It’s the first project of the Trump Organization’s to open in Vietnam. Yet this $1.5 billion golf resort goes a long way to shape the region into a shiny new playground for the wealthy elite. As Vietnam strives to secure a vital trade deal with the United States, the project has broken ground, sparking significant concern among local villagers who will be displaced by the development.
This unusual resort will include a 54-hole private VIP golf course, high-end resorts, luxury villas, and a futuristic urban complex. The project has deep strings attached support from the Trump family. As Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has explained, it is intended to deepen Vietnam’s economic relationship with the U.S. He further stressed the significance of the development for deepening the bilateral ties. In addition, it is meant to catalyze employment and betterment of lives in the region.
Construction of this five-star luxury resort will displace nearly 10,000 villagers from their homes. These community members now live on the land that has been allocated for new development. The UK government has outlined its intentions to pay farmers impacted by the blight. Exactly how much will vary, depending on the size and location of their land. According to reports, five of the farmers set to lose their farmland have received notices about reimbursements. These payments vary between $12 and $30 per square meter.
Farmers will be reimbursed for despoiled plants. They will further receive development assistance in the form of rice imports over a few months. Right now, the Trump Organization is in the driver’s seat on that project. It fails to take care of displaced farmers’ compensation process.
The 6-star luxurious resort is currently booming on land administrated by Vat Dai state in Vietnam. Here, farmers are given individual, long-term use plots. These home plots can unfortunately be reclaimed by local authorities in urban development projects, an all too real situation affecting many local residents right now. As one of the local officials we met with raised the issue, farmland rates in this region have never exceeded a local record of $14 per square meter. This mismatch leads to questions about whether the compensation proposed is adequate.
As the project progresses, it remains crucial for all parties involved to address the needs and concerns of the displaced farming community. The government’s efforts to facilitate compensation will play a key role in determining how well local livelihoods can be maintained amidst this significant transition.