District chairman arrested over compensation misconduct in Vietnam's largest airport project

By Tran Vu February 10, 2025 | 10:37 pm PT

The chairman of Dong Nai Province's Long Thanh District, where a namesake airport is under construction to become Vietnam's largest, has been accused of misconduct in the project's land expropriation and compensation process.

Le Van Tiep, 47, chairman of the People's Committee of Long Thanh District in the southern province, is under investigation for violating regulations on compensation, support, and resettlement during state-led land expropriation, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Procuracy announced Monday.

Le Van Tiep at the meeting on land clearance for Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway in 2024. Photo by Dong nai News

Le Van Tiep, chairman of Long Thanh District, Dong Nai Province, at a meeting in 2024. Photo by Dong Nai Newspaper

Tiep is alleged to have committed wrongdoing in the handling of land expropriation, compensation, and resettlement support for Long Thanh airport. His arrest marks the latest development in an ongoing investigation into misconduct related to the project.

Dong Nai police in February last year launched an investigation into six other suspects, including officials and residents in Dong Nai and its neighbor Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, for accepting bribes, fraudulently misappropriating assets, and violating regulations on compensation and resettlement support during state-led land expropriation.

The land expropriation, compensation, support, and resettlement project for Long Thanh airport was approved by the prime minister based on a feasibility study report issued in November 2018, with a total investment of VND22.86 trillion (US$896.5 million).

The project spans 5,000 hectares for the airport itself and over 364 hectares for two resettlement areas.

Long Thanh Airport overview with runway and terminal in September 2024. Photo y VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

Work at Long Thanh airport project in Dong Nai Province in September 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

The Long Thanh Airport project, located 55 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City, is invested with VND336.63 trillion. In its first phase, the airport will feature one runway, a passenger terminal, and auxiliary facilities, enabling it to handle 25 million passengers annually. Future phases will expand its capacity to accommodate 100 million passengers per year.

Once completed, the airport is expected to serve as a major international aviation hub for Vietnam and the region, surpassing HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport as the largest in the country.

Vietnam's lawmakers last November approved a revised plan for the airport, extending the completion deadline by one year to the end of 2026.