Can Tho proposes pilot project to convert rice paddy land into golf courses.

TPO - Can Tho has a plan to develop several golf course projects, linked to the development of cultural, sports, tourism, and service infrastructure. However, due to the large and widely distributed rice paddy land, the planned golf course locations all have the potential to impact rice fields, making golf course implementation difficult.

Can Tho City has agricultural land accounting for 83% of its total area, with rice paddies making up 55%. According to the Can Tho City Party Committee, after the merger, the city plans to develop several golf course projects, linked to cultural, sports, tourism, and service infrastructure. However, due to the large and widely distributed area of ​​rice paddies, the planned golf course locations are likely to partially impact rice paddies. This creates difficulties in implementing golf course projects, as regulations restrict the use of rice paddies for golf courses.

Can Tho City has a large proportion of agricultural land, primarily used for rice cultivation.

Specifically, Decree 52/2020/ND-CP stipulates that rice paddy land is not permitted for the construction of golf courses and auxiliary facilities, except in certain specific cases in the midland and mountainous regions. The Land Law also stipulates that the State may reclaim land for golf courses, practice areas, landscaping, and administrative facilities, excluding accommodation and services for golfers. Meanwhile, current planning orientations favor the development of golf course projects as integrated complexes, combining tourism , resorts, commerce, and services.

Therefore, Can Tho proposes that the Ministry of Finance suggest to the Government to amend and supplement regulations to allow the use of rice paddy land for golf course construction, or to allow Can Tho to pilot the conversion of a portion of rice paddy land to sports and recreation land for golf course construction in planned locations. Can Tho commits to implementing the land use plan correctly and without affecting the provincial rice paddy land quota...

Can Tho also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to advise competent authorities to amend and supplement regulations on land, in the direction of allowing land acquisition for golf course projects combined with tourism, resort, commercial, and service activities within the scope of the project.

Regarding the Mekong Resort and Tourism Urban Area Project, covering nearly 3,000 hectares with a total investment of over 272,700 billion VND, the project area currently includes over 1,700 hectares of rice paddy land. However, in reality, many areas have been converted by local people to cultivate perennial crops and other land types without formal land use conversion procedures. According to regulations, the project requires the Prime Minister's approval for investment.

In March 2026, Can Tho approved the 1/2000 scale planning and is currently finalizing the project proposal to submit to the Ministry of Finance for appraisal and then to the Prime Minister for approval of the investment policy. The city requests the Prime Minister's attention and direction to relevant ministries and agencies to support the project's early implementation.

Project diagram of the Mekong Tourist Resort Urban Area.

Regarding the above proposals, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has also instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to provide a written response and guidance to the People's Committee of Can Tho City, to be completed before June 10, 2026. This includes a comprehensive compilation of Can Tho's proposals and recommendations during the process of advising and submitting them to competent authorities for consideration and adjustment of the National Land Use Planning and amendment and supplementation of the 2024 Land Law.

The Prime Minister also instructed the Ministry of Finance to take the lead, in coordination with relevant ministries and the People's Committee of Can Tho City, to continue researching and thoroughly assessing the impact and proposing specific mechanisms and policies for the city. This includes mechanisms and policies on land as requested by Can Tho, and to report to the Prime Minister in June 2026.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/can-tho-xin-thi-diem-chuyen-dat-lua-lam-san-golf-post1847891.tpo