Vietnam Uncovers Irregularities in Long Thanh International Airport Construction

Vietnam's government has revealed the discovery of irregular subcontractor transfer activities within the ongoing construction project of Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. This constitutes a significant violation that could lead to substantial economic losses for the nation and is being addressed as part of the Vietnamese Communist Party and state's ongoing anti-corruption campaign. Vietnam's audit authorities have identified economic violations amounting to over 44.623 trillion Vietnamese Dong (approximately USD 1.75 billion) in relation to these irregularities. This figure represents a considerable portion of Vietnam's annual GDP and poses risks of project delays and cost overruns. The uncovering of these violations underscores the importance of audit conclusions, as stipulated by Vietnam's Audit Law (effective 2025). The law clearly defines the legal value of audit conclusions, the responsibility for their implementation, and the duty to monitor, urge, and inspect their execution. Audit conclusions serve as the basis for handling violations, recovering assets, improving mechanisms and policies, enhancing the effectiveness of state management, and preventing future infringements. General Secretary and President To Lam, the highest leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, held a working session with the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Government Inspectorate. He emphasized the crucial role of audits and the necessity of preventing corruption to ensure national development. This move signals the government's strong commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability within its economic growth strategy, which is pursued under a one-party system. Long Thanh International Airport is a strategic project for Vietnam's economic development, expected to serve as a future international hub. While this incident casts a shadow over the project's smooth progression, the government intends to use this as an opportunity to strengthen oversight mechanisms across all construction projects. Notably, audits are also being intensified in various sectors in other regions, such as Quang Ngai Province, indicating a nationwide acceleration of efforts to detect and address irregularities.