Đại học Hồng Đức

Scientific Seminar on “Conflicts between Enterprises and Local Communities in Economic and Industrial Zones in the North Central Region: Current Situation and Causes”

11/09/2025

On the morning of September 8, Hong Duc University organized a scientific workshop under the framework of the National-level research project titled “Conflicts between Enterprises and Local Communities in Economic Zones and Industrial Parks in the North Central Region: Current Situation and Causes.”

The conference brought together leading scholars and experts in the field, including Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Minh, former Director of the Institute for Family and Gender Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and President of the Vietnam Sociological Association; Prof. Dr. Trịnh Duy Luân, former Director of the Institute of Sociology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; Dr. Vũ Tuấn Anh, Director of the Center for Economic and Social Development Research, Vietnam Economic Science Association; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Mai, Deputy Director of the same center.

Representatives of local authorities and agencies in the research areas also attended, such as Dr. Trần Mạnh Hùng, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Hà Tĩnh province; Dr. Lê Ngọc Vỹ, Deputy Head of Mass Mobilization, Provincial Propaganda and Mobilization Department, Hà Tĩnh; specialists from the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hà Tĩnh and Thanh Hóa; leaders of labor unions; and representatives from political and educational institutions.

From Hong Duc University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngô Chí Thành, Vice President, along with Heads of the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Science, Technology & International Cooperation Office, the Information Technology, Communication & Library Services Center, research team members, faculty, students, and invited guests participated in the event.

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Overview of the Conference

Delivering the keynote report, Dr. Đào Thanh Thủy (Hong Duc University), Principal Investigator of the project, highlighted the dual nature of economic and industrial zone development. While Nghi Sơn (Thanh Hóa) and Vũng Áng (Hà Tĩnh) economic zones have become growth engines attracting investment, creating jobs, and restructuring the regional economy, they have also given rise to conflicts of interest between enterprises and local communities.

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Delegates attending the Conference

Key issues include land disputes, compensation and resettlement, environmental pollution, unequal access to employment and social welfare, lack of transparency, and accountability. Many households have lost their traditional livelihoods without sustainable alternatives, leading to social tensions and reduced trust in both businesses and local authorities.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Chi Thanh, Vice President of Hong Duc University, delivers at the Conference

The research, funded by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), applied a mixed-method approach combining quantitative surveys (800 structured questionnaires across five major zones) and qualitative analysis. Findings reveal multi-dimensional causes of conflict—economic, social-cultural, environmental, and governance-related—posing risks to social stability and sustainable development.

During the conference, participants exchanged views on the current state of conflicts, their underlying causes, and international lessons in conflict management, including experiences from Bắc Ninh, Bình Dương, and the Three Gorges Dam in China. Proposed solutions emphasized institutional improvement, transparency, independent monitoring, corporate social responsibility, community empowerment, adoption of green technologies, livelihood transformation, and two-way communication between stakeholders.

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Delegates taking a group photo at the Conference

In his closing remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngô Chí Thành, Vice President of Hong Duc University, stressed the timeliness and practical relevance of the conference topic, especially in the context of ongoing local governance reforms. He emphasized that the event served not only as an academic platform but also as a multi-dimensional dialogue among researchers, policymakers, enterprises, and communities. The insights gained will contribute to evidence-based policymaking and effective conflict management, ensuring harmonious, sustainable development for Thanh Hóa, Hà Tĩnh, and the broader North Central region.