Expedite the relocation of residents in the flood-prone area of ​​Hoa Lam.

A nightmare every rainy and stormy season.

Following the small road leading down to the Hoa Lam residential area, Hung Hoa 1 block, Truong Vinh ward, both sides are lined with single-story houses that have been weathered by time. Many houses show peeling paint on the walls, foundations lower than the road level, and old tiled roofs covered in moss. On many walls, the marks of previous floods are still visible, serving as a reminder to the residents of the devastating natural disasters that have passed.

This area was settled in the 1960s and 70s, associated with families who made their living by fishing on the lower reaches of the Lam River. The river has sustained generations, but it is also the same river that brings annual floods, leaving the lives of the people constantly precarious.

Most recently, the rainy season of 2025 remains vividly etched in the minds of the local people. Heavy rains lasting for days, coupled with upstream flooding, caused the Lam River to rise rapidly and become murky. The boats, once used for fishing, became the only means of transportation for the residents.

Mr. Dau Van Lap, a resident of Hoa Lam residential area, still hasn't forgotten the moment his entire family had to pack up their belongings in the middle of the night to evacuate. "We've lived here for so many years, and every year there's been flooding, but last year was the worst. The water rose so quickly, at times almost reaching the roof. We only managed to grab essential items before leaving. All our belongings, livestock, and property were left to the mercy of the water…"

In previous years, local authorities deployed youth volunteers to help protect residents' property, but the historic flood of 2025 forced a change in approach. The immense risk to safety led the Truong Vinh ward authorities to decide to evacuate all residents from the area. Gone were the days of a few young volunteers staying in the floodwaters; everyone had to leave the flooded zone. Those with the means found temporary shelter with relatives, while the rest were housed in the community center within the dike. This marked the first time the entire Hoa Lam residential area was completely evacuated.

Looking at the houses silently submerged in the floodwaters, many people couldn't help but feel heartbroken. Because behind each house lay countless possessions, the fruits of a lifetime's hard work.

Notably, the lives of the people in Hoa Lam have been trapped in a vicious cycle for many years. Their houses are dilapidated, but they cannot afford major repairs because they are located in an area designated for relocation. Building new houses is also not allowed, and temporary repairs only provide enough to get them through each rainy and stormy season.

Faced with the reality that the people of Hoa Lam had to live in a flood-prone area for many consecutive years, frequently suffering severe impacts every rainy season, in 2012, the Provincial People's Committee implemented the Project to Build Infrastructure for a Resettlement Area to urgently relocate people from the disaster-prone area of ​​Hung Hoa commune, Vinh City. On November 19, 2013, the project was officially approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 5476/QD-UBND-NN, covering an area of ​​3.3 hectares in Thuan Hoa hamlet, inside the Lam River dike, directly opposite the existing Hoa Lam residential cluster. The initial goal was to resettle 58 households, helping people stabilize their lives and gradually end the annual flooding crisis.

However, due to numerous difficulties, especially a lack of funding, the project was delayed for many years and only officially commenced in 2020. During the waiting period for implementation, the number of households in Hoa Lam continued to increase from 58 to over 80, making the project's scale no longer suitable for the reality and forcing authorities to repeatedly adjust the resettlement plan.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuyet, Head of Hung Hoa 1 Block, said that the resettlement project has been eagerly awaited by the people for many years, but the implementation process has had to be adjusted many times due to the increase in the number of households and procedural obstacles, causing the progress to be longer than expected. During this waiting period, the lives of the Hoa Lam households remain intertwined with the insecurity of the rainy and stormy seasons. The people only hope that the relevant authorities will continue to resolve the remaining difficulties so that the project can be completed soon, helping people stabilize their lives and no longer live in constant fear of flooding every time the rainy season arrives...

Expedite the relocation process.

After more than a decade of waiting, the long-awaited goal of the Hoa Lam residential area has finally seen significant progress in 2026. Accordingly, on July 7, 2026, the People's Committee of Truong Vinh Ward issued Decision No. 1510/QD-UBND approving the plan for the resettlement of 34 households (Phase 1) in the Hoa Lam residential cluster.

To date, the People's Committee of the ward is in the process of issuing decisions on land reclamation and land allocation to 33 eligible households; the remaining household is being guided to complete the land-related procedures before the land reclamation and allocation process takes place.

According to reporters' observations, in early August 2026, at the resettlement area, out of the 34 households allocated for resettlement in the first phase, approximately 16 households have already begun groundbreaking ceremonies and are preparing to build their houses. After years of watching the resettlement area's infrastructure being completed but being unable to move in, the people of Hoa Lam have now begun laying the first bricks for their new lives.

As one of the households on the list to be allocated land in the first phase, Ms. Dau Thi Nam could not hide her emotion as she stood on the plot of land where her family would build their new house.

"My family has been waiting for this day for a long time. For years, we've heard about the project being launched, and then we had to wait. Every year during the rainy season, we worry; we get anxious whenever we see the sky turning cloudy and it starts to rain. Now that we've received the land and can build a house, the whole family is happy. We just hope to finish the house as soon as possible so we don't have to flee from floods anymore," Mrs. Nam shared.

However, joy is mixed with concerns. The current high construction costs are forcing many families to carefully consider their options. The prices of building materials and labor have increased significantly compared to when the project was launched. For many households facing financial difficulties, building a new home is a considerable burden. Therefore, alongside the joy of receiving land, many residents also hope to continue receiving attention and support from all levels of government, especially financial assistance for relocation.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Phong, Vice Chairman of the Truong Vinh Ward People's Committee, said that the locality has completed the approval of the first phase of resettlement plans for 34 eligible households. For the remaining cases, the Ward People's Committee is continuing to review and finalize the necessary documents and procedures, while also reporting and seeking guidance from the Provincial People's Committee and relevant authorities to implement the plan as soon as possible.

"This project is of particular importance to the lives of the people of Hoa Lam. The local authorities are focusing on coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to resolve the remaining difficulties and obstacles, striving to complete the relocation of all households in 2026, helping people to quickly stabilize their lives in the new resettlement area," Mr. Phong emphasized.

Most recently, on July 29, 2026, the People's Committee of Truong Vinh Ward continued to issue Official Letter No. 3625 to Vinh City Power Company and Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company requesting support in connecting electricity and water to the resettlement area, ensuring that when people complete their houses, they will have all the essential infrastructure to stabilize their lives.

The relocation of the first 34 households is a significant step forward after years of project setbacks, and also lays the groundwork for the local authorities to continue completing procedures for the remaining households. With the determination of the authorities at all levels and the consensus of the people, completing the relocation in 2026 will not only contribute to ensuring the safety of lives and property for people living outside the Lam River dike but also realize the long-held aspiration of Hoa Lam households for a stable and sustainable place to live, a dream they have cherished for over a decade.