Health official arrested in medical equipment scam, businesswoman wanted
Police arrested Phan Huy Anh Vu, Director of Dong Nai's Department of Health, on Friday and are searching for Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, former chairwoman and CEO of Advanced International JSC (AIC), over a scam in the southern province.
Nhan, 53, and Vu, 55, were accused of “violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences,” To An Xo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security, said.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, former chairwoman and CEO of AIC (left), and Phan Huy Anh Vu, Director of Dong Nai's Department of Health. Photos courtesy of AIC Group and CDC Dong Nai.
When committing the charged offense, Vu was Director of Dong Nai General Hospital, which was put into operation in April 2015 after several years of construction, according to police. The equipment procurement bidding scam took place at the hospital.
Police are also investigating charges against seven others, namely former AIC Deputy CEO Hoang Thi Thuy Nga; Nguyen Cong Tien CEO of New Generation Valuation JSC; Ninh Van Sinh, an ex-valuator at the company; Vu Quang Ngoc, Deputy Director of Medicosult Vietnam Joint Venture; and three AIC employees - Nguyen Quang Minh, Nguyen Tien Thu, and Hoang The Quynh.
Police said they are all involved in the bidding for packages to purchase medical equipment for the Dong Nai General Hospital project, which was approved by provincial authorities at an investment of over VND1.9 trillion ($82.9 million).
Investigators found violations during the preparation of dossiers for the tenders of 12 packages to purchase medical equipment in the 2013-2015 period. Executives from AIC, the consulting firm and valuation company have "colluded, inflated the price” of medical equipment, enabling AIC to win 12 packages at VND476.87 billion ($20.77 million), causing damages of some VND152 billion ($6.62 million).
AIC was established in 2005, specializing in labor export. It has become a multi-sector corporation with more than 10 subsidiaries. In recent years, the company has won numerous bidding packages to supply equipment in healthcare and education across the country.
- Related News
- Read More
ThaiGroup plans $4.9 bln tourism-resort complex in northern Vietnam
Vietnam’s multi-sector corporation ThaiGroup plans to launch a VND128 trillion ($4.86 billion) tourism and resort complex in the northern province of Ninh Binh, home to the UNESCO-recognized Trang An scenic landscape complex, later this year.
Real Estate - Mon, May 11, 2026 | 10:41 pm GMT+7
Vietnamese dairy giant Vinamilk plans cautious price hikes as input costs rise
Vietnam’s top dairy producer Vinamilk (HoSE: VNM) plans to raise product prices by around 2-3% as the company faces renewed pressure from higher raw material and logistics costs, according to brokerage Vietcap Securities following a recent investor meeting.
Companies - Mon, May 11, 2026 | 10:11 pm GMT+7
Vinaconex shifts toward property, infrastructure under former CEO
Nguyen Xuan Dong has returned to Vinaconex as chairman after serving as CEO from late 2018 to April 2026, a period marked by multiple challenges including disputes with Sovico Group, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and geopolitical tensions that drove up raw material costs.
Companies - Mon, May 11, 2026 | 3:07 pm GMT+7
HCMC sees surge in land-related revenue as property firms pay tens of millions of US dollars
Budget revenue from land in Ho Chi Minh City has rebounded sharply as a series of real estate projects overcome legal bottlenecks and developers begin fulfilling financial obligations, according to the city’s Finance Department.
Real Estate - Mon, May 11, 2026 | 12:58 pm GMT+7
Average lending rates begin edging lower: Vietnam central bank
Average lending rates in Vietnam have started to decline slightly as the central bank steps up measures to support liquidity and ease borrowing costs, said Pham Chi Quang, head of the State Bank of Vietnam's monetary policy department.
Banking - Mon, May 11, 2026 | 11:43 am GMT+7
Battle for Vietnam beer market share shows no signs of cooling as firms ramp up advertising spending
After a period of decline, the Vietnamese beer market is entering a recovery cycle amid an increasingly costly advertising battle among major producers.
Economy - Mon, May 11, 2026 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Taiwanese apparel material supplier Paiho injects additional $120 mln into southern Vietnam unit
Paihong Vietnam Co. Ltd., a unit of Taiwan-based Paiho Shih Holdings Corporation serving the footwear and apparel industries, has decided to raise capital by $120 million through the issuance of 120 million new shares.
Industries - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 5:28 pm GMT+7
Vietnam calls for expanded flexible financing tools from ADB
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has called on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to expand flexible and preferential financing instruments better suited to Vietnam’s funding needs for development investment in the coming period.
Economy - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 4:08 pm GMT+7
Asia’s leading luxury travel magazine hails Hanoi's new opera house: 'Move aside, Sydney'
Even while under construction, the new Hanoi Opera House at West Lake has become a focal point for international media.
Companies - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 11:21 am GMT+7
Duc Giang Chemicals CEO reassures shareholders, accepts profit erosion pressure
CEO of Duc Giang Chemicals Group JSC (HoSE: DGC) Luu Bach Dat admitted shortcomings in the company’s legal compliance following the arrest of senior executives and pledged to close regulatory loopholes to prevent similar issues in the future.
Companies - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 10:54 am GMT+7
Vietnam developer Saigonres plans $650 mln investment for next 5 years
Saigon Real Estate Group JSC (Saigonres) plans total investment of VND17.11 trillion ($650.37 million) for 2026-2030, implying average annual capital demand of about VND3-4 trillion ($114-152 million).
Real Estate - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 10:15 am GMT+7
Firms must abandon five leadership habits to navigate AI era: FPT CEO
The important thing is not to chase AI, but to apply AI to solve the right organizational problems, said Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation, a leading technology company in Vietnam.
Companies - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Trung Nam Group's solar power arm suffers $37 mln loss amid rising debt pressure
Trung Nam Thuan Nam Solar Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of the multi-sector Trung Nam Group, incurred a net loss of VND969 billion ($36.83 million) in 2025, reversing a profit of VND138.2 billion ($5.35 million) a year earlier, according to its 2025 earnings statement.
Companies - Sat, May 9, 2026 | 3:01 pm GMT+7
French firms eye Vietnam’s North-South high-speed railway project
A delegation of 15 major French companies and industrial groups has expressed interest in participating in Vietnam’s planned North-South high-speed railway project.
Infrastructure - Sat, May 9, 2026 | 2:38 pm GMT+7
Grocery chain Bach Hoa Xanh opens 1st store in Hanoi, takes cautious northern Vietnam expansion approach
Bach Hoa Xanh, a grocery chain operated by Vietnam’s leading retailer Mobile World Investment Corporation (HoSE: MWG), has opened its first store in Hanoi, marking entry into one of the country’s most competitive consumer markets.
Companies - Sat, May 9, 2026 | 8:17 am GMT+7
Intel to continue expanding investment in Vietnam: exec
U.S. chipmaker Intel will continue expanding investment, supporting workforce training, and helping develop Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem as the country refines investment support mechanisms to retain large-scale high-tech projects, said its executives.
Industries - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 7:48 pm GMT+7
