Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have unveiled plans to demolish a series of projects in District 7 due to unauthorized construction or other building violations, including a 491-square-meter section atop the Lotte Mart shopping center.

In District 7, plenty of illegally-built properties covering thousands of square meters have existed for years irrespective of fines and penalties imposed by local authorities.

At the Lotte Mart shopping center, the illegally-constructed part remains in place despite a fine of VND40 million (US$1,584) and a demolition order issued in May 2018.

A representative of Lotte Vietnam, the operator of the shopping center, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the firm would write to the administration in Tan Hung Ward, where the mall is located, to announce its plan to remove the illegally-built part.

The company promised to complete the job before May 31.

Lotte Vietnam blamed its delay in demolishing the section to changes in personnel responsible for the task.

The part is currently linked to a supermarket, so it can be pulled down at night only. 

In addition, an around-the-clock parking area spanning 420 square meters under the Him Lam Bridge and an eatery at 164 D1 Street with an area of 950 square meters were developed without a permit.

However, they have been operating since 2019.

In June last year, the administration in District 7 issued decisions to dismantle the two projects but the parking lot remains there, while the eatery has turned into a coffee shop.

Nguyen Van Nam, vice-chairman of Tan Hung Ward in District 7, told Tuoi Tre that the ward has a plan to coercively clear the parking lot and the coffee shop.

The district has recently sought relevant agencies’ cooperation in handling 96 projects for which dismantlement orders have been made.

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