• Trump golf project in Vietnam rushes ahead quickly, raising fears about unfair land grabs and political influence.
• Locals feel pressured by Vietnam rushes Trump golf plans to give up ancestral land and farmland without fair compensation.
• Legal steps and planning rules were skipped to align with the Trump family’s schedule and business goals amidst Vietnam rushes Trump golf project.

In a quiet village outside Hanoi, Vietnamese officials went door to door. They asked people to sign approval letters for a new Trump golf complex. One of them, Le Van Truong, hesitated. The 54-year-old farmer didn’t want to lose his family’s farmland. He didn’t want to see a cemetery with five generations of his ancestors destroyed. But he signed anyway. He believed he had no choice. “There’s nothing I can do,” he said. “Trump says the presidency and his business are separate. But he can do whatever he wants.”

Project Backed by Government and Trumps Alike

The $1.5 billion Trump golf complex is one of the family’s first projects in Vietnam. There’s also a Trump skyscraper planned for Ho Chi Minh City. No other U.S. president has pursued personal business on such a global scale while in office. These projects aim to grow the Trump family’s brand. But they also affect how countries, like Vietnam, deal with the United States. Vietnamese officials have helped push the golf complex forward. They gave special support that even powerful locals don’t usually get. A letter obtained by The New York Times shows that the project got high-level backing because it had “special attention” from President Donald Trump himself.

Trump Business and Trade Talks Collide

The project’s approval came during sensitive U.S.-Vietnam trade talks. The Trump administration had threatened tariffs on Vietnamese goods. Officials in Vietnam likely hoped the Trump project would ease trade tensions. Eric Trump led the groundbreaking event for the golf course on May 21. He praised the project and promised success. “The Trump family is going to make you very, very proud,” he told guests, including Vietnam’s prime minister. The White House denied any link between trade talks and Trump’s business. They said Eric and Donald Trump Jr. run the company, not the president. Still, financial records show Trump continues to profit from these deals amidst Vietnam rushes Trump golf expansions.

Locals Face Land Loss and Disappointment

Vietnamese citizens feel left behind. At the groundbreaking, police kept residents far away from the site. Many feared losing their land and livelihood. The golf project will cover almost four square miles of farmland. Most of that land is still used by families with legal rights. Farmers in the area now feel betrayed. In April, officials told them they would only receive half the land’s usual value. The news caused outrage. People walked out of public meetings. They spoke out in the streets. Farmers said the land had fed their families for generations. Now, they fear they’ll lose everything.

Government Speeds Up Approval Process

Vietnam usually takes two to four years to approve major construction projects. This one took only three months. Planning laws and approval steps were skipped. Officials allowed the groundbreaking without full land clearance, financial plans, or environmental studies. The land lies near the Red River in a flood zone. A typhoon flooded the same area last year. Some parts still contain unexploded bombs from the Vietnam War. None of these risks stopped the project. Officials rushed everything to fit Eric Trump’s schedule. On May 15, they approved early investment and held the ceremony. That same day, locals noticed that construction had already begun.

Residents Watch Rich Investors Take Over

Near the ceremony tent, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom sat next to construction gear. It belonged to Dang Thanh Tam, Trump’s local partner. His car sat just 100 yards from Truong’s family cemetery. Truong and his neighbors worked their fields nearby. They felt helpless watching the land change so quickly. The prime minister addressed the crowd at the event. He promised displaced families would get better homes and new jobs. He also said the project would boost ties between Vietnam and the United States. But residents didn’t feel hopeful. They felt pushed aside.

Critics Say Trump Project Ignores Vietnam’s Laws

Experts said the Trump project doesn’t follow Vietnam’s rules. Normally, big projects require public comment, land reviews, and approval from many levels. This one skipped most of those steps. Legal experts say the project breaks planning laws. It doesn’t fit the province’s housing plan. The Trump golf complex will include villas, shopping zones, theme parks, and homes for 35,000 people. Critics say the government fast-tracked the project only to impress Trump and win political favor.

Trump Influence Raises Questions About Fairness

The Trump name still carries power abroad. In Vietnam, that power seems to bend rules. Lawyers and local developers say the fast approval is unfair. Other investors wait for years to get the same treatment. They believe the government ignored fairness to please Vietnam rushes Trump golf ambitions. Political analysts agree. They say this move hurts Vietnam’s efforts to build a fair, modern economy. “It promotes personal deals over transparent business,” said Prof. Chong Ja-Ian from the National University of Singapore.

Farmers Worry About Their Future

Local farmers now face a harsh reality. Their land could be gone soon. In just five days, the ground was cleared and the tent for the Trump ceremony went up. Do Thi Suat, a 63-year-old woman, watched from her field. “Why are they moving so fast?” she asked. “They will take our land away. Then what will we do with our lives?”