Hanoi authorities have ordered that more than 900 construction projects be torn down due to building code violations since January 2010.
According to the Hanoi Department of Construction, this is among 1,700 projects found to have violated city construction regulations during the period.
The project at 55A-55B on Ba Trieu Street
The most common violation was construction sites located on agricultural and public land without having received permission from local authorities, with 1,036 cases. This was followed by illegal extensions, with 558 cases. The remaining 106 did not adhere to the terms of their licenses.
The violations include a housing project at Mo Lao Urban Area in Ha Dong District, some works on Tran Quoc Hoan Street in Cau Giay District. Most notably, a project to build offices and museums at 55A-55B on Ba Trieu Street was licensed for nine storeys, but the investors built 13. They have been ordered to demolish the extra floors.
In suburban areas construction projects without licenses accounted for around 93% of violations. The districts of Quoc Oai, Thach That and Soc Son have seen the highest rate of violators.
The Hanoi Department of Construction has urged local authorities to take action to deal with investors who ignore the law and impose punishments.
