HCMC - The People’s Council of Quang Ngai Province has approved a plan to convert nearly 83 hectares of three-needle pine forest for the development of the Mang Den Urban Area No.1 project.

At its session on April 24, the council endorsed the conversion of production forest land, currently managed by Kon Plong Forestry Company and the Mang Den Commune People’s Committee. The project, developed by Sun World Group Co., will span 264.4 hectares and require a total of VND6.6 trillion (around US$260 million). The planned site is bordered by Ly Thai To Street to the east, National Highway 24 to the west, the Dak Po Ne hydropower plant and production forest to the south, and Mang Den downtown area to the north. While approving the investment policy, the council’s appraisal body stressed the need for full compliance with environmental regulations. The council’s economic and budget committee has urged the provincial government to complete a comprehensive environmental impact assessment in line with Government Decree 42, rather than relying on a preliminary report. The requirement aims to ensure the project does not compromise the unique pine forest landscape, considered one of Mang Den’s most valuable ecological assets. The investor has committed to fulfilling obligations on afforestation replacement and submitting detailed surveys on the current status of planted forests. Scheduled for implementation between 2025 and 2034, the project is expected to diversify tourism offerings in the newly expanded Quang Ngai Province while improving infrastructure connectivity between mountainous and coastal areas under an integrated regional development plan. Once completed, the area is envisioned as a multifunctional urban zone with integrated technical and social infrastructure. It will feature sports and wellness facilities, a cultural valley, residential areas, commercial and service centers, and tourism and hospitality developments.