Thousands of villagers in Vietnam are facing displacement and uncertainty as a $1.5 billion golf resort backed by the Trump family prepares to break ground in Hung Yen province. The luxury golf club, which will include a 54-hole VIP golf course, luxury resorts, high-end villas, and a modern urban complex, has sparked mixed reactions among local people, with many farmers expressing concerns over the compensation rates offered by state authorities.
According to reports, villagers will be offered compensation packages worth $3,200 and rice provisions to vacate their land, which has been their home and only source of livelihood for years or decades. The compensation rates vary based on land size and location, with authorities flagging reimbursements worth between $12 and $30 per square meter of farmland. Additional payments will be made for uprooted plants, and provisions of rice will be provided for some months.
Nguyen Thi Huong, a 50-year-old farmer, has slept poorly since authorities told her to vacate her farm for the golf resort. “The whole village is worried about this project because it will take our land and leave us jobless,” she said. Do Dinh Huong, another farmer, expressed frustration over the lack of negotiating power, saying, “We have no right to negotiate. That’s a shame.” He added that he would have accepted a low rate if the land were to be used for public infrastructure, but questioned the benefits of a business project.
Many farmers are elderly and fear they will struggle to find alternative livelihoods in Vietnam’s vibrant economy. Nguyen Thi Chuc, a 54-year-old farmer who grows bananas, was told she might receive roughly $30 per square meter for her 200-square-meter plot. “I’m getting old and can’t do anything else other than working on the farm,” she said. Le Van Tu, a 65-year-old local, plans to upgrade his diner into a restaurant to cater to wealthier clients, but others are less optimistic.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has assured that farmers will be reimbursed fairly, saying, “We hope the development will create jobs and improve livelihoods.” However, the reduction in compensation forecasts from an initial estimate exceeding $500 million has raised concerns about the project’s impact on local communities.
The Trump Organization has partnered with Vietnamese real estate company Kinhbac City to develop the luxury golf club, which will be the first project by the Trump family business in Vietnam. The project has been fast-tracked as Vietnam negotiates trade deals with the US, and its success is seen as important for deepening the country’s relationship with the US.