Former Bamboo Airways Chairman Barred from Leaving Vietnam over $1.7M Tax Debt

Vietnamese immigration authorities have barred former Bamboo Airways chairman Le Thai Sam from leaving the country over VND44.06 billion ($1.7 million) in unpaid corporate taxes.

The restriction follows a formal request submitted on Sept. 3 by the tax department in Gia Lai province, where the airline accumulated the arrears. Officials confirmed the travel ban applies to Sam directly as the carrier’s beneficial owner.

Under Vietnamese regulations, authorities define a beneficial owner as an individual who directly or indirectly controls at least 25 per cent of a company’s voting shares or charter capital. Provincial tax officers stated that the exit ban will remain in effect until Bamboo Airways settles the entire outstanding balance through the National Public Service Portal.

Leadership Shifts and Ownership Transfers

Sam joined the private carrier in 2022 and built up a controlling stake to become its largest individual shareholder. He took over as chairman from July 2023 to February 2024 before shifting to the role of standing vice chairman.

A brief return to the chairmanship in August 2025 ended after about a month, when his investor consortium transferred the carrier back to property developer FLC Group. Sam stated at the time that the managerial and capital demands of running the airline had outstripped his group’s financial capacity, though he pledged to remain accountable for operations during the restructuring phase.

Sam vacated the chairman role in mid-November 2025 while retaining his seat on the board of directors. He also remains general director and legal representative of Viet Bamboo Airways Cargo JSC and several related entities.

Turbulence in Private Aviation

Aviation operators across Southeast Asia continue to grapple with heavy debt loads and fleet restructuring following years of market volatility. Vietnamese tax regulators have increasingly turned to personal travel bans against corporate representatives to force prompt settlements on unpaid fiscal liabilities.

FLC Group is working to stabilise Bamboo Airways’ domestic flight schedules as the carrier resolves legacy tax debts with provincial authorities.