On November 4, Nguyen Anh Tu, chairman of the Lien Son Lak Commune People's Committee in Dak Lak, said the commune had received a request from the provincial People's Procuracy to inspect, verify and handle signs that the Hien Thuy restaurant had encroached on land and built illegally at Lak Lake. The lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam's Central Highlands.
Tu said the commune assigned the vice chairman in charge of economic affairs and specialized departments to review all related records and documents. They will compile a report for the provincial procuracy for consideration and protection of the public interest.
Lien Son Lak commune authorities acknowledged that the case had continued for many years without a final resolution. After the two-tier local administration model was introduced, the commune had not received a complete handover of the case file from the former district administration.
In addition to signs of encroachment around Lak Lake, the restaurant also built an unlicensed pier for serving tourists.
Tu said the commune had recently worked with Regional People's Procuracy No. 6 to require the restaurant owner to dismantle the entire pier and remove watercraft operating outside the rules.
The commune leader said the pier site is included in local planning. The commune will hire a consultant to prepare documents and a bidding plan for using the area in accordance with regulations.
According to reporters' observations, the illegally built pier along Lak Lake's shore had not yet been dismantled despite the authorities' order. Several of the restaurant's boats were moored directly in front of it.
The Dak Lak provincial procuracy said that if the Lien Son Lak Commune People's Committee clearly establishes damage to the public interest and encroachment on Lak Lake, identifies the consequences and takes measures under the law without achieving results, the provincial procuracy will request documents and evidence to consider filing a lawsuit to protect the public interest under Resolution No. 205/2025/QH15.
Dân Trí previously reported on the case in an article about the 12-year delay in handling the restaurant's construction at the Central Highlands' largest freshwater lake. At a May 2025 press briefing, the former leadership of Lien Son town in the former Lak District of Dak Lak described measures taken against Hien Thuy restaurant at Lak Lake.
According to the former official, Hien Thuy restaurant was found to have violated the rules by encroaching on 800 square meters of Lak Lake land and building illegally. A small structure was first erected in the Lak Lake area and later expanded into a large restaurant. Authorities detected the illegal construction in 2013 and imposed a fine, but the owner continued expanding the site.
The Dak Lak provincial People's Committee later issued an official letter asking relevant departments and organizations to coordinate on the case.
Under National Assembly Resolution No. 205/2025/QH15, dated June 24, 2025, the procuracy may pilot civil lawsuits to protect the civil rights of vulnerable groups or the public interest. The resolution took effect on January 1 and provides for the pilot mechanism in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, Quang Ninh and Dak Lak.
Recently, the Dak Lak provincial procuracy has filed several lawsuits to protect public assets and the lawful rights and interests of vulnerable groups under the resolution.
Sources: Dân Trí
