The Hoa Son Cemetery expansion project (phase 6) is expected to be implemented soon by the local people.

*Area 5, Hoa Khe residential group, was included in the Hoa Son Cemetery expansion plan in 2015. Residents hope to be relocated to a new, stable place of residence soon. Photo: TRONG HUNG*

In late October, heavy rains left the small dirt road leading to the hamlet adjacent to Hoa Son Cemetery completely waterlogged. Following the narrow path to Group 5, Hoa Khe residential area (Hoa Khanh ward), the air was filled with the scent of incense mixed with the damp earth from the densely packed graves. Here, thousands of graves lie next to the homes of dozens of families who have been "stuck" in the middle of the city's largest planned cemetery for nearly a decade.

“My house is less than 10 meters from the cemetery. When it rains heavily, water from the cemetery overflows, and it smells terrible. I was so happy to hear that the city is planning to relocate us… but I don’t know how much longer we’ll have to wait,” said Mrs. Ho Thi Truyen (Hoa Khe residential group), still pulling a tattered tarp to cover the leaky roof. In her small, one-story house, just a few steps away, were rows of tall tombstones.

Observations here reveal that many houses in the neighborhood have been abandoned. The yards are overgrown with grass taller than knee-high. Some families, due to health issues or concerns about their children, have had to move elsewhere, even though they don't know when they'll find a stable place to return to. Right next to him, Mr. Nguyen Guong (64 years old), using a broom to push muddy water away from his porch, said: "Whenever it rains, water from the cemetery flows down, bringing with it garbage, soil, and the remains of flowers used in funeral offerings. Many families here have grown sons who are married but still live together, unable to separate into their own households. The houses are cramped, and we're not allowed to expand them. Life is very suffocating."

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, head of the Hoa Khe residential group, among the 34 households subject to relocation, about 20 households have complete land use rights documents; the remaining 14 households built on production forest land or agricultural land. In addition, there are about 5 households living near the mountain who wish to be relocated along with them due to severe environmental impact, but they are not yet included in the relocation plan. “In the past, local management was sometimes lax, allowing construction to occur in violation of regulations. Therefore, when implementing compensation, each case needs to be carefully reviewed to ensure fairness and transparency. But what the people want most is for it to be done soon. Because they have waited a long time,” Mr. Quang emphasized.

Recently, on October 17, 2025, the People's Committee of Da Nang City issued Decision No. 2066/QD-UBND on the investment policy for the Hoa Son Cemetery Expansion Project (Phase 6) with a total budget of over 151 billion VND.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam , Director of the Department of Construction, the project aims to urgently relocate 34 households currently living interspersed within the cemetery area; and at the same time, allocate land to serve the relocation of the An Phuoc Vien Crematorium due to the impact of the North-South High-Speed Railway project.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Huy, Director of the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transportation and Agricultural Works (the investor), stated: Through on-site inspection, it was found that 34 households in Group 5, Hoa Khe residential area, are currently living interspersed within the Hoa Son cemetery. Many households are only a few meters from the graves, with houses and graves densely packed together, failing to maintain adequate environmental sanitation distances. This poses risks to water and air quality and directly impacts health, daily life, and the urban landscape.

Many houses in the neighborhood have been abandoned, with grass growing taller than knee-high in the yards. Some families, worried about the health and well-being of their children, have moved elsewhere, even though they don't know when they will find stable housing to return to. Photo: TRONG HUNG

According to Mr. Huy, the overcrowding at many cemeteries in the city in recent times has made it difficult to relocate graves to make way for the construction of key projects. Therefore, expanding Hoa Son Cemetery is an urgent requirement to meet practical needs and simultaneously address long-standing issues regarding the landscape, environment, and livelihoods of people in the affected area. In addition, the An Phuoc Vien Crematorium is currently located within the area requiring land clearance for the North-South High-Speed Railway Project, as per Resolution No. 172/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly. Therefore, allocating new land to maintain the operation of this facility is also a mandatory task that needs to be implemented simultaneously.

It is known that the Hoa Son Cemetery expansion project (phase 6) consists of two component projects. The land clearance and resettlement project has a total capital of over 89 billion VND, implemented by the City's Land Fund Development Center. The infrastructure construction project for the cemetery expansion has an investment of over 62 billion VND, implemented by the Da Nang Investment and Construction Project Management Board for Transportation and Agriculture Projects. According to the city's cemetery development orientation until 2030, with a vision to 2045, Hoa Son Cemetery will have a total area of 276.35 hectares, of which 63.35 hectares is the expansion, aiming to create a comprehensive, modern, and centralized burial area in line with the city's development orientation for a civilized urban environment.

On behalf of the local authorities, Mr. Huynh Anh Vu, Chairman of the Hoa Khanh Ward People's Committee, emphasized: "What the people most desire right now is a new, stable place to live, convenient for their children's education and daily life. We are committed to cooperating closely when a concrete plan is available. The people have waited too long, and the local authorities are deeply concerned."

Source: https://baodanang.vn/du-an-mo-rong-nghia-trang-hoa-son-giai-doan-6-nguoi-dan-mong-som-duoc-trien-khai-3308491.html