Doan Van Ngoc, 59, clears his home in Phuoc Tuan Ward in the southern city to transfer land to project developers.
Ngoc, one of the first affected residents to relocate, has moved to a resettlement area 10 km away, though his family has not yet built a house there.
"We don't have a new house yet, but I encouraged my family to settle temporarily. It's a bit challenging, but it will help the expressway project move forward sooner," he said.
Bien Hoa Party Chief Ho Van Nam (R) thanks Tran Thi Phu for handing over her family's land.
Hundreds of affected families have agreed to hand over their land within this month, allowing construction to proceed. The land clearance is expected to be completed next month.
Despite not yet securing a resettlement plot, Dang Thi Thanh Huyen, 51, relocates after receiving compensation for assets on her land.
"We've lived here for a long time, and though we haven't found a new place yet, we prioritize following government policies for the city's benefit," Huyen said.
Doan Phuoc Thai prepares to relocate after receiving a land acquisition notice from the government.
Despite having signed a two-year lease on a 100-square-meter plot for a mechanical workshop, Thai accepted relocation.
"Even though my business was just getting started, I'm willing to comply for the greater good," he said, as he worked on moving his machinery to a new location.
Thai hired heavy-duty cranes to move equipment, meeting the Feb. 24 deadline to hand over his site to developers.
Developers used cranes to demolish vacated homes, clearing land for expressway construction.
On Feb. 24, dozens of homes near the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway and Vo Nguyen Giap intersection were officially handed over.
In Tam Phuoc Ward, families voluntarily demolished their homes after receiving resettlement plots in Long Thanh District.
Nguyen Van Ho dismantled his home, which included eight rental rooms, as part of the relocation.
While waiting to build a new house in the resettlement area, his family received temporary housing support of VND3 million ($120) under Dong Nai Province's policy.
Despite progress, land clearance for the expressway in Bien Hoa City faces challenges related to compensation rates and resettlement policies.
Issues include compensation for homes on agricultural land and properties built on land purchased through handwritten agreements without official ownership certificates.
The 6.2-kilometer Bien Hoa segment requires 59.5 hectares of land, affecting more than 1,500 households—including 1,100 in Phuoc Tan Ward and 360 in Tam Phuoc Ward. To date, nearly 42 hectares (70%) of land have been cleared.
A construction site for the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway in Bien Hoa City.
Construction began in mid-June 2023 with a total investment of VND17.8 trillion ($725 million). The expressway spans 54 kilometers and features four to six lanes.
Dong Nai Province manages the first 16 km, the Ministry of Transport oversees the second 18.2 km and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province is responsible for the final 19.5 km.
The two provinces are in charge of overseeing land clearance efforts.
Construction is 70% complete for the section managed by Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, 20% for the section under the Ministry of Transport, and 5% for the one handled by Dong Nai.
