In April last year, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh requested Kien Giang Province authorities to tackle construction infringements on Phu Quoc. He also asked the Government Inspectorate to inspect land use on the island.

After that, provincial authorities set up a task force in charge of dealing with the violations. By late December last year, dozens of illegal construction works were detected and fines issued.

However, to date, lots of the illegally-built works on Phu Quoc still exist, including those using agricultural land. Many projects only removed their advertising boards while their investors have still sold zoned land plots along with road construction.

The Oceanland 11 project in Cua Duong Commune is typical. The project is located on the farming land, but its road system has not yet been destroyed.

Preparations for coastal works which are even situated within the grounds of Phu Quoc Airport seem to be underway.

Another case is the five-star hotel project Sea Shells. It is in Dong Duong Town and opposite to Dong Duong District’s People’s Committee headquarters worth VND300 billion (USD13 million) with 250 zooms.

The project is just three metres from the sea and occupies the space of Cau Temple and the public beach. The hotel was licensed to have a maximum of seven floors but has nine.

Since September last year, Kien Giang authorities have detected 257 construction violations in Phu Quoc, revoking 228,654 square metres.

Hon Thom Commune leads in terms of property violations with 900 cases.