Villagers in Vietnam whose farms are set to be demolished to make way for a $1.5bn (£1.18bn) golf resort backed by the Trump family have reportedly been offered rice provisions and cash compensation of as little as $12 (£9.40) per square metre by state authorities.
According to Reuters, thousands of villagers in Hung Yen province, south of Hanoi, will receive payouts based on the size and location of their land. Elderly farmers told the agency they feared losing their farms would leave them without a stable livelihood.
The luxury development, the first project by the Trump Organization in Vietnam, broke ground as the country worked to secure a crucial trade deal with the United States. In April, Vietnam faced the prospect of a 46% tariff on its exports, a rate that has since been reduced to 20% for many goods.
Vietnam’s prime minister, Pham Minh Chinh, described the project as important for strengthening relations with the US, and said villagers would be compensated. He expressed hope the resort would generate jobs and boost local incomes.
State media reports that the development will feature a 54-hole VIP golf course, luxury resorts, high-end villas, and a modern urban complex. However, many farmers say the compensation rates are far too low.
The New York Times reported in May that the project had been approved unusually quickly and allowed to break ground despite at least six legally required procedures not being completed.
The White House has rejected claims of a conflict of interest, insisting that the Trump Organization’s business dealings are entirely separate from trade negotiations. Donald Trump’s assets, it says, are held in a trust managed by his children. However, financial disclosures in June revealed that income from these ventures ultimately accrues to the president.
The golf course project is a joint venture between the Trump Organization and Vietnamese real estate developer Kinh Bac City.
Five affected farmers said they had been told they would receive between $12 and $30 per square metre, plus extra payments for uprooted crops and rice supplies for several months. A local official noted that farmland in the area has rarely sold for more than $14 per square metre.
In communist Vietnam, all land is state-owned. Farmers are allocated small plots for long-term use, but the government can reclaim them at any time.
