Land along the Van Kiep-Bach Dang corridor is now being cleared. Families who once lived there have relocated to different parts of the city while waiting to rebuild their homes.

Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, 55, rents a two-story house for VND7 million a month near her old home to avoid disrupting her grandchild’s schooling. She says the VND10 million a month the government gives in support is enough to cover expenses. She plans to build a house on an 80-square-meter plot in Dong Anh commune when she gets it.

Another resident, Lan, 78, who lived in Alley 695 Van Kiep, has moved in with her daughter. She will get VND20 million in monthly support for four months. “I’m saving the money to build my new house,” she says.

Part of a residential area in Van Kiep, Hong Ha Ward, is being demolished on May 28, 2026 to make way for an access road to the Tran Hung Dao Bridge. Photo by Quynh Duong

Waiting for resettlement infrastructure

Displaced households have been allocated resettlement options in Thu Lam Commune or apartments in Thuong Thanh Ward.

Land in Thu Lam is priced at around VND11 million per square meter, while apartments cost VND30 million per square meter. Depending on the size of land they had and number of family members, some households may be eligible to buy additional apartments.

While temporary accommodation is an immediate concern, rebuilding life in the resettlement area is the actual and long-term challenge.

Linh says Thu Lam Commune lacks electricity, water, and clearly marked plot boundaries. Nhat and his wife share the same concerns.

“We were told that local authorities in Thu Lam Commune would hand over the site within two weeks, but now three weeks have passed and we still haven’t received any updates,” he said.

Pham Trong La, chairman of the Thu Lam People’s Committee, says the commune is upgrading electricity and water supply, and the work is expected to be completed before June 15.

The commune has handed over 412 of the 719 resettlement plots allocated to residents of Hong Ha, Bo De, and Tay Ho wards. This weekend, 48 land-use certificates will be issued to evacuees from Bo De Ward, and around 100 to Hong Ha people next week.

Le Hong Thang, chairman of the Hong Ha people’s committee, says the ward had proposed six months of rental support because construction of a new home would take that time, but the city only approved for three months citing current policy guidelines. The ward would pass on people’s concerns to higher authorities, he promised.

Bui Van Thang, 69, received more than VND2 billion in compensation. So, after buying an 80-square-meter plot in the resettlement area, he still money left over to build a new house. He is currently renting housing for more than VND10 million a month.

“I’ll continue renting in the city center for another six months so my grandchildren can finish their final school year,” he says.

His younger sister, Bui Thi Lan, 67, rents a tiny room for VND 3.5 million a month. Although she owned a 21-square-meter house in the area, she was not living there before the relocation and therefore was not eligible for temporary housing support. She received more than VND900 million in compensation for the property.

After buying an 80-square-meter plot in Dong Anh, she has VND80 million left. “I still don’t have a plan for building a house on the new land,” she says.