The project, which aims to span approximately four square miles, is reportedly impacting more than 4,000 households.
While the Vietnamese government has moved to secure the land through state-mandated compensation and resettlement programs, many families are refusing to comply.
For these residents, the issue is not merely financial; it is a deeply emotional struggle to protect graves that have sat undisturbed for generations.
The human toll of the development is becoming increasingly visible as locals voice their frustration with the rapid, government-led acquisition process.
“The grave of my great-grandparents has been there since 1967, before the establishment of this country,” Xa told The Financial Times.
Other residents, such as local farmer Tran Minh Hai, have echoed this sentiment, emphasising the cultural weight of the situation.
“It’s a spiritual thing,” Hai noted, highlighting why many in the community remain steadfast in their opposition to the project. »