In brief
In a decision that could reshape environmental management in northern Vietnam, Hanoi’s city council approved the annexation of 4,006 hectares of farmland and forest, home to 1,057 residents, from Phu Tho province. The move brings large stretches of Ba Vi National Park and its buffer zone under city administration to strengthen conservation efforts. The proposal enjoyed 94.97 % support from millions of consulted households and is pending National Assembly approval.
On 28 October 2026, Hanoi’s 17th People’s Council approved a boundary‑adjustment plan that transfers more than 4,000 hectares of land and 1,057 residents from the northern midland province of Phu Tho into the capital, according to Xinhua and VietnamPlus reports. The approved areas include portions of Ba Vi National Park and its buffer zone, involving 2,500 hectares of protected forest and an additional 1,477 hectares near the park’s perimeter.
The plan, announced during the council’s seventh session, aims to align the city’s administrative jurisdiction with park management responsibilities. City officials say the change will improve forest protection, biodiversity conservation, forest fire prevention, water‑resource protection and ecological stewardship, as detailed by the municipal people’s committee.
Numerous residents have been directly affected by the transfer. The adjustment brings the communities of Ba Vi and Yen Xuan communes—home to the 1,057 people—under Hanoi’s governance. The affected households will receive city services and potentially new regulations covering land use, conservation, and urban planning.
Consultations with local families were extensive. The city government reported that more than 2.4 million households, representing 94.97 percent of the total consulted across 126 communes and wards, voted in favor of the proposal. The high level of support reflects a consensus that the boundary change will benefit both the city’s environmental objectives and the residents’ livelihoods.
Environmental officials emphasized that the adjustment will enable more consistent enforcement of national park regulations. By bringing the park’s core and buffer areas under the same municipal authority as the surrounding villages, Hanoi hopes to reduce administrative gaps that could hinder conservation work.
Despite the environmental motives, the boundary change also carries implications for land‑use planning and development. Local planners anticipate that the new administrative zone could attract ecotourism and sustainable economic activities, as noted in a VietnamPlus article that highlighted the city’s intention to boost ecotourism while protecting the park’s ecosystems.
Indigenous populations living within the annexed areas are expected to receive continued support from the city’s social‑services programs. The city’s agency has indicated that it will maintain community outreach initiatives to address any overlap of traditional livelihoods and new environmental policies.
The proposal’s simplicity—centered on transferring land and residents—belies its potential complexity. Some community members expressed concern that city-wide ordinances might replace or limit customary land‑holding practices, though no official objections have yet been recorded.
Officials clarified that the boundary adjustment will take effect only after approval by the National Assembly. The legislative step will solidify the plan and formalize the new jurisdictional boundaries on the public record.
Looking ahead, city planners anticipate that the new administrative alignment will improve coordination among environmental programs, fire‑fighting units, and water‑resource managers. The city also plans to launch a monitoring system for biodiversity indicators within the newly incorporated park zones.
In a wider context, the decision signals Hanoi’s continued effort to balance urban growth, tourism development, and conservation priorities. The city aims to keep ecological integrity while providing improved infrastructure and governance for the local populations that now fall under its jurisdiction.
