The proposal was made after recent landslides on Cam Mountain, posing safety risks for the homestay facilities which were illegally built on steep slopes with temporary structures lacking load-bearing capacity.
According to Chairman of An Hao Commune People's Committee in Tinh Bien Town Town, Trinh Van De, more than 10 such facilities have been built on the mountain. The neighbourhoods near Thuy Liem Lake and the Maitreye Buddha Statue boasts at least seven homestays that are currently in operation and several households that appear to be making preparations to build more facilities.
While homestay owners said that they were helping to boost the local tourism industry, other residents have expressed worries that rampant, unchecked construction could negatively impact the local way of life.
"We've issued fines and warnings to the investors of those facilities, but they just paid the fines and continued operating," Tinh Bien authorities said. "We've reported the situation to the provincial people’s committee and have been asked to manage these projects since late 2022. However, the homestay owners have refused our request to stop operating and remove their facilities. So we're considering forced demolition of these projects."
As the highest mountain in the Mekong Delta, Cam Mountain is a popular tourist destination, home to beautiful natural landscapes and Buddhist pagodas and temples.
