Ho Chi Minh City accelerates canal projects by clearing land obstacles

Local authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are clearing land for major canal renovation projects to speed up construction and public investment spending.

Officials in Chánh Hưng and Phú Định wards are reclaiming the northern bank of kênh Đôi. The project covers 4.7km and requires over 7,300 billion VND in investment. To manage the relocation of 1,604 affected people, the Chánh Hưng ward completed the clearance of 800 cases, paying out more than 2,466 billion VND.

The local government used a "skillful mass mobilization" model, forming task forces to help residents resolve legal issues regarding land ownership and inheritance to facilitate faster compensation payments. In the rạch Xuyên Tâm project, authorities in An Nhơn, Bình Thạnh, Gia Định, and Bình Lợi Trung wards completed land handover by the end of June 2026. This 9km project involves nearly 14,000 billion VND for compensation and resettlement for 2,196 affected individuals.

In Bình Thạnh ward, officials launched a 40-day intensive period to review files and resolve resident complaints, resulting in the completion of 874 site handovers. Gia Định ward finished land handover for 869 cases with over 3,900 billion VND in compensation. The project management board for urban infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City says they are using creative models to reclaim land ahead of schedule under the 2024 Land Law.

This approach bypasses waiting periods of 90 to 180 days for land types, allowing for immediate payment to residents who agree to the terms. The city government also adjusted its urban renovation goals, aiming to move 40,000 houses along canals by the end of 2030 with an expected budget of 400,000 billion VND.