Department of Agriculture and Environment responds to information
After the newspaper was published, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment issued a written response to Lao Dong Newspaper.
On May 26, 2025, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tan, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment signed document No. 2580/SNNMT-TTr on information on the use of land lot A3 of Cau Giay new urban area, Dich Vong ward, Cau Giay district.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, on October 13, 2021, the Hanoi People's Committee issued Decision No. 4438/QD - People's Committee on extending land use for 24 months for the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) for the National Telecommunications Trading and Operation Center Construction Investment Project at Lot A3 of Cau Giay New Urban Area, Dich Vong Hau Ward.
The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment chaired an interdisciplinary team to conduct a post-inspection on this issue. According to the post-inspection results, up to now, the land has been allocated to VNPT for an extension period without putting the land into use.
However, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has advised and was decided by the Chairman of the City People's Committee to apply the force majeure time not to be included in the time of extension of land use for investment projects to build the National Telecommunications Transaction Center at Lot A3 of Cau Giay New Urban Area, Dich Vong Hau Ward, invested by the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group as the investor (as prescribed at Point e, Clause 1, Article 31 of Decree No. 31/ND-CP dated 30.2024 coverage).
According to the provisions of Point e, Clause 1, Article 31 of Decree No. 102/2024/ND-CP, it is stipulated as follows: Administrative decisions and administrative acts of competent state agencies are objective obstacles, not due to the fault of the land user, directly affecting land use.
Regarding the issue of land allocation, VNPT representative also said that on April 2, 2025, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment (DONRE) issued Inspection Conclusion No.7/KL-SNNMT on the implementation of the Inspection Conclusion and Decision to extend land use for 24 months for VNPT Group in using land at lot A3. On April 10, 2025, the Hanoi People's Committee issued Document No. 1352/UBND-NNMT on the management and use of land by VNPT at lot A3, Cau Giay new urban area, Dich Vong Hau ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi.
VNPT said that in 2025, if the Hanoi People's Committee extends the land use period, VNPT will review and adjust the contents of the project in accordance with current regulations with the scale and total investment as approved.
Thus, it can be seen that by the time the Department of Agriculture and Environment responded to Lao Dong Newspaper, VNPT's land plot was not clear whether it could be extended or not? and when will it be extended? Because a prime land plot located in the middle of the capital has been cleared, has been allocated land, extended land use but has not been implemented, it both causes loss of urban beauty and poses a potential risk of increasing costs and causing waste?
No response to capital increase
Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper reported that the National Telecommunication Trading and Operation Center Project, invested by Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), was planned to be implemented in 2010.
The project is located on lot A3, Cau Giay new urban area, Dich Vong Hau ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, and is expected to play a central role in the management and operation of the national telecommunications network.
However, according to a survey by Lao Dong Newspaper reporters in April and May 2025, this land is still an empty lot fenced with corrugated iron. Observation from above shows overgrown weeds, inside there are many scraps such as old rubber tires, household waste, there is no sign that the construction site is under construction.
According to documents from Lao Dong Newspaper, this project has a sudden increase in capital compared to 2024. According to VNPT's general target report and 2024 business plan, the project at lot A3 is included in the list of unfinished group A projects, and will be transferred to 2024 for continued implementation, with a total investment (including VAT) of more than VND 2,796 billion.
However, in the general target report and business plan for 2025, VNPT said that the total investment of this project is more than VND 4,213 billion, an increase of more than VND 1,417 billion compared to 2024.
Not only increasing capital, the disbursement progress of the project also has a notable adjustment in VNPT's own reports.
At the report on evaluation of the results of the implementation of the production and business plan in 2022 (signed on June 29, 2023), the total value of the project was recorded as VND 94 billion. However, in the report in 2023 (signed on 24.6.2024) after 1 year, the value of implementation decreased to 68 billion dong - ie by 26 billion dong compared to the previous year report.
Reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper have contacted VNPT many times to learn about the total investment of the project and the disbursement process, but so far the unit has not responded to this issue.
