Vietnam Farmers Displaced for $1.5B Trump Golf Resort Offered Low Compensation

Thousands of Vietnamese farmers in Hung Yen province face displacement as their land is cleared for a $1.5 billion golf resort backed by U.S. President Donald Trump's family. Compensation offered to the farmers ranges from $12 to $30 per square meter, including rice provisions, which many locals consider insufficient to replace their livelihoods. The project, a joint venture between the Trump Organization and Vietnamese developer Kinh Bac City, was fast-tracked during sensitive trade negotiations between Vietnam and the U.S., with the Trump family receiving $5 million for brand licensing rights. Despite assurances from Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh that villagers will be fairly reimbursed and that the development will create jobs, many farmers—particularly the elderly—fear unemployment and struggle to find alternative means of survival. The Trump Organization is not involved in compensation decisions, and income from the project ultimately accrues to the president, raising concerns about conflicts of interest amid ongoing trade talks. Environmental reviews and other required approvals were reportedly bypassed to expedite construction, stirring further controversy.