In September, the investigative unit under the Ministry of Public Security found a multitude of legal offences revolving around the sale of publicly owned land and houses by the Da Nang administration and deiced to launch a probe into the matter.

The police requested that the Da Nang administration provide files on the sale of 31 publicly-owned houses and plots, alongside nine other projects, most of which are linked to Vu “nhom”.

Of these, there are three houses on Nguyen Thai Hoc, numbered 43, 45, and 47, that are releated to the city's former Party chief Nguyen Xuan Anh, who was removed of his post in October.

Anh and his family lived in the 43 Nguyen Thai Hoc house and uses the other two for business purposes.

According to the files, I.V.C, 79 JSC and Bac Nam 79, all owned by Vu, proposed to either lease or buy those land and houses to serve its “business and production activities” or build “company offices.”

The Da Nang administration agreed to the proposals along with a request that the properties be used under the right purposes and functions.

However, shortly after receiving the rights to the properties, the three companies failed to open any offices, instead deciding to resell some of the real estate at a profit and use the rest for other purposes.

The land plots and houses under investigation have been sold to companies under Vu’s umbrella without following proper auction regulations.  As a result, the city’s revenue took a hit.

The deals were also made at prices much lower than market rates.

In October, the Da Nang administration admitted in a report to the State Inspectorate of Vietnam and Ministry of Public Security that the prices were determined in favor of the businesses.