Hanoi’s recent road widening projects have created a new problem for many residents: ultra‑thin parcels of land that are too small to build on. Understanding how these strips affect everyday families shows the human side of large‑scale infrastructure.

A VnExpress survey along Ring Roads 1 and 2.5 found dozens of ultra‑thin leftover plots, some as small as 1 m² and most under 15 m². These sliver‑shaped plots often sit between the new road and old alleys, making them practically unusable.

After the clearance for Ring Road 2.5, Vu Thanh Hai’s family was left with four tiny parcels of 3.5, 7.5, 11.5 and 18.5 m². The sibling who received only 3.5 m² said the space is uninhabitable. The family prefers to keep the street‑front land instead of moving to resettlement apartments.

To combine the four land‑use rights, owners must complete notarized transfers, donations or capital contributions, and they must wait for city‑wide guidance that has not yet been issued. Without that guidance, the legal process stalls, leaving families in limbo.

Authorities encourage voluntary consolidation, but the ward office reported that no completed application has been received so far. City regulations also ban construction on plots smaller than 15 m², except in very narrow cases, which limits what families can do with their strips.

Until clear guidance is provided, families like the Hai household will continue to live in cramped, unusable spaces and face costly legal battles to merge their land. The situation highlights how large road projects can directly affect ordinary people’s homes.