By Khan Wu and Francesco Guarasio
Hung Yen, August 11 (Reuters) -the farmer Nguyen Ti Hunga has slept badly as her authorities told her to release her farm for a golf resort supported by Trump, offering only $ 3,200 and rice regulations in return.
The golf resort, which is planned to start next month, offer thousands of peasants such compensation packages to leave land that has provided their livelihood for years or decades, according to six people with direct knowledge and documents observed by Reuters.
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The project is the first partnership for US President Donald Trump’s family business in Vietnam, which quickly followed the approvals as it has contract a decisive trade deal with Washington.
Developers are now reducing projections for compensation from an initial estimate of over $ 500 million, said one person familiar with the plans who declined to develop reasons for the reduction.
The 990 -hectare site designated as the golf course is currently maintaining fruit farms for growing bananas, Longgan and other crops. While some see the opportunity, many farmers are adults and fear that they will struggle to find an alternative livelihood in Vietnam’s vital economy with its largely young demographic.
“The whole village is worried about this project because it will take away our land and leave us unemployment,” says the 50-year-old Hung, who was told to leave his plot 200 square meters (2152.78 square feet) in Hung Yen province near the capital Hanoi for less than average in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese real estate company Kinhbac City and its partners will develop the luxury golf club after paying the Trump $ 5 million in the brand license organization, according to regulatory documents and a source familiar with the deal.
Trump’s family business will run the club once, but does not participate in the investment and compensation for farmers.
Trump said his business assets were in confidence, managed by his children, but reveals in June that the income from these sources ultimately accumulated to the president.
The Ministry of Agriculture of Vietnam, the Yen Yen bodies, the Trump and Kinbak organization did not answer questions about the percentage of compensation.
Authorities will determine the final compensation rates based on the size and location of the land, with official approval expected next month. Five farmers facing the orders said the authorities had marked restorations worth between $ 12 and $ 30 per square meter of agricultural land.
They also offered additional payments for uprooted installations and rice provisions for several months, approximately in accordance with a document seen by Reuters.
The person familiar with the compensation plan stated that the scope was accurate, decreasing to be indicated because the information was not public.
A local employee declined to talk about the compensation, but said the tariffs for agricultural land in the area usually did not exceed $ 14 per square meter. They are often higher in other provinces.
In the communist Titenam, agricultural land is governed by the state. Farmers have been appointed small plots for long -term use, but we will not say when the authorities decide to bring the land back. Protests are common but usually barren.
The compensation is paid by the state, but the developers enter the account.
Four of Reuters -related farmers were not happy with the offered prices, as their small plots would lead to low payments.
Thousands of peasants will be affected, according to a second document by local authorities, observed by Reuters, stating that final payment decisions are expected in the next month.
Huong hires a bigger plot than other peasants, but can claim compensation on Earth only for the small one appointed to it and for the plants it grows. “What can someone like me do after that?”
Rice for land
Vietnam Prime Minister Fam Min Mi Chin said that farmers would be recovered fairly when he spoke in May at the innovative golf project ceremony in front of an audience, including Trump’s son Eric, Senior Vice President of Trump’s Organization.
“We have no right to negotiate. This is a pity,” said Din Hung, another farmer who was said that his plot would be offset by approximately $ 12 per square meter.
He said he would accept what he thinks is a low speed if the land is used to build roads or other public infrastructure.
“But this is a business project. I don’t know how it would contribute to people’s lives.”
Authorities also propose Rice as compensation, with the provisions ranging from two to twelve months, according to one of the documents seen by Reuters.
Nguyen Thi Chuc, a 54-year-old farmer who grows bananas in what will become Trump’s Golf Club, has told authorities that he can receive approximately $ 30 per square meter for his 200 square meters.
“I’m old and I can’t do anything but work on the farm,” she said.
Conversely, lawyers and investors in the province said that the golf club would create better jobs and enrich the peasants.
Le van Tu, a 65-year-old local, who will be compensated for his small plot and owns restaurants in a village that the golf club will rest, said it would upgrade its dining room to take care of more wealthier customers.
The prices of the land in the village have increased five times since the announcement of the project in October, he said. He was also happy that the pig farm nearby would disappear: “He would not be stinking anymore.”
(Report from Francesco Guarasio and Khan Wu; Editing by Saad Sayed)
