Trump intends to establish a golf resort in Vietnam, requiring farmers to relinquish their land
In a joint venture between the Trump Organization, the Trump family business, and Vietnamese real estate company Kinh Bac City, plans are underway for a luxury golf resort in Vietnam. The resort, valued at 1.5 billion dollars, will be built in Hung Yen province near Hanoi, covering approximately 990 hectares of land currently used for banana and fruit cultivation.
Thousands of villagers must leave their land for the resort's construction, but the compensation offered to them has been met with criticism. Farmers in the region were compensated between $12 and $30 per square meter of farmland, which included several months' supply of rice and additional payments for uprooted crops. However, this amount, reportedly around $3,200, is less than the average annual salary in Vietnam and widely considered insufficient for farmers to rebuild their lives.
Many farmers have depended on this land for decades to grow diverse crops like bananas, peaches, and longan fruits. They have expressed concerns about their ability to find new jobs or livelihoods after losing their land. The compensation levels align with local land values—an official said land usually sells for no more than $14 per square meter—but given that all land is owned and controlled by the state in Vietnam, farmers have limited rights to negotiate or refuse such redeployment.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the resort construction could deepen the country's relations with the U.S., create jobs, and improve living conditions. Yet, the compensation offers were still viewed as a "measly deal" by locals and observers. It is important to note that the Trump Organization itself was not involved in deciding or paying compensation; that responsibility fell to Vietnamese developers and authorities.
The New York Times reported that the resort's approval was unusually quick, despite many legal steps, including environmental reviews, not yet being completed. After completion, the Trump Organization will operate the resort, which will include a 54-hole golf course, luxury villas, and a modern city complex.
The White House had dismissed allegations of conflicts of interest regarding the resort and country's trade negotiations. However, the lack of clarity regarding who is responsible for compensating the farmers remains a point of contention. The villagers were promised compensation, but the exact amount was not specified by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
In summary, while the Trump-backed golf resort in Vietnam promises economic growth and improved relations, the compensation offered to the displaced farmers has been deemed insufficient for them to comfortably transition to new livelihoods or replace the economic value of their land and longstanding agricultural activities.
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