PV:We know that since 2015, when the Ho Chi Minh Highway was officially opened, the Tea Island area in Thanh An and Thanh Thinh communes has become an attractive destination for tourists from inside and outside the province. Since then, Thanh Chuong district has aspired to turn this land into a key tourist area, contributing to promoting socio-economic development. In 2017, Cienco4 was approved by the Provincial People's Committee for investment policy and detailed construction planning at a scale of 1/2000 to implement the Cau Cau mixed-use tourism, service and resort project. Could you please tell me, at that time, how did the officials and people of Thanh Chuong district feel about the investor and the project?
Mr. Trinh Van Nha:The Tea Island area of Thanh An and Thanh Thinh communes is a scenic spot with great tourism potential. With the favor of nature and the labor of the people, the Cau Cau dam reservoir area has beautiful, consecutively connected tea oases, which can be compared to a Ha Long Bay on land. Therefore, in 2017, when the Provincial People's Committee officially selected Cienco4 as the investor to implement the Cau Cau mixed-use tourism, service and resort project, the local officials and people were very happy, all of them had the same thought that if this project was implemented, the tourism potential of the Tea Island would be exploited, making a great contribution to the socio-economic development of Thanh Chuong district, and people's lives would also be improved by the impact of the project.
PV:The reality of the past 6 years shows that Cienco4 has not made any move to implement the project as they promised and committed when requesting the provincial authorities to allow the project to be implemented. So, I would like to ask you, at this time, what do the officials and people of Thanh Chuong district think about this project and this investor?
Mr. Trinh Van Nha:Immediately after Cienco4 was approved by the Provincial People's Committee for investment, Thanh Chuong district focused on implementing the contents of the first phase of the project. That is, counting the number of households, making a plan to recover land to compensate and clear the area planned to build a reception area in the Tea Island area. However, up to now, this content and the project implementation roadmap according to the approved plan have not been implemented by Cienco4. The locality and people really want Cienco4 to pay attention to investing, but 6 years have passed... During that time, the district has also sent many documents to the province, requesting to consider and evaluate this investor, if they are not determined, then call on other investors to implement the project.
PV:From the verification of a number of cases of unauthorized conversion of forestry land use purposes and illegal construction of works in the planning area of Cau Cau Tourism, Mixed Services and Resort Project, Nghe An Newspaper has found that the situation of suspended projects has caused many consequences, potentially leading to the risk of breaking the planning and possibly leading to the loss of staff. What do you think about this issue?
Mr. Trinh Van Nha:It can be said that the incidents occurring in the Tea Island area are disrupting the planning, which is very worrying. In tourism development, people doing tourism and tourism products are very important. If this situation continues, the local authorities at the two levels of Thanh Chuong district will face many difficulties. Because when citizens spontaneously build illegal works, they will destroy the planning, violate the law, and the consequences will be that when the project is implemented, they will encounter many difficulties. Therefore, when discovered, the district must handle the citizens who violate, in addition, it will also have to consider disciplining the relevant officials. After all, all development is aimed at the interests of the people, and Thanh Chuong district must be responsible for taking care of the legitimate interests of the people. Therefore, it is hoped that the province will soon make a decision so that the project can be implemented, Tea Island can become a tourist destination, contributing to promoting socio-economic development.
PV:According to documents accessed by Nghe An Newspaper, in March 2023, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to preside over and coordinate with a number of relevant departments, branches and the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district to work with Cienco4. At this meeting, the Department of Planning and Investment concluded, reported, and recommended that the Provincial People's Committee consider approving an extension for Cienco4, with a deadline of October 2024 to complete the project. From now until October 2024, there are only about 14 months left, with this time frame and with reality showing that it is difficult to complete the land acquisition and site clearance of many construction items of the project with a total investment determined in 2017 of 1,532 billion VND. The People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district also attended the meeting on March 27, 2023. What do you think about the issue of "extension" according to the conclusion and report of the Department of Planning and Investment?
Mr. Trinh Van Nha:In fact, the Department of Planning and Investment recommended the Provincial People's Committee to consider extending the project because according to the law, it is allowed to extend. It should also be mentioned that, in parallel with the recommendation to the Provincial People's Committee to extend the project, the Department of Planning and Investment also requested the investor to deposit a guarantee to implement the project. However, we can all see that with the extension period until October 2024, it is impossible to complete the project. This is because the remaining time is very short, while the workload is very large. Regarding this project, honestly speaking, Thanh Chuong district really wants to accompany the investor Cienco4, but over a long period of time they have not implemented it. Therefore, it is time for Cienco4 to have a clear opinion, whether to implement it or not, so that the final result is to promote the tourism potential of Tea Island.
PV:The detailed construction plan 1/2000 of Cau Cau Tourism, Mixed Services and Resort project was approved in 2017, up to now, 6 years have passed. It can be said that this is a long enough period of time to have changes in thinking in economic development. In your opinion, is this plan still suitable for the existing space of the Tea Island area?
Mr. Trinh Van Nha:I can confirm that in 2017, the 1/2000 detailed construction plan of the Cau Cau mixed-use tourism, service and resort project was basically suitable for developing tourism in the Thanh An and Thanh Thinh Tea Island areas. However, in the past 6 years, having traveled to many neighboring provinces and tourist areas across the country, I have realized that to develop tourism on a large scale, there must be large, professional investors with a vision far and wide enough. Tea Island has a very favorable location, only about 1 hour drive from Vinh city, right next to Ho Chi Minh road, conveniently connecting major tourist destinations of the province such as Cua Lo beach, Bac's hometown, Truong Bon...; in the future, it will also connect with the Vientiane - Hanoi expressway. Therefore, from a planning perspective, if it continues to be implemented, it is necessary to adjust and expand the space to create a tourist highlight not only for Thanh Chuong but also for Nghe An province.
PV: If Cienco4 is still considered as a plan to implement the Tea Island Tourist Area, but in case this plan continues to develop as it has in the past 6 years, has Thanh Chuong district considered any plan to propose to the competent authority, sir?
Mr. Trinh Van Nha:In fact, Thanh Chuong province and district are still creating opportunities for Cienco4 if they are really determined. But with the extension until October 2024, it is very difficult for Cienco4 to meet the requirements. Therefore, the province and district have had new directions, and have also introduced the potential of Tea Island to a number of large investors, truly professional in the field of tourism investment and development. Thanh Chuong district alone has approached Xuan Truong Group, inviting them to come and survey the Tea Island. During the visit to Tea Island, the head of Xuan Truong Group expressed his desire to invest if we create opportunities for them to invest here.
PV: Thank you for taking the time to speak with Nghe An Newspaper!
