On July 12, 2025, a court in Hanoi delivered a stern message. Thirty people, including former high-ranking officials and business figures, were sent to prison. Their crimes involved bribery and dishonest dealings that cost the public nearly 1.16 trillion dongs. That’s about 1.72 billion Thai baht.
One particularly striking detail emerged during the trial. A former female official reportedly accepted a staggering 60 kilograms of cash. This case highlights a broader effort to clean up corruption in the country. Local reports shed light on the details of these financial misdeeds.
Nguyen Van Hao, who led the Phuc Son Group, received the longest sentence: 30 years. He was found guilty of bribing officials and breaking government bidding rules. Prosecutors said he paid out more than $5 million in bribes between 2010 and 2024. These payments helped his company secure big construction projects in three different provinces. He often delivered large sums of cash in suitcases. He dropped them off at offices or homes of the officials.
Among those convicted was Huong Thi Thuy Lan. She was a former head of the Communist Party in Vinh Phuc province. She will spend 14 years in jail for taking bribes. Ms. Lan admitted in court to receiving nearly $2 million in illegal payments. This included the infamous delivery of nearly 60 kilograms of cash.
These verdicts are part of a wide-ranging campaign against corruption. This effort has already seen significant figures removed from power. Two past presidents and three deputy prime ministers lost their jobs. Their dismissals resulted from these ongoing investigations. The government seems intent on showing that no one is above the law.