Former Ha Long chairman dismissed from Party
Pham Hong Ha, former chairman of Ha Long town, was dismissed from the Party Thursday following his arrest on charges of power abuse three months ago.
According to the Party Central Inspection Commission, Ha was dismissed for violations and shortcomings detected while he was member of the Ha Long Bay Management Board’s Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term and head of the board during 2016-2020.
Ha was found to have violated the principles of democratic centralism, self-criticism and criticism; as also broken state regulations on bidding and investment management.
Pham Hong Ha, former chairman of Ha Long town, Quang Ninh province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Dan Viet newspaper.
His violations had “very serious consequences, leading to bad public opinion and anger among cadres, Party members and people and reducing the prestige of Party organizations and agencies where he worked,” inspectors said.
On May 14, Pham Hong Ha was arrested for involvement in a scam to appropriate property and for abuse of power in performing official duties at the No.3 River Management Joint Stock Company and the Ha Long Bay Management Board.
Investigators said that from 2017 to 2021, the No.3 River Management Joint Stock Company signed contracts for management and maintenance of inland waterways in Quang Ninh province, as also contracts with the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration and a number of other agencies to regulate traffic on the Chanh River Bridge and other places.
In the implementation of the contracts, a number of leaders and employees of the company falsified documents and receipts to appropriate the state’s money. They also colluded with some officials of the Ha Long Bay Management Board to facilitate the signing of contracts on managing, maintaining and regulating traffic in Ha Long Bay against regulations.
Pham Hong Ha was selected chairman of Ha Long town in June 2014 following a stint as its vice chairman. He was also the former head of Ha Long Bay Management Board. In September 2020, Ha retired after 35 years of service.
Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized natural heritage site, is a big tourist attraction in northern Vietnam.
- Related News
- Read More
Malaysia’s economy grows robustly in 2025: IMF
Malaysia has shown notable resilience amid global trade tensions and policy uncertainty, with its economy growing at a healthy pace this year, supported by strong domestic consumption and investment, solid employment growth, and a global upcycle in the technology sector, according to Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Malaysia at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 10:07 pm GMT+7
Indonesia to stop rice imports next year
Indonesia will not import rice for either consumption or industrial use next year, citing sufficient domestic production, according to a government official.
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 10:04 pm GMT+7
Indonesia faces challenge of balancing wages, labor costs
Indonesia plans to raise minimum wages by about 5-7% in 2026 under a new formula signed into law by President Prabowo Subianto, a move that could test the country’s cost competitiveness in Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 10:00 pm GMT+7
Philippines extends sugar import ban
The Philippine Government has decided to extend its ban on sugar imports until the end of December 2026, as domestic supply has improved.
Southeast Asia - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 9:56 pm GMT+7
Duc Giang Chemical stock comes under heavy selling pressure as bottom-fishing shares return
DGC shares of Duc Giang Chemical Group JSC (DGC) closed Tuesday at VND71,600 apiece, down 4% from Monday which saw a 6.27% increase after four sessions of sharp declines last week.
Companies - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 9:49 pm GMT+7
Hanoi clears zoning for major mall project after Aeon exit, Thaco arm steps in
Hanoi authorities have approved a detailed zoning plan for an 8.03-hectare mixed-use site in Hoang Mai district, paving the way for a shopping mall-led development after Japan’s Aeon withdrew and a unit of Vietnam’s Thaco Group moved in.
Real Estate - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 5:05 pm GMT+7
Viettel Commerce partners with China’s Dreame Technology to expand home appliance ecosystem in Vietnam
Viettel Commerce and Import-Export Co. Ltd., one of the core pillars in trade and logistics of the military-run telecom giant Viettel, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China-based Dreame Technology, a global high-end technology brand, in Hanoi.
Companies - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 3:38 pm GMT+7
Former LPBank chairman becomes acting Sacombank CEO
Former chairman of Vietnamese private lender LPBank Nguyen Duc Thuy on Tuesday assumed the role of acting CEO at Sacombank, immediately after completing the handover at LPBank.
Banking - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 3:30 pm GMT+7
Workforce shortages accelerate global demand for integrated facility management
Labor shortages and rising expectations for operational performance are prompting many businesses to reassess traditional management models, write Savills Vietnam analysts.
Consulting - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 3:00 pm GMT+7
Property broker Cen Land shares stabilize after ‘Shark Hung’ responds to online rumors
Shares of Cen Land (HoSE: CRE), a major Vietnamese real estate brokerage, stabilized on Tuesday morning after vice chairman Pham Thanh Hung, widely known as “Shark Hung”, spoke out to deny online rumors following a sharp sell-off in the stock on Monday.
Companies - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 11:59 am GMT+7
Party Central Committee’s 15th plenum wraps up
The 15th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee concluded on Tuesday morning after two days of intensive working, completing all agenda items with a high degree of consensus and quality.
Politics - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 11:50 am GMT+7
Steel giant Hoa Sen sets up subsidiary in northern Vietnam
Hoa Sen Group (HoSE: HSG), one of Vietnam’s largest steel producers, has disclosed a board resolution approving the establishment of Hoa Sen Hai Phong One Member Limited Liabilities Company (HSHP), a wholly-owned subsidiary with charter capital of VND300 billion ($11.39 million).
Companies - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 11:31 am GMT+7
UOB's latest USD/VND projections for 2026 are 26,300 in Q1, 26,100 in Q2
Analysts at Singaporean bank UOB say they maintain a cautious stance on the Vietnamese dong (VND) and their updated USD/VND forecasts for next year are at 26,300 in Q1, 26,100 in Q2, 26,000 in Q3, and 25,900 in Q4.
Banking - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 10:07 am GMT+7
Vietnam's major food maker Kido delays 2024 dividend payout due to economic headwinds
Kido Group has postponed its planned cash dividend payment for 2024, citing persistent economic difficulties and the need to preserve cash flow for operations in late 2025 and early 2026.
Companies - Tue, December 23, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Petrovietnam chairman Le Manh Hung appointed acting Industry and Trade Minister
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has appointed Le Manh Hung, chairman of the council of members at state-owned Petrovietnam (PVN), as acting Minister of Industry and Trade.
Politics - Mon, December 22, 2025 | 9:55 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's top non-life insurer PVI surpasses $1 bln in revenue
PVI Insurance, a leading non-life insurer in Vietnam, has surpassed $1 billion in revenue, becoming the first non-life insurance company in the country to reach this revenue scale.
Companies - Mon, December 22, 2025 | 7:30 pm GMT+7
