Nearly 80 villas were discovered being built against the law on Phu Quoc, a popular tourist island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam.

The Kien Giang People’s Committee, in coordination with the administration of Duong To Commune on Phu Quoc and relevant agencies, recently inspected construction and housing projects in the commune.

The delegation discovered 79 villas being built illegally on land managed by the state.

The construction of many of the villas appeared to have been finished, while the roads around them were already built.

Only one of these villas has an owner.

The officials decided to block these roads and ordered the cessation of the construction.

They also requested the local electricity company to cut power supply to the villas.

Local authorities required relevant organizations and individuals to submit documents proving the legitimate sale, purchase, and transfer of land in the area prior to September 30.

“Suitable penalties will be imposed after the violations are confirmed,” said Le Quoc Anh, vice-chairman of the Kien Giang People’s Committee.

The People’s Committee in Duong To Commune previously stated that it discovered 12 unlawfully-built villas on land managed by the state in 2019 and ordered the dismantling of the residences.

Local organizations and individuals might have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to build more villas illicitly, the administration stated.

In late August, the developer of an illegal 12-story hotel construction on Phu Quoc Island was fined VND61.5 million (US$2,600) and required to pull down the building within 10 days.

Earlier the same month, Phu Quoc authorities also ordered the removal of illegal constructions in the protected maritime areas located in the southern part of the island.

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