On October 17, Lam Dong Vice Chairmen Vo Ngoc Hiep and Nguyen Minh met relevant agencies to review relocation and resettlement plans for residents affected by the Ca Ty River embankment project in Phan Thiet Ward.
The project, stretching from Duc Thanh Bridge to Ung Van Khiem Road, aims to strengthen flood protection, improve climate resilience and restore the river environment.
It will reinforce riverbanks, dredge the riverbed to improve drainage and reduce flooding, and upgrade the urban landscape opposite the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
Once completed, the project is expected to improve water circulation, maintain water levels during low tides and create opportunities for cultural, tourism and recreational activities.
Lam Dong officials inspect riverside homes along the Ca Ty River by boat ahead of the planned embankment project. (Photo: Nguyen Thanh/VNA)
The affected area, commonly known as the "stilt-house neighbourhood", is home to hundreds of households who have lived in makeshift structures along the river for decades.
Many homes were built on land gradually reclaimed from the river using discarded seashells. The neighbourhood lacks proper roads and essential infrastructure, while unsafe electrical connections pose fire risks.
Untreated wastewater and household rubbish are often discharged directly into the river, contributing to pollution and poor living conditions.
Many residents, most of whom depend on fishing and other maritime activities, said they supported relocation but hoped the authorities would provide suitable housing and ensure continued access to their livelihoods.
Hoang Van Dong, deputy director in charge of the Phan Thiet Area Construction Investment Project Management Board, said the embankment project has a total investment of VND 486 billion.
It requires the acquisition of 37,546 square metres of land involving six organisations and 338 households.
The project will require the relocation of 567 households, with resettlement planned across 137 residential plots and 430 apartments at the Ca Ty development.
However, resettlement remains a major obstacle as the Ca Ty apartment complex is not yet complete and is scheduled for completion on December 30, 2026.
Authorities have also yet to determine the sale, rent-to-own and rental prices for the apartments, delaying the preparation of resettlement arrangements.
Land clearance has also fallen behind schedule. Although the local land development agency had committed to completing property inventories by September, only 72 of 344 land acquisition notices had been processed.
The completed files have been forwarded to Phan Thiet Ward authorities for verification of land ownership and origin.
Vice Chairman Nguyen Minh said the project was urgent, stressing that residents should not be left living in unsafe and polluted conditions for generations.
He instructed Phan Thiet Ward authorities to accelerate land verification and complete the pending files in October.
The ward must also coordinate with relevant agencies to approve resettlement arrangements within the same month.
Vice Chairman Vo Ngoc Hiep called for a review of apartment prices to ensure they were affordable for displaced households.
He suggested offering several options, including outright purchase, rent-to-own and rental accommodation, to ease the financial burden on residents.
He also urged agencies to speed up contractor selection and land clearance so construction could begin.
Earlier that day, the two vice chairmen travelled by boat along the Ca Ty River to inspect the proposed embankment site and assess the living conditions of affected households.