Vietnamese Ministry of Health Deputy Minister Trần Văn Thuấn speaks during a public event. (Vietnam General Confederation Labor/Phoung Hoa)
On September 2, Vietnamese authorities arrested and prosecuted Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn on allegations of receiving a large amount of bribes, as part of an expanded investigation into alleged accounting violations and smuggling.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security said its Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic Crimes and Smuggling issued the prosecution decision, a detention order and a search warrant for Vietnamese Deputy Minister Thuấn. The measures were approved by the Supreme People’s Procuracy and carried out in accordance with the law.
The case concerns alleged violations of accounting regulations causing serious consequences and smuggling at Việt Mỹ Medical Investment JSC and other related organisations and localities. Authorities said the investigation had been expanded and would continue to determine the scale of the case, the roles and alleged offences of those involved and whether further individuals should be investigated. They also said the investigation aims to recover state assets.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister Thuấn had served as deputy health minister and was reappointed to the position in April 2025. He also serves as Chairman of the National Medical Council.
Before being appointed as the deputy health minister in 2020, Vietnamese Deputy Minister Thuấn held senior positions in oncology and hospital administration, including at K Hospital and the National Cancer Institute.
The Ministry of Public Security has not disclosed further details of the alleged bribery or the amount involved. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
The case comes months after former Health Minister Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến was sentenced to six years in prison on May 27 over violations in the management and use of state assets linked to the second facilities of Bach Mai and Viet Duc hospitals. The Hanoi People’s Court said the projects suffered more than 803.7 billion Vietnamese dong (30.83 million US Dollars) in losses and waste.
The case adds to Vietnam’s continuing anti-corruption and economic-crime investigations involving senior officials and state-linked institutions. The investigation places attention on oversight within the healthcare sector and the effectiveness of mechanisms designed to prevent financial misconduct and protect state assets. Any broader institutional implications will depend on the outcome of the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
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