Hanoi: A luxury golf resort owned by U.S. President Donald Trump's family has swiftly received preferential treatment from Hanoi. This development comes at a time when Vietnam faces high tariffs from the Trump administration. Ground was broken on May 21 for the $1.5 billion luxury golf resort in northern Vietnam, a venture by the Trump family business. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, were present at the ceremony. According to Deutsche Welle, although these punitive "reciprocal tariffs" have been postponed until July, Vietnam remains under pressure due to its significant $123 billion trade surplus with the United States. Vietnam is among the most trade-dependent countries globally, with exports to the U.S. accounting for about 30% of its GDP. Insights from Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington, suggest that Vietnam is attempting to curry favor with the Trump administration by engaging in deals with the Trump family. Relations between Vietnam and the U.S. were positive during the early years of Trump's first term, with former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc being one of the first world leaders to meet Trump at the White House in 2017. However, tensions arose in 2019 when Trump accused Vietnam of unfair trade practices, a stance that was reversed after President Joe Biden took office. Although officially a private venture, the Vietnamese government has significantly facilitated the Trump Organization's golf resort plans. In mid-March, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Charles James Boyd Bowman, head of the Trump Organization's projects in Vietnam, and promised a thorough review to fast-track the project. Vietnamese media reports indicate that the government's efforts resulted in record-breaking speed for regulatory approval, with the project reaching groundbreaking within three months of initial filings. The New York Times revealed a letter from Vietnamese officials stating that the resort 's project required support from senior government members due to its special attention from the Trump administration. The Vietnamese government reportedly granted concessions more generous than those typically offered, ignoring its own regulations, possibly as a strategic move to strengthen ties with the Trump administration. The initial agreement for the golf course was signed last September, two months before Trump's electoral victory. Hoang Thi Ha, a senior fellow at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, suggested in a recent article that the Vietnamese government's backing might have been a preemptive measure to hedge its interests with Trump before the election outcome was clear. The strategic location of the golf resort in Hung Yen, just outside Hanoi, is notable, as it is the home province of To Lam, the communist party's general secretary. To Lam's rise to power, including his brief tenure as state president and party chief, has seen significant political shifts within Vietnam, with speculations of po tential dictatorial ambitions. Khac Giang Nguyen, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, noted that Vietnam appears to have extended significant hospitality to Trump-affiliated businesses recently. The White House maintains that President Trump's trade discussions are separate from his family's business dealings. Vietnam is actively working to mitigate tariff threats by pledging to reduce duties on U.S. imports and increase American goods purchases. Le Hong Hiep, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's Vietnam Studies Program, emphasized that currying favor with Trump may not guarantee Vietnam its desired outcomes. The key factor remains Vietnam's ability to address Washington's concerns regarding bilateral trade. If Vietnam fails to meet its commitments, the approval of the Trump Organization's project might not yield the expected benefits.