Illegal construction on Red River islet under investigation in Hanoi

The site, located under Nhat Tan Bridge about 11km from downtown Hanoi, has been partially excavated and transformed with multiple man-made ponds and nearly a dozen structures, despite its isolation from the mainland.

Officials from Phu Thuong Ward in Tay Ho District and Vinh Ngoc Commune in Dong Anh District said on Tuesday they were working to identify violators and prepare enforcement action.

Both local governments claim overlapping jurisdiction due to shifting riverbanks and unclear boundary markers.

“We’ve coordinated with Dong Anh authorities before but couldn’t find official demarcations,” said Tran Trinh Hoang Long, deputy chairman of Phu Thuong Ward.

“We’ve now prepared case files for the areas under our control and will work with Vinh Ngoc on the rest.”

The land was previously used by a cooperative for growing vegetables and fruit.

Authorities estimate four to five structures have been illegally built on the Phu Thuong side.

Notices have been posted warning against unauthorized land-use changes.

Long added that it was unclear how heavy equipment reached the site, as crossing this part of the river is difficult.

In Vinh Ngoc, authorities said construction has stopped, though two artificial ponds remain.

“We traveled by boat to issue warnings, disconnect power, and record violations,” said commune chairman Hoang Van Thuy.

Thuy said the violators are not local residents.

“When we arrived, the property owners were gone—only workers and machine operators were present,” he added.

Officials say removing concrete posts and restoring the land will be challenging due to the location’s isolation.