Land management corruption in Vietnam

In Quảng Trị province, former deputy head of Hướng Hóa district, Lê Quang Thuận, was sentenced to five years in prison for abusing his position and causing state losses exceeding 9 trillion VND. Eleven other former officials also received prison terms or non-custodial reform following convictions related to irregularities in land management, such as the illegal conversion of land use and the issuance of certificates without proper verification.

In Phu Tho province, authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against three former officials from Trung Ha commune for land management violations. The suspects include former Chairman Tran Van Tro, former Vice Chairman Sai Van Thuong, and former land official Do Thi Hien.

Investigations revealed that between November 2018 and April 2024, the officials organized the unauthorized leasing of riverbank land to eight households. Due to a failure to conduct proper land measurements, the actual area utilized reached approximately 264,844 square meters, which significantly exceeds the 36,200 square meters specified in the lease contracts—a discrepancy of over 228,000 square meters. The land in question is currently located in Nguyet Duc Commune, Phu Tho Province, following administrative restructuring.