Vietnam’s Gia Binh Airport project displaces thousands, raising concerns over cultural loss, compensation gaps, and humane relocation efforts.
Newsroom (16/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) As bulldozers advance across the rural landscapes of northern Vietnam, the physical transformation of Bac Ninh province signals progress for some, but profound loss for others. The construction of Gia Binh International Airport—one of the region’s largest infrastructure projects—has triggered the relocation of thousands of residents, exposing the deeply human cost behind national development.
Located about 40 kilometers east of Hanoi, the nearly 2,000-hectare airport site will affect around 7,100 households. Of these, approximately 5,800 families—totaling about 52,000 people—are expected to be relocated as preparations accelerate.
For residents like Joseph Van Quy, the toll extends far beyond financial compensation.
“There are losses that can be measured in money and land,” he said. “But some pains cannot be measured by any number.”
Ancestral Lands and Unquantifiable Loss
In recent days, entire communities have been uprooted. Families have left not only their homes and farmland but also the familiar roads and deeply symbolic resting places of their ancestors. As part of the project, family graves have already been exhumed and relocated to new cemeteries—an act that carries significant emotional and spiritual weight in Vietnamese culture.
For many, these ancestral ties define identity and belonging. Their disruption has intensified the trauma of displacement, particularly among long-established Catholic communities in the region.
Church Voices Call for People-Centered Development
Church leaders in Bac Ninh have stepped forward to advocate for affected residents, urging authorities to ensure that progress does not come at the expense of human dignity.
At a June 10 meeting held at Bac Ninh Bishop’s House, Bishop Joseph Do Quang Khang and local clergy addressed government officials overseeing the project.
“The Church always supports the development of the country and appreciates projects that bring long-term benefits to society,” Khang said. “However, development only has meaning when people remain at its center.”
He emphasized that authorities must guarantee stable housing, employment, education, and essential services before requiring families to relinquish their homes and livelihoods.
“The concerns of the people are also the concerns of the Church,” he added.
More Than Homes at Stake
For Bac Ninh’s Catholic communities, the impact reaches into cultural and religious life. Five churches fall within the airport clearance zone, including three in Tu Ne Parish—where Catholic roots stretch back nearly 400 years.
These losses, Bishop Khang noted, represent more than physical structures. They embody collective memory, tradition, and spiritual continuity.
As families disperse to temporary locations, participation in Mass, catechism classes, and parish events has become increasingly difficult. Community cohesion—once sustained through shared spaces and routines—now faces fragmentation.
Temporary Living, Lasting Uncertainty
Clergy assisting affected communities have raised urgent concerns about living conditions in temporary housing. Many families have already dismantled their homes, yet permanent resettlement sites remain incomplete.
Some residents now occupy repurposed government buildings, often without consistent access to electricity, water, or essential services.
Priests have called on authorities to prioritize secure living conditions and continue listening to local voices throughout the relocation process.
The situation also threatens Church-run social programs. The Huong La Home, managed by the Sisters of Our Lady of Unity, cares for 30 vulnerable children, including those with disabilities. The facility itself must relocate, raising concerns about continuity of care.
Adding to the strain is the issue of compensation. According to Sister Maria Tran Thi Thu Huong, the center’s agricultural land has been valued at about 90 million dong (US$3,450) per 350 square meters—less than half the rate offered for nearby farmland.
Such disparities could jeopardize the center’s ability to sustain its operations.
Stories of Disruption
Across affected villages, the human impact is reflected in personal stories.
Nearly 200 households from Tu Ne Parish have already moved into temporary shelters. One family was forced to vacate a newly built house just six months after completing construction.
“It is not only about money,” a parishioner said. “It is the loss of a dream that had only just begun.”
In another case, an elderly woman who moved into her son’s home after losing her own was soon displaced again when his house, too, fell within the demolition zone.
Such repeated disruptions underscore the instability many families now face.
Authorities Acknowledge Challenges
Provincial Vice Chairman Pham Van Thinh has acknowledged the sacrifices made by residents and pledged to address concerns raised during consultations.
He affirmed that authorities would continue inspecting temporary housing and engaging with communities to find practical solutions.
Thinh also echoed calls for empathy in implementation, agreeing that development must consider the hardships faced by displaced families. Officials stressed that no resident should be left behind.
A Future Yet Uncertain
Despite official assurances, uncertainty lingers among those affected.
Residents like An of Tu Ne Parish recognize the importance of national development but struggle with its immediate consequences.
“Many meals have been mixed with tears,” he said, describing the emotional toll of relocation, rising living costs, and disrupted livelihoods.
Traditional village industries have also been affected, as temporary housing often lacks space for production.
Another resident, An Binh, voiced the question weighing heavily on many:
“When will this temporary life end? Will the new place truly become a peaceful home? Will we still gather around our church and hear the bells that accompanied previous generations?”
As Bac Ninh moves forward with a project designed to serve the future, its people remain caught between progress and preservation—seeking a path that honors both.
- Raju Hasmukh with files form UCa news
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