Hanoi officials to resolve illegal forest land violations near Dong Do Lake

Hanoi authorities have confirmed reports of illegal construction and land use violations within protection forest boundaries near Dong Do Lake in Kim Anh Commune. An investigation revealed that several structures, including a three-story house equipped with a swimming pool and pickleball court, were built by converting protected forest land for other purposes.

Of the six locations inspected, five violations occurred after July 1, 2025. The Hanoi People's Committee has assigned the city administration to resolve these five specific cases by September 5, 2026. Authorities have also identified that primary responsibility for the lack of oversight lies with the Chairman, the Vice Chairman in charge of economic affairs, and the Head of the Economic Department of Kim Anh Commune.

Moving forward, the city has been directed to determine the legal responsibilities of all involved individuals and organizations, conduct further reviews to identify any unreported violations, and strengthen land management to prevent new occurrences.