After 10 years of signing the certificate, the district owes people nearly 2 billion VND
Recently, Lao Dong Newspaper reported that a restaurant in Dak R'lap District (Dak Nong) accused the officials of Kien Thanh Commune People's Committee and Kien Duc Town People's Committee of owing nearly 180 million VND in unpaid rice and water money for 9 years.
Many other business households also denounced the agencies of communes and towns for years of debt for goods, including items such as stationery, fresh flowers, drinking water and gifts... with a total amount of about 170 million VND.
After a series of reports, the Dak Nong provincial government has issued timely instructions.
Not only has it happened recently that 2 communes and towns (in Dak Nong province) owe money for food, water, reception, and stationery, but this incident has also occurred in many other provinces, including Nghe An, Lao Cai, etc.
On June 14, 2025, in Lao Cai, Ms. Tran Thi Tam (48 years old) - the owner of Canh Toan business household in Pho Rang town (Bao Yen district) - said that many commune-level units and specialized departments in Bao Yen district are owing money for goods and printing of the store. The debts have been owed for more than ten years, with a total amount of nearly 2 billion VND.
According to Ms. Tam, some units with large debts over the years include: Vinh Yen Commune People's Committee (over 252 million VND); Bao Ha Commune People's Committee (191 million VND); Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (old) (over 107 million VND); Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) (over 145 million VND)...
Ms. Tam also said that her shop specializes in providing stationery, printing banners and slogans for many units of Bao Yen district and People's Committees of communes in the area.
"Every time we buy and sell goods, we have a debt signed book, some units have a record confirming the full debt. However, it has been more than 10 years since 2012-2013, and many of the money has not been paid. This time, the district and commune are about to be abolished, so if they do not pay, we do not know who to demand," Ms. Tam said indignantly.
Or in mid-June 2025, the People's Committee of Chau Tien commune, Quy Chau district, Nghe An province continued to receive debt collection applications from many business households, with a total amount of payment requests reaching hundreds of millions of VND after many years of late payment.
Mr. Mai Quoc Cuong - a business owner in Tan Lac town - continued to file a lawsuit to demand a debt of 221.2 million VND. This debt arose from the supply of stationery, IT equipment, document cabinets and machinery repair for the commune over the years.
Mr. Cuong expressed: "All debts have been verified and have full legal documents. The delay in payment by the Commune People's Committee has affected our business activities".
Saying the dishes is very big but paying is very small, which is... "taking the book"
Previously, Ms. Lang Thi Tam, the owner of the Homestay Tu Tam business, also issued a document requesting the People's Committee of Chau Tien commune (Quy Chau district, Nghe An province) to pay the debt of more than 72.5 million VND from the food and beverage services that the People's Committee of the commune used in the period of 2019 - 2021.
Despite repeated requests for payment, the contracts between the two sides have not been completely resolved. Ms. Tam had to submit a petition to the People's Committee of Quy Chau district to claim her legal rights.
According to Mr. Sam Thanh Hoai - Chairman of Chau Tien Commune People's Committee, the Commune People's Committee is reviewing these debts and preparing to report to Quy Chau District People's Committee to find a solution. Previously, the People's Committee of Chau Tien commune issued a document requesting Mr. Lang Van Tra, former accountant of the commune, to hand over the relevant documents and papers for handling.
Previously, in April 2025, Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Mui - owner of Minh Mui restaurant in Thach Giam town, Tuong Duong district (Nghe An province) - publicly announced on social media that the district People's Committee owed food and "guest support" for a period of time from 2011 to 2015.
According to Ms. Mui, the total debt amounted to more than 153 million VND, of which 109 million VND had been paid, the remaining more than 44 million VND had not been paid. She has repeatedly requested payment but has not been responded to, forcing her to publicize the information to claim her rights.
After the information was spread online, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district reviewed and confirmed this debt. On April 3, 2025, the district paid the full amount of more than 44 million VND to Ms. Mui through her bank account.
Previously, some other restaurant owners in Thach Giam town also reported that the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district owed them money for " catering" meals. Reports from food businesses said that when officials come to order, they order very loudly, but when they pay, they say very little, which is... a book.
The incident of a commune, town or specialized departments owing individuals, restaurants, eateries, and stationery not only creates bad public opinion about the image of the agencies and local authorities where the incident occurred, but also significantly affects the business and business of individuals and restaurants in the area.
The case of unpaid food, hospitality, and shopping bribes has not been uncommon in recent years. One of the cases that caused a stir in public opinion nationwide in 2020 was the debt case of more than 50 billion VND at the District Party Committee and People's Committee of Yen Dinh District, Thanh Hoa Province. This debt incident occurred in the period from 2013 to 2015.
The verification results showed that some individuals violated the budget spending, leading to large debts, many officials were disciplined.
