~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

Year :      [2006]      [2005]      [2004]      [2003]      [2002]      [2001]      [2000]      [1999]      [1998]      [1997]

Anger at Vietnam housing claims

Some senior officials in Vietnam are being granted privileged access to buy state property at bargain prices, according to the nation's state media. Le Duc Thuy, the governor of the State Bank, recently bought a state-owned house at a fraction of the market rate, the Thanh Nien newspaper reported. The former mayor of Hanoi, Hoang Van Nghien, is also reported to have tried to purchase his state-owned villa. The two cases have caused public outrage in Vietnam.

In an interview with the BBC Vietnamese Service, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Dang Hung Vo, condemned the practice. He said that the sale of public houses to officials at cheap prices was tantamount to corruption. If public officials are only interested in skirting the rules without caring for the people, many cases against ethical behaviour will happen, he said. Cadres have to serve the public interests, not personal gain, he said.

Public outcry

Mr Thuy already rented a state-owned flat, and had a privately-owned house. But he was still considered by the bank to be "facing difficulties in accommodation", the Thanh Nien newspaper said. Under state policy this meant he was eligible to lease the house in central Hanoi, which had previously been used as bank offices. According to the newspaper, Mr Thuy was later allowed to buy the house for $62,000, although the market price was estimated at several million dollars.

The former mayor of Hanoi who resigned in May, Hoang Van Nghien, is also reported to have sought to buy the state-owned villa he had leased during his time in office. The large villa has an estimated market value of around $1.5m, but Hanoi People's Committee was reported to have considered selling the villa to Mr Nghien for a much lower price. The story caused a public outcry when it was leaked to the media.. The People's Committee announced the same day that the villa was not for sale but that Mr Nghien was entitled to remain as a tenant. Both cases are particularly sensitive as it is increasingly difficult for ordinary Vietnamese to buy property. A recent study revealed that it will take an average person 50 years to afford the cheapest apartment in Hanoi.

The reaction also shows a growing public anger towards cases of corruption and abuse of public office, and a willingness on the part of the media to report it. In a survey last year, Vietnam was criticised by Transparency International, which monitors corruption globally, for its level of corruption. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who was elected in April this year, has consistently vowed to tackle corruption in the political system and increase the accountability of officials.

BBC News - October 5, 2006.