Edith Hejberg
Dozens of Vietnamese villagers are being forced from their homes to make way for a Trump family–branded golf resort.
The government greenlit construction during sensitive trade talks with Washington, a decision that has stirred unease in rural communities.
A Farmer’s Sleepless Nights
Nguyen Thi Huong, 50, says she hasn’t slept well since being told to leave her rice fields in Hung Yen province.
In return for her land, she was offered just $3,200 and a supply of rice, less than the average annual salary in Vietnam.
Massive Development, Modest Compensation
Construction is due to begin next month on 990 hectares now used to grow bananas, longans, and other crops.
Thousands face similar offers of cash and rice to give up farmland that has sustained their families for decades.
Trump’s First Vietnam Venture
The golf resort is the Trump Organization’s first partnership in Vietnam. Local developer Kinhbac City paid $5 million for licensing rights.
The Trump family business will manage the club but isn’t directly responsible for paying displaced farmers.
Rates Well Below Market Value
Farmers say compensation ranges from $12 to $30 per square meter, with extra payments for uprooted crops.
Some note that local land prices often exceed these figures, and in other provinces, they are even higher.
Land in Vietnam: State-Owned, Publicly Contested
In communist Vietnam, farmland belongs to the state. Families get long-term usage rights but have little control when authorities reclaim plots.
Protests are common but rarely change the outcome.
Official Promises vs. Local Frustrations
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pledged “fair compensation” at the groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Eric Trump.
But residents like Do Dinh Huong argue the land is being taken for private profit, not public benefit.
Rice as Part of the Deal
Alongside cash, authorities are offering two to twelve months’ worth of rice.
Nguyen Thi Chuc, 54, fears losing her banana farm, saying she is too old to find other work. She’s been told she might get $30 per square meter for her small plot.
Divided Local Opinion
While many mourn the loss of farmland, others see opportunity. Le Van Tu, 65, plans to upgrade his restaurant to cater to wealthier customers the golf club may bring.
Land prices have already increased fivefold since the project was announced.
A Village Transformed
Supporters say the resort will create jobs and improve the area’s economy. Critics see the deal as a poor trade, fertile land for luxury leisure.
Either way, Hung Yen’s landscape, livelihoods, and future are about to change forever.
