Thousands of villagers in Vietnam’s Hung Yen province are being displaced to make way for a $1.5 billion golf resort backed by the Trump Organization, and some are being offered as little as $12 per square metre in compensation, according to a Reuters report.
The development, a joint venture between the Trump family’s business and Vietnamese developer Kinh Bac City, includes a 54-hole golf course, luxury villas, resorts, and an urban complex. It’s the Trump Organization’s first project in Vietnam and broke ground earlier this year.
Reuters reported that compensation varies based on location and land size, ranging from $12 to $30 per square metre, with additional payments for uprooted crops and several months of rice supplies. Local officials confirmed that farmland in the area rarely exceeds $14 per square metre in valuation.
While the state owns all land in Vietnam, farmers are granted long-term use rights, which authorities can revoke for projects deemed in the public interest. Many affected farmers, especially the elderly, say the compensation is not enough to secure a future livelihood.
The project has faced criticism for breaking ground before completing all necessary environmental assessments and other legally required steps. According to The New York Times, the development was approved unusually quickly as Vietnam sought to reduce US tariffs on its exports.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister praised the project as a means to deepen ties with the US and promised fair compensation. The White House has denied any conflict of interest, stating Trump’s business operations are managed by his children. However, financial disclosures show income from these ventures still benefits the former president.
The Trump Organization is not directly handling compensation.
