On December 17, Le Thanh Than, a prominent Vietnamese businessman, was charged by the Hanoi People’s Procuracy with fraud under Article 198, Clause 2 of the 2015 Penal Code. Than, who has been under investigation since July 5, 2019, is prohibited from leaving his residence.
Recently, Than appeared in Thanh Oai, where Muong Thanh Group met with the People’s Committee of Tam Hung Commune to accelerate ongoing projects, particularly the My Hung Urban Area, which began in 2008 but has faced delays. Representing Muong Thanh, Than pledged to allocate resources, resolve challenges, and expedite project timelines. He emphasized the group’s commitment to long-term collaboration with local authorities and residents in developing modern urban areas, contributing to socio-economic growth.
Le Thanh Than reappeared in August 2025 during a meeting with the People’s Committee of Tam Hung Commune.
In April 2023, Than was charged in a case related to the CT6 Kien Hung project in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, under Article 198 of the Penal Code for fraud.
In August 2023, the Hanoi People’s Court returned the case for further investigation due to unresolved issues, including determining the value of apartments without land use rights certificates for 488 units to establish a handling plan.
Le Thanh Than, known as the “cigarette tycoon,” is associated with numerous affordable housing projects priced as low as 15 million VND per unit, such as Dai Thanh Apartment, Xa La Urban Area, Linh Dam Apartment, and Kim Van – Kim Lu Apartment.
Over a decade ago, Muong Thanh apartments were priced between 14-16 million VND per m³, significantly lower than Hanoi’s market average. Units typically ranged from 600 million to over 1 billion VND, making them affordable for young families. This pricing strategy resulted in high liquidity, with thousands of units sold in short periods.
However, to maintain low prices amid rising land and construction costs, the developer increased building density and the number of units beyond approved plans, leading to numerous violations in Than’s projects.
The CT6 Kien Hung project in Ha Dong District is a prime example. Approved for 231 units, it was expanded to 1,602 units, exceeding the plan by 1,371 units.
Additionally, the developer unauthorizedly constructed the CT6C building and increased the adjacent houses from 15 three-story units to 38 four-story units.
The HH Linh Dam complex consists of 4 areas, each with 3 buildings.
At the HH Linh Dam complex, overbuilding also occurred. The project’s 12 buildings with approximately 9,000 units violated planning indicators, overburdening local infrastructure, schools, and kindergartens.
The Kim Van – Kim Lu Urban Area on Nguyen Xien Street was among 14 Muong Thanh buildings that lacked fire safety certification but were still occupied.
The CT5 Tan Trieu project faced criticism for exceeding the approved plan by 354 units. Its parking area and facilities, including cracked walls and exposed concrete, were poorly maintained.
At the VP6 Linh Dam project, the building height increased from 25 to 37 floors, with units rising from 138 to 840, exceeding the plan by 702 units. The parking area was reported as unkempt, encroaching on Linh Dam Lake.
Other projects followed suit. VP3 Linh Dam increased from 29 to 32 floors, with units rising from 192 to 451, exceeding by 259. VP5 Linh Dam increased from 29 to 33 floors, with units rising from 216 to 805.
Le Thanh Than, born in 1950 in Dien Chau District, Nghe An Province, began his career in infrastructure development in mountainous regions. In the early 1990s, he established Private Construction Enterprise No. 1 in Lai Chau, later renamed Private Construction Enterprise No. 1 in Dien Bien, headquartered in Dien Bien.
A turning point came in 1993 when his company built the Dien Bien Phu Hotel in Dien Bien. In 1996, Lai Chau Province requested the hotel’s transfer in exchange for another valuable land plot. This led to the construction of Muong Thanh Hotel in 1997, marking the brand’s official launch in Dien Bien.
Around 2000, Than shifted focus to Hanoi, starting with the Muong Thanh Hotel in Linh Dam (Hoang Mai District). After three years in Dien Bien, Muong Thanh expanded to the capital, venturing into real estate alongside hospitality.
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