The massive and once-promising building designed to become the new headquarters of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs now stands largely deserted. Despite its prime location and impressive architecture, much of the multi-thousand-billion-dong project remains incomplete, surrounded by overgrown grass and emptiness. Only a small portion of the complex is currently in use.

Over a decade after construction began, the project is still far from completion.

Only part of the main office building is operational, while the surrounding campus appears abandoned, with no signs of workers or ongoing activity.

The project was initially approved under Decision No. 1999 dated July 7, 2009, with a total investment of VND 3,484 billion (approximately USD 140 million). It is classified as a special-grade, group A national project.

The central building was designed to include 14 above-ground floors, reaching a height of 78.9 meters, plus one basement. The construction area spans 16,282 square meters, with a total floor area of 126,282 square meters - not including open-air facilities such as parking lots, lawns, sports areas, and internal roads.

According to a 2017 State Audit report, the original investment was increased in 2014 to VND 4,022 billion (about USD 162 million) due to fluctuations in material prices, wages, and exchange rates. However, based on this revised estimate, the project management board approved bidding packages totaling over VND 5,952 billion (USD 240 million). Contracts worth nearly VND 4,689 billion (USD 189 million) were signed - significantly exceeding the adjusted investment ceiling.

The State Audit Office recommended financial adjustments totaling over VND 260.6 billion (USD 10.5 million), including a deduction of over VND 40.6 billion (USD 1.6 million) from approved payments and nearly VND 220 billion (USD 8.9 million) flagged for further review as not yet eligible for final settlement.

All audited bidding packages experienced major delays. Some packages lagged by 8 months, while others were behind schedule by 55 to 60 months. The massive building is now surrounded by wild vegetation, giving it an abandoned, neglected appearance.

In an official review regarding the Ministry's request for a special mechanism to address bottlenecks in the project, the Ministry of Construction stated that such a mechanism would only provide temporary relief and would not resolve core challenges or systemic delays.

“If these mechanisms are rigidly applied to all contracts as proposed, they could cause further inconsistencies in project management and cost control, potentially leading to waste, asset loss, and reduced investment efficiency,” the ministry's report warned.

This troubled project has recently come under the supervision of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, Wastefulness, and Wrongdoing - reflecting the growing concern about mismanaged mega-projects in Vietnam.

Bao Kien