A local business owner has accused 13 commune-level and district-level government agencies in Bao Yen District, Lao Cai Province of delaying payment for office supplies and printing services, with total outstanding debts nearing 1.8 billion VND (approximately $70,000).

Speaking with VietNamNet, Tran Thi Tam (48), owner of the Canh Toan business in Pho Rang township, Bao Yen District, said that to date, 13 commune-level People's Committees and district departments still owe her a combined amount of over 1.79 billion VND.

Among the largest debts are: Vinh Yen Commune People’s Committee (over 252 million VND), Bao Ha Commune People’s Committee (191 million VND), the former Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (over 107 million VND), and the former Department of Natural Resources and Environment (over 145 million VND).

According to Tam, her shop supplied stationery and printing services to various offices under the Bao Yen District People's Committee and commune administrations. Each order was logged in a debt tracking book, with some units signing formal debt confirmation documents. However, after more than 10 years, many of these debts remain unpaid.

"Since 2024, my family has held meetings with these units to request payment and have them sign confirmation records. But now, even with district dissolutions and commune mergers taking place, these agencies are still dragging their feet," Tam said.

Speaking to the press, Hoang Kim Tan, Chairman of the Vinh Yen Commune People’s Committee, confirmed that local agencies owe Canh Toan a total of 252.21 million VND. This debt dates back to before 2020 and has not increased since Tan took office in 2021.

Tan also confirmed that the shop and the local government had signed a written debt confirmation.

“On Saturday afternoon, June 14, we will invite the former commune chairman, the retired accountant, and the shop owner to clarify the situation and seek an agreement. But currently, the commune cannot allocate funds from the current budget to cover old debts,” he explained.

Trinh Tien Duat, head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bao Yen, said he only assumed his position on March 6, 2025. The department is currently reviewing the legacy debts owed to Tam’s shop.

He noted that this issue spans multiple terms and departments.

“This is not just limited to the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Many other agencies are in the same situation. The district People's Committee has assigned the Department of Finance to coordinate with related units to resolve the issue,” Duat confirmed.

On June 13, Bui Cong Khanh, Deputy Chief of Office of the Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee, confirmed that Tam had submitted a complaint to the Central Office of the Communist Party regarding the unpaid debts. She reported that during her business operations, several local government units made purchases and recorded debts in her shop’s ledger but later failed to fulfill payment obligations.

The Central Office subsequently forwarded her complaint to the Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee for resolution.

Khanh added that the provincial Chairman had transferred the matter to the Bao Yen District Chairman for review and resolution according to legal procedures. The district is required to report back and respond to the citizen by June 25.

After Tam's complaint about 13 government units failing to pay nearly 2 billion VND, Bao Yen District Chairman Tran Trong Thong confirmed that a full review of debts owed to all businesses is underway.

Thong stated that each department must verify how and when the debts arose and will report details accordingly.

“We’ve issued a directive: not just for Ms. Tam’s case, but for all outstanding debts, every department must submit a detailed report by next week,” Thong told VietNamNet.

Duc Hoang