extended the "30-day and night" land clearance campaign for key projects in the province until July 30th, assigning the Department of Internal Affairs to implement regulations on supervision, rewards, and penalties for units and individuals involved in signing the agreements.

However, land clearance for these key projects is still incomplete. Dong Nai province has not yet announced how it will monitor, reward, and penalize those responsible for land clearance in the localities.