Trump Organization eyes multi-billion-dollar projects in Vietnam amid tariff risks

HANOI (Reuters) - The Trump Organization and its partner in Vietnam are working on multiple investments worth billions of dollars in golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in the Southeast Asian country, a spokesman for the consortium told Reuters.

The plans by the family business of U.S. President Donald Trump are proceeding amid risks of U.S. tariffs on Vietnam, which has one of the world's largest trade surpluses with Washington and last year exported goods worth 30% of its GDP to the United States.

To rebalance the trade gap and avoid tariffs, Vietnam has pledged to increase imports from the U.S., cut duties and non-tariff barriers, and is also allowing Elon Musk's Starlink to offer its satellite internet services in the country while retaining full control of its Vietnamese subsidiary under a pilot scheme that circumvents strict limits on foreign ownership.

"The Trump Organization with its partner plans multi-billion-dollar investments in Vietnam," the spokesman said, noting the first project will break ground in May, just months after the deal was sealed, and a second one could be announced this year.

The groundbreaking for the first project, worth $1.5 billion and close to Vietnam's capital Hanoi, would take place just weeks after the Trump administration's highly anticipated decision scheduled on April 2 for "reciprocal tariffs" on unspecified countries with trade imbalances.

The spokesman said the project, which includes three 18-hole golf courses and a residential complex, is the largest in East Asia for the Trump Organization. The first two courses are expected to be operational by mid-2027, he said. The group is also involved in two golf clubs in Indonesia, one of which is under construction.

The project was announced in October by the Trump Organization's Vietnamese partner, the real estate developer Kinhbac City, but its timing had not been previously reported.

The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment.

Representatives for the consortium met Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last week, according to a report on the government portal.

GOLF CASH

A Reuters analysis last year found the golf course and resort business, thanks to multiple facilities in the United States, was the biggest driver of cash flow for the Trump Organization.

Sites for another golf or hotel project close to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's southern business hub, have been shortlisted with a deal expected to be announced by the end of this year, the spokesman added, noting it was too early to indicate the size of the possible investment.

He added the consortium was considering investments in three or four projects in Vietnam in total.

The spokesman declined to quantify the stake of the Trump Organization in the consortium, but said the group run by Trump's son Eric would operate the facilities.

Vietnam, with a population of 100 million, has around 70 golf courses and 100,000 local golfers, according to the Vietnam Golf Association.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; additional reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Saad Sayeed)