The Military Court of Military Region 5 will hear the case at the headquarters of the Hanoi Military Court, with proceedings scheduled to begin on 6/1/2026.

The court anticipates summoning many individuals who purchased land in the project and paid money to Phuc Son Group, who are considered victims of fraud. Over 80 witnesses, including former leaders from various agencies and departments within Khanh Hoa province, are also expected to be called.

The defendants include two former major generals: Nguyen Duy Cuong, former principal of the Air Force Officer School, and Hoang Viet Quang, former deputy director of the Department of Operations – Ministry of National Defense. Both are indicted for violating land management regulations.

Major General Hoang Viet Quang at a conference in 2017. Photo: VATM

Major General Hoang Viet Quang at a conference in 2017. Photo: VATM

Aside from the two former major generals, all other defendants in the case have prior convictions. Four former leaders of Khanh Hoa province, namely former chairmen of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Chien Thang and Le Duc Vinh, former vice chairman Dao Cong Thien, and former director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tan Thai, are currently serving multiple sentences ranging from 13 years to 22 years 6 months in prison for land-related violations in the locality.

The remaining defendants are Nguyen Van Hau, 44, former chairman of the Board of Directors and general director of Phuc Son Group Joint Stock Company; Nguyen Thi Hang, Hau's sister and deputy general director of Phuc Son Group; and Tran Huu Dinh, Hau's close friend and director of Nam A Investment Joint Stock Company.

Five months ago, these three individuals received sentences of 30 years, 4 years 6 months, and 3 years in prison, respectively, for bidding irregularities across several provinces and cities. These offenses led to the prosecution of numerous officials, including former Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan.

This is the 5th case involving illegal land allocation decisions by former Provincial People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Chien Thang. Photo: Bui Toan

This is the 5th case involving illegal land allocation decisions by former Provincial People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Chien Thang. Photo: Bui Toan

The Central Military Procuracy determined that the case revolves around the management and use of the former Nha Trang airport. This area spans over 238 hectares of prime land adjacent to the beautiful Tran Phu coastal road, and was under the management of the Air Force Officer School. Within this area, the administrative section covered over 52 hectares, while the remaining nearly 186 hectares were managed by Regiment 920 and classified as special national defense assets.

As Khanh Hoa province experienced socio-economic development, the demand for land exploitation in Nha Trang city center grew urgent. On 11/9/2009, the Ministry of National Defense and the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister, seeking approval to convert the land use purpose. This request was granted.

By 2014, the Prime Minister issued specific directives for the Ministry to lead coordination with Khanh Hoa province and other relevant agencies. Their task was to finalize a land exploitation plan to recover capital for the Phan Thiet airport build-transfer (BT) project and to develop infrastructure for Regiment 920 in Cam Ranh. A key condition stipulated that all land transfers and allocations must strictly comply with legal regulations.

In 2015, the Government authorized the transfer of approximately 186 hectares of national defense land at Nha Trang airport to Khanh Hoa province. In 4/2015, Khanh Hoa province approved the Nha Trang Urban Area - Commercial - Service - Financial - Tourism Center Project, appointing Phuc Son Company as the investor without competitive bidding.

>>See current land status

The Central Military Procuracy identified that from 2015 to 2024, former provincial chairmen Thang and Vinh, along with former vice chairman Thien and major generals Quang and Cuong, violated land management regulations. During this period, although the Government, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense had agreed in principle to convert the Nha Trang airport land from national defense use to local socio-economic development, the Prime Minister had not yet approved the specific plan for arranging and handling the associated properties.

In the process of transferring approximately 186 hectares of national defense land at Nha Trang airport to the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, the defendants acted contrary to legal procedures, the Prime Minister's directives, and the unified stance between the Ministry of National Defense and the Provincial People's Committee. As a result, nearly 63 hectares of national defense land were illegally transferred to Phuc Son Company for the project, causing losses to the state in the management and use of national defense land.

In 7/2025, Phuc Son owner Nguyen Van Hau was sentenced to 30 years in prison in his first case, but did not appeal. Photo: Danh Lam

In 7/2025, Phuc Son owner Nguyen Van Hau was sentenced to 30 years in prison in his first case, but did not appeal. Photo: Danh Lam

The indictment states that Hau was aware that the national defense land at Nha Trang airport had not been fully approved by the Prime Minister for property arrangement, nor had decisions for land recovery or allocation been issued. Furthermore, the Nha Trang Urban Commercial - Service - Financial - Tourism Center Project lacked detailed 1/500 planning approval and construction permits from the province. Despite this, Hau instructed his company staff to promote the project, falsely claiming it had all necessary legal procedures.

Phuc Son then proceeded to sell land, signing 983 land use right transfer contracts with 683 individuals, thereby embezzling over 7,000 billion VND. Dinh and Hang assisted Hau in legalizing accounting documents for 211 contracts signed by Phuc Son, paid 10% of the contract value, and kept 1,000 billion VND off the books, transferring it to Hau and his sister to purchase gold and deposit in savings accounts.

During the investigation, the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Ministry of National Defense seized and temporarily held assets belonging to Hau, Dinh, Hang, and related individuals and companies. Authorities noted that Ms. Hang used 200 million VND from a frozen account and an additional 20 million VND contributed by her brother to mitigate the consequences. The Central Military Procuracy issued a decision to temporarily hold 1,422 land use right certificates registered to various organizations and individuals, a Mercedes S600 car registered to Phuc Son Group Joint Stock Company, 500 gold pieces from Nguyen Van Hau, 33 gold pieces from Nguyen Thi Hang, and all remaining funds from Hau after his sentence in 7/2025 to ensure enforcement.

Acknowledging Hau's offer to sell 501 gold pieces to pay 60 billion VND in compensation, the Central Military Procuracy decided to return the gold. Hau has since deposited the amount into the enforcement agency's account.

During questioning by investigators, Phuc Son owner Hau stated that after his company successfully received and transferred land, he gave gifts to General Quang during holidays as a token of gratitude. General Quang admitted to receiving gifts from Hau, totaling 3-4 billion VND, though he could not recall the specifics of the handover. He acknowledged the wrongdoing and voluntarily returned 4 billion VND during the investigation.

Thanh Lam