Nguyen Van Hau, commonly known as Hau “Phao,” chairman of Phuc Son Group, spent more than $5.5 million to bribe officials and manipulate projects from north to south across Vietnam.

Nguyen Van Hau established Phuc Son Group in 2004, specializing in transportation infrastructure, civil construction, and real estate development. To support its business activities, Phuc Son Group set up a comprehensive personnel network to manage Thang Long Company and several other subsidiaries, forming a business ecosystem under the group’s control.

Manipulating projects in Vinh Phuc with millions of dollars

In Vinh Phuc, his hometown, Hau “Phao” used money to manipulate four major projects. According to the investigation, the wholesale market project was initially assigned to Song Hong Company, but the provincial government later revoked the investment decision.

Sensing an opportunity, Hau met with Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, the former Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Secretary, in late 2016 to discuss business possibilities. After receiving her approval, Hau rewarded the officials involved handsomely.

It was reported that just a simple gesture from Lan in the morning would prompt Hau to deliver a suitcase filled with millions of dollars to her house by the afternoon.

Apart from the wholesale market project, Hau also manipulated the Red River left bank dyke project, the Vinh Tuong Town internal road improvement project, and the Vinh Phuc College of Culture and Arts construction project.

The Red River left bank dyke project, requiring extensive investment and specialized construction, initially excluded Phuc Son Group due to insufficient experience and capability.

However, after contacting Pham Van Vong (former Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Secretary) and Phung Quang Hung (former Chairman of Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee), Hau secured the contract through a direct appointment rather than competitive bidding.

After subcontracting the project, Hau earned over $2.4 million from material differences and $1.45 million from completed construction percentages.

For the Vinh Tuong internal road project, Hau colluded with Le Minh Thinh (former Vice Chairman of Vinh Tuong District People's Committee) to gain insider information and win the bid. Hau profited illicitly, causing the state to lose over $215,000, while giving Thinh $10,000 as a “thank you” and two other officials $16,000.

Similarly, in the project to upgrade Vinh Phuc College of Culture and Arts, Hau gained support from former principal Nguyen Xuan Nham to secure the bid and then sold the project, earning illegal profits while causing state losses of over $124,000. Nham admitted to receiving $2,000 from Hau.

From 2017 to 2024, Hau met repeatedly with officials to ensure ongoing support. He reportedly gave Hoang Thi Thuy Lan $1.1 million and $25 billion VND, Le Duy Thanh (former Chairman of Vinh Phuc Province) $1.3 million and $20 billion VND, and Pham Hoang Anh (former Standing Deputy Secretary of Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee) $17,000 and 400 million VND.

Securing projects in Quang Ngai through bribes

In 2011, before the Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee approved the Southern Tra Khuc Riverbank Road project, Hau met with Cao Khoa (former Chairman), Le Viet Chu (former Vice Chairman), and Dang Van Minh (former Director of the Department of Transport) in Hanoi to discuss Phuc Son Group’s involvement.

After Hau’s visit to their private homes and subsequent meetings, Phuc Son Group secured the project, but later subcontracted the work to Dong Khanh Company, earning over $3.8 million from completed workload percentages and material differences. Hau personally gave Cao Khoa $20,000 and Dang Van Minh a total of $840,000, of which Minh kept $420,000.

Additionally, in the No. 10 bid package of the National Highway 1A upgrade project in Quang Ngai, Hau again manipulated the process by leveraging his relationships with officials. After securing the bid, he subcontracted it, causing the state to lose more than $490,000. Hau then gave Minh $25,000 as a “thank you” gift.

Bribing to win projects in Phu Tho

In Phu Tho, Hau leveraged relationships with Ngo Duc Vuong (former Provincial Party Secretary) and Nguyen Doan Khanh (former Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee) to secure three packages under the Festival Center project, totaling over $11 million. By obtaining insider information, Phuc Son Group submitted its bids as soon as invitations were issued, and was subsequently selected.

In addition to manipulating the Festival Center project, Hau secured the water supply system for scenic lakes and forest fire prevention, earning more than $850,000. Hau expressed his gratitude to Ngo Duc Vuong with $21,000 during holidays and gave Nguyen Doan Khanh $63,000 in similar circumstances.

In Vinh Long, Hau strategically used social welfare contributions to curry favor with higher-ranking officials. He donated tens of billions of dong to local social programs to impress Dang Trung Hoanh, former Chief of Office of Mang Thit District Party Committee, hoping that Hoanh would report his contributions favorably to senior leaders. Hau personally gave Hoanh $34,000, who later faced charges of abusing power for personal gain.

T. Nhung