Public frustration lingers as numerous billion-VND projects remain stalled in Vietnam despite repeated calls to revive them.

While the push to unfreeze these long-idled developments has been discussed extensively, actual progress has been slow and insufficient.

In this context, the recent actions taken to address waste and stagnation at the second campuses of Bach Mai and Viet Duc Hospitals in Hanoi have sparked renewed hope.

The ongoing anti-waste campaign may have reached a turning point.

Following a government inspection, the Government Inspectorate has transferred the case files related to these two hospital projects to the Ministry of Public Security for further investigation and accountability.

The inspection, initiated in early January under the direction of Party General Secretary To Lam, marks a critical step in uncovering the causes of prolonged project delays.

However, the ultimate goal goes beyond punishing wrongdoing. What truly matters is reviving these ‘mothballed’ projects – not just turning them into high-profile cases, but setting a precedent and creating a workable process to unblock other stagnant developments.

Only through decisive action can violations and bottlenecks be brought to light – any of which have long been considered ‘sensitive zones.’

This is because such stagnation often stems from errors or misconduct in project approval, investment licensing, and construction regulation by previous decision-makers.

Even after root causes are identified, few are willing to take the initiative to fix things.

Without bold solutions, these projects remain in limbo. What is needed in such cases is not generic remedies, but tailor-made solutions.

As a result, many agencies and individuals have been reluctant to take responsibility, often avoiding or deflecting the issue. And so, efforts to clear the way for stalled projects continue to falter.

Now, however, a potential model for reviving these projects is taking shape, based on the current handling of the two hospital cases.

First, relevant authorities must launch thorough investigations to identify specific violations and assign responsibility to individuals and agencies involved.

At the same time, they must clarify the causes of the deadlock.

If corruption or embezzlement is suspected, the cases should be immediately referred to law enforcement for criminal investigation.

This first step is crucial: those who broke the law must face justice, and those who erred must be held accountable.

Equally vital – and eagerly awaited by the public – is the second step: decisive policy solutions to swiftly remove obstacles and restart these long-stalled projects.

Once those responsible are held to account, there must be a mechanism that empowers today’s officials to make bold decisions.

In some cases, this may require special policies that go beyond existing legal frameworks.

Relying solely on current laws to resolve past wrongdoing often leads nowhere – keeping half-finished developments in limbo.

With the precedent set by the handling of the hospital projects, the next challenge is to scale this approach and breathe new life into other troubled projects.

Reviving wasteful, abandoned developments not only restores much-needed infrastructure and services, but also removes longstanding ‘eyesores’ that continue to frustrate the public.

And this revival process should extend beyond state-funded projects to include those with private or corporate investment – especially in the real estate sector.

Such bold steps are crucial to escalating the battle against waste, for the benefit of both the Vietnamese people and nation.

(VND1 billion = US$38,752)

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!