The Trump Organization and a local partner are studying plans to build a skyscraper in Vietnam’s business centre, Ho Chi Minh City. According to a Vietnamese government document seen by Reuters journalists, Eric Trump is expected to visit this week.
The visit by US President Donald Trump’s son comes just after Vietnam gave the green light to the Trump family business for a separate $1.5 billion golf project, as the export-dependent Southeast Asian nation negotiates with Washington to avoid punitive trade tariffs.
According to an internal document, Ho Chi Minh City officials have been invited to “attend a dinner with Eric Trump, Senior Vice President of the Trump Organisation” to be held Thursday night at a downtown hotel.
The May 15 document, signed by the acting head of the city’s Department of Foreign Affairs, states that Trump Organization representatives will visit the upscale Central District.
There, they will “tour the proposed Trump Tower location and hope to hold a working meeting with city leaders on the project,” the document added, inviting local authorities to co-operate with the business delegation.
The Trump Organisation is run by Trump’s children after he handed over the leadership after winning his first term as US president.
Both meetings were confirmed in a public schedule posted on Monday on Ho Chi Minh City’s website, which, however, did not detail their content or the names of the participants.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Trump Organisation and Kinhbac City did not respond to requests for comment.
As the plan to build the skyscraper is in its initial stages, it is unknown whether it will be implemented by the Trump Organisation and whether authorities will approve it.
Billions of dollars worth of plans
Vietnam could face duties of 46 per cent on exports to the US if it fails to reach a compromise with the White House before global “reciprocal” duties expire in July.
He has promised Washington to avoid duties by lowering duties and non-tariff barriers, fighting trade fraud and counterfeiting, and offering favourable terms to Starlink, a company owned by close Trump ally Ilon Musk, to roll out internet services in the country.
The plan for the Trump delegation’s visit, which could change, comes after Vietnam last week approved a plan by the Trump Organisation and Kinhbac City to invest $1.5 billion in golf courses, hotels and property in the north of the country.
A person with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed Eric Trump’s visit to Vietnam this week and said a groundbreaking ceremony for a golf club in northern Vietnam is scheduled for Wednesday.
The person declined to give his name because the events are still being organised.
Reuters reported in March that the groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled for May, and the Trump Organisation and its local partner are also looking for additional projects in the country.
While they are considering a multi-billion dollar investment in Vietnam, it is unclear how they would split costs and revenues, as well as what conditions are set for the use of Trump’s franchise.