The stone in Suoi Giang commune, Van Chan district ( metacacbonat stone) has a stripped structure, beautiful colors, and high economic value.
For many years, illegal mining, processing and trading of artisanal stone has been taking place here, with many sophisticated and complicated tricks. As a result, the hills were broken, the mountain rows were dug up and cracked, causing a risk of landslides, threatening people's lives.
According to information from the People's Committee of Yen Bai province, in Suoi Giang commune, Van Chan district, there are two areas that have been granted a mineral exploration license by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. In particular, the stone quarry and construction joint stock company of the Great statue of Buddha Tay Thien was granted on May 24, 2019 with a survey period of 48 months, until May 24, 2023; Viet A Company Limited was granted on December 25, 2019, with an area of 31 hectares, with a survey period of 24 months, until December 25, 2021.
Both areas have expired and have not been granted an exploitation license. In recent years, people have often illegally mined to sell to stone processing facilities in the area to serve market demand.
According to the reporter's research, in Van Chan district, there are about 115 establishments manufacturing and trading fine art stone products. At these facilities, daily trading and consumption are taking place vigorously, with vehicles coming and going busily.
In the areas of exploitation of ornamental stones (mainly in Suoi Giang commune, Van Chan district), although the authorities set up guard posts and warning signs at the entrances or exploitation areas, the situation did not improve.
Faced with the above situation, in early March 2025, the People's Committee of Yen Bai province established a working group to inspect the illegal exploitation, transportation, processing and trading of ornamental stones and handicrafts in Van Chan district.
Speaking with Lao Dong, a leader of Van Chan district said that the working group focused on reviewing and inspecting mainly in Son Thinh town, Suoi Giang commune, Dong Khe commune, where illegal mining, transportation, processing and trading of ornamental stones have occurred a lot in the past time. The inspection process took place within 1 month, aiming to completely handle the illegal mining, processing and trading of this mineral source.
Here, the delegation including the police force and relevant agencies conducted an inspection of compliance with the law of enterprises granted mineral exploration licenses, organizations and individuals processing and trading ornamental stones in Van Chan district.
During the inspection, the team has drawn up records to seize thousands of tons of illegal ornamental stones from organizations and individuals in the area.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy - Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Thinh town, Van Chan district said that there are about 50 bonsai processing facilities in the town, mainly spontaneous households. Handling in the past has encountered many difficulties due to exceeding the authority of the locality.
According to statistics from the People's Committee of Van Chan district, in the past time, Market Management Team No. 1 has seized 995,758 kg of stones; Van Chan District Police have discovered and handled 31 cases against 19 subjects, seized 446,593 kg of ornamental stones, property value: 882 million VND, fined 125 million VND.
Inspection teams established by Van Chan district have handled 37 cases, seized 1,173.45 tons of ornamental stones, and fined violators with a total amount of 198 million VND. The People's Committee of Suoi Giang commune, through setting up a checkpoint in Suoi Lon village and the road to Kang Ky village, seized 727.48 tons of unused raw stone at the mine (2022); 1.5 tons of raw stone, 1 mini-ni drilling machine, and 2 mini-ni stone excavators (2023).
