The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) of Ho Chi Minh City has just sent a document to the City People's Committee proposing compensation, support, and resettlement policies for land acquisition projects and relocation of houses on and along canals.

Specifically, land originating from rivers, streams, canals, streams and specialized water surfaces that have been encroached upon, occupied and self-converted for land use purposes will not be compensated but will be considered for land support.

In case of use before July 1, 2014, support is 70% of land compensation price. In case of use from July 1, 2014 onwards, support for land is not included. The land area to calculate support is the area with houses, constructions, and architectural structures.

For the land area not originating from rivers, streams, canals, brooks and specialized water surfaces, compensation, support and resettlement will be calculated according to the regulations at the time of approval of the compensation, support and resettlement plan.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, regarding the minimum resettlement support, the People's Committees of districts, towns, and Thu Duc City will base on the provisions of the 2024 Land Law to resolve resettlement for households. In case of repossession of all houses and residential land that are eligible for compensation for residential land, resettlement will be resolved with land plots or social housing.

In case of land recovery but not eligible for compensation for residential land, if the recovered residential land area is larger than or equal to the local residential land allocation limit, resettlement will be resolved by land plots or social housing, if smaller, only social housing resettlement will be resolved.

Cases that are resolved for resettlement but the compensation and support for residential land is not enough compared to the value of a minimum resettlement quota will be supported by the State enough to be assigned a minimum resettlement quota (in money, residential land, or housing).

In case the total compensation and support value for housing and land that households receive is not enough to pay for the housing value in the resettlement area, the project's Compensation, Support and Resettlement Council will consider allowing households to pay in installments.

In case of resettlement by land, households will pay the total amount of compensation and support for residential land received. The difference between the value of the land allocated to the household and the amount the household initially paid will be recorded as a land use fee debt according to regulations.

In case of resettlement with apartments, households will pay the total amount of compensation, support for housing and land received.

The difference between the value of the arranged residential apartment and the amount of money the household pays in the first installment will be paid in monthly installments with a maximum term of 15 years and calculated based on the average non-term savings deposit interest rate of four state-owned commercial banks (BIDV, Agribank, VietinBank, Vietcombank) on the outstanding balance.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that if approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, this policy will apply to projects implementing compensation, support, and resettlement according to the 2024 Land Law.

The Department will incorporate into the decision of the City People's Committee to issue regulations on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State reclaims land in Ho Chi Minh City (replacing previous Decision No. 28).

The Department also proposed to apply these new policies immediately to the Xuyen Tam Canal project (from Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal to Vam Thuat river) implemented in Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts with about 2,300 households.

Ho Chi Minh City: Pilot program for all households with houses along canals to be allowed to rent or buy social housing To speed up the compensation process in projects to relocate houses on and along canals, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has proposed a pilot program for these households to be allowed to rent or rent to buy social housing.