Projects "shelved" for many years
According to records of Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, there are currently many projects in Thanh Hoa province, including "super projects" that are behind schedule. In particular, some projects have been "overshadowed" for decades, just vacant land.
Typically, the Thanh Son Cement Plant Project (in Ngoc Lac commune, Thanh Hoa province), was granted an investment certificate by Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee in 2008. The project has a total estimated investment of more than 1,400 billion VND, with an area of more than 36ha. The investor is Thanh Son Cement Joint Stock Company.
After being handed over the land, the investor built technical infrastructure including workers' houses, surrounding fences, concrete foundation piles and some other auxiliary works. However, by the end of 2010, construction was completely stopped until now.
The project's suspension of implementation, in addition to wasting investment resources, also caused the loss of agricultural production land of hundreds of households that had handed over land before. Up to now, after more than 15 years, this area is still just a vacant lot, messy with unfinished items.
Another project is the 5-star hotel, office, office for lease and commercial service investment project of Cong Thanh Cement Joint Stock Company (in Hac Thanh ward, Thanh Hoa province). After nearly 20 years (from 2007) since the investment policy was approved, the project is still just a vacant lot despite being located in a prime location on Le Loi Avenue - the most beautiful road in Thanh land.
Similarly, the AMC I social housing development project in Quang Thanh ward (old), now Quang Phu ward, Thanh Hoa province, has also been "shelved" for many years.
In 2014, Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee approved the investment of the project with an area of about 22,300m2; of which social housing construction land is about 11,462m2 with about 900 apartments; green land is about 7,441m2; the rest is traffic land of about 3,397m2. The total investment is more than 500 billion VND.
Recorded by the end of December 2025, the investor - AMC Toan Cau Development Joint Stock Company - has only corrugated ironed the land, inside is still a vacant lot, with weeds growing everywhere.
Hundreds of backlog projects, slow progress
According to statistics from Thanh Hoa Department of Finance, the whole province has 423 backlog and prolonged projects. Of which 112 are public investment projects and 311 are direct investment projects.
The main obstacles include: compensation, site clearance; legal procedures on land and planning; capacity of investors and contractors; lack of materials; resettlement arrangement and other reasons.
On December 26, Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee organized a conference to remove difficulties and unlock resources for backlog projects. At the conference, Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hoai Anh requested units and localities to review all assigned projects; clearly report the results of implementation, assess the current situation, and the causes of existence; propose handling solutions, and send them to the Department of Finance before January 15, 2026 for synthesis.
The removal of obstacles must determine a specific roadmap; projects that can be completely resolved should be done immediately; projects with different opinions should supplement dossiers, set a time and implementation plan; if necessary, specialized work can be organized for each difficult project.
Regarding the resolution of difficulties and obstacles for backlog projects in the area, on December 28, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and the working delegation had a working session with the Standing Committee of Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee.
At the working session, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh requested the Provincial Party Committee, Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and agencies to comprehensively review and specifically classify each project: projects that meet the conditions for continued implementation should be facilitated; projects that need adjustment should urgently complete procedures; for projects that violate and are incapable of implementation, they must be resolutely revoked in accordance with legal regulations, not allowed to be dragged on and prolonged.
