Vietnamese authorities have uncovered a large-scale corruption network involving Nguyen Van Hau, chairman of Phuc Son Group, and multiple high-ranking officials.

The Ministry of Public Security’s investigative agency has proposed criminal charges against 41 individuals, including five former provincial party secretaries accused of bribery and abuse of power to facilitate illegal business deals.

The five indicted officials include:

Hoang Thi Thuy Lan (former party secretary of Vinh Phuc) – charged with bribery
Le Viet Chu (former party secretary of Quang Ngai) – charged with bribery
Pham Van Vong (former party secretary of Vinh Phuc) – charged with abuse of power
Ngo Duc Vuong (former party secretary of Phu Tho) – charged with abuse of power
Nguyen Doan Khanh (former party secretary of Phu Tho) – charged with abuse of power
High-level bribery to secure project approvals

Investigators found that Nguyen Van Hau, also known as Hau ‘Phao’, leveraged his connections to meet and influence local leaders in provinces like Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Quang Ngai to manipulate large-scale development projects in his favor.

In Vinh Phuc, Hau approached Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, then party secretary of the province, in 2016, seeking support for a delayed wholesale market project in Vinh Tuong District. The two allegedly agreed on a deal allowing Hau to take over the project.

From 2017 to 2024, Hau reportedly paid Lan nearly 48 billion VND ($1.92 million) in bribes, including a single transaction of $1 million delivered in cash.

In early 2010, Pham Van Vong, then party secretary of Vinh Phuc, granted Phuc Son Group a no-bid contract for a Red River dike construction project, despite the company’s lack of qualifications. Investigators allege that Vong personally profited 2 billion VND ($80,000) from the deal.

Manipulated bidding in Phu Tho and Quang Ngai

In Phu Tho, both Ngo Duc Vuong and Nguyen Doan Khanh used their influence to help Phuc Son Group win government contracts for major projects, including the Hung Kings Temple Festival Center and a wildfire prevention project.

Vuong allegedly received 500 million VND ($20,000), while Khanh accepted 1.5 billion VND ($60,000) in illicit gains.

In Quang Ngai, former party secretary Le Viet Chu is accused of facilitating a fraudulent bidding process for the Southern Tra Khuc Riverbank Road project, helping Phuc Son Group win the contract despite its lack of financial and technical qualifications.

Chu reportedly accepted a bribe of 6 billion VND ($240,000) from Hau in exchange for securing the project.

The Phuc Son Group bribery case is one of Vietnam’s largest corruption scandals in recent years, exposing a network of business-government collusion across multiple provinces.

As authorities tighten anti-corruption measures, the prosecution of high-ranking officials signals a firm stance against corporate bribery and abuse of power.

Anh Tam