Hanoi city
authorities have decided to suspend the construction of 11 out of 19 golf
courses whose investors were found developing works other than golf courses on
the designated land.
Under the
decision by the Hanoi People's Committee's, the investors must contact the
city's Department of Planning and Architecture in the first quarter for specific
instructions on how to modify their projects, Vietnam Economic Times
reported on Saturday.
Those
investors who failed to do so would forfeit their rights to the projects, it
said.
Construction on the project will not be allowed to resume until the capital's
new zoning and construction plan is approved, according to the news source. The
major plan was expected to obtain approval this June at the earliest.
The moves
aim to adjust the scale and business objectives of golf course complexes, and it
also aims to separate real estate projects from sports complexes, local
newspaper An Ninh Thu Do reported, adding that it would also help local
authorities save land and manage the projects more efficiently.
Golf
courses accounted for only 35 percent of the 6,362 hectares of land distributed
to golf course projects, according to Hanoi People's Committee.
Other 65
percent of the land had been used for hotels, trade centers, tourism sites and
other facilities.
As golf
course projects were given generous land, usually over 200 hectares each, and
low taxes, many investors used designated and for other businesses like
hospitality and real estate, An Ninh Thu Do said.