Tensions over land development in Ba Vì have escalated after a suspected corporate survey vehicle crashed into local residents and fled the scene.
The Latest: On the afternoon of Oct. 27, a large crowd of Ba Vì residents surrounded a silver car carrying four people suspected of working for Sun Group to survey residents’ land. According to a livestream by Facebook user Tra***, when residents spotted the vehicle in Giáp Thượng hamlet, the car sped away and crashed into three people, breaking one person’s leg.
- Another livestream from Facebook user Nguyen Duc Th***, showed that the people in the car had entered residents’ gardens and fields, then fled after being caught—leading to the accident. (10:36)
After the Accident: On the morning of Oct. 28, the Facebook account Nguyen Duc Th*** livestreamed two traffic police officers filling out paperwork in a meeting hall, surrounded by Ba Vì residents and police. (04:30)
- The livestreamer stated that “four people came to secretly survey residents’ land, and when residents caught them, they fled and caused a crash” (00:40). He further noted that “the traffic police and commune police haven’t been able to resolve it since 2 p.m. yesterday.”
- According to the livestreamer, city police arrived at the scene (00:52-01:00) and invited residents to the community hall, “but they didn’t question the people who caused the crash. They let them go, and now they’re questioning the people who were hurt.” (01:06-01:14)
- He added that a “head of the traffic police department” had promised to bring “both the car and the people there to be questioned.” However, he stated, “they invited residents up here, and there are only two sides: the people who were hurt and the police. The people who caused the crash have gone home.” (02:28-02:48)
- As of 5 p.m. on Oct. 28, the video had drawn 1,100 reactions and more than 400 comments.
Currently, Luật Khoa has not been able to confirm the identities of the individuals in the car, nor whether they worked directly for the investor or for a firm hired to carry out surveys.
- Furthermore, it is unclear who “directed” that the vehicles be taken to the station, and it remains unclear whether Ba Vì Commune authorities had informed residents that their land would be surveyed.
The Background: In late September, Ba Vì residents stayed up for many nights guarding their village, fearing the company would hold a ceremony in secret.
- In the Oct. 27 video, a resident recalled: “Burning incense and secretly holding the groundbreaking ceremony was one thing. Now they’re secretly measuring our land.”
No Response from Sun Group: At 10 a.m. on Oct. 28, Luật Khoa emailed Sun Group at the address listed on the company’s website to ask about the crash and the individuals in the car.
- As of 5 p.m. on Oct. 28, Luật Khoa had not received a reply.
Similarly, as of 3 p.m. on Oct. 28, Luật Khoa had found no announcement from Ba Vì Commune authorities, the police, or the investor regarding the incident, and there are no reports in state media.
Thành Phương wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on October 29, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
