People Rush to Process Land and Housing Documents

HCMC – Residents Rush to Submit Land Documents Ahead of Administrative Restructuring

HCMC, June 30 – By 11 a.m., the Thủ Đức City branch of the Land Registration Office (old facility) was still packed with hundreds of residents hurrying in and out, holding stacks of land-related documents with tense expressions. The bustle extended from the outdoor waiting area to the hallways and into the main reception room, where no seats were left. Despite it being lunch break, the room remained full of people holding queue numbers, waiting for their turn. Staff had to repeatedly announce via loudspeaker that operations would pause and resume at 1 p.m.

Fear of Procedure Changes Drives Last-Minute Document Submissions

According to staff, the number of residents submitting land-related documents on June 30 in Thủ Đức City doubled compared to normal days. Ms. Phụng, an employee at the office, shared, “Normally, we open at 7:30 a.m., but today we had to start earlier, around 7 a.m., to accommodate the crowds. It’s expected we won’t finish processing everything until after 6 p.m.”

Nearly 800 files were submitted in just one day—a record high for the branch. Similar scenes played out across other districts like Củ Chi, where officials made sure all land-related procedures were resolved within the day to avoid any backlog as of July 1, when district-level People’s Committees officially transfer land administration authority to commune-level agencies under the new two-tier government model.

Authorities Assure Public: No Changes to Land Procedures

In response to growing public concern about possible disruptions or changes in administrative procedures following the restructuring, Mr. Trần Đình Quân, head of the Thủ Đức Land Registration Office, assured, “There is no need for panic. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has clearly instructed agencies not to require citizens to adjust land documents solely due to administrative reorganization. All valid documents remain legally effective.”

Mr. Nguyễn Minh Chánh, Vice Chairman of the former District 12 People’s Committee, added that there may be minor delays initially due to the adjustment of the administrative machinery, but operations will stabilize within days. “Instead of centralizing everything at the district level, files will now be processed directly at the commune level. This decentralization will improve efficiency and reduce congestion,” he said.

Modern Governance Enables Localized Land Management

According to Mr. Nguyễn Toàn Thắng, Director of the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment, this merger is not just about redrawing administrative boundaries. It requires a more comprehensive approach to land planning and management, driven by digitalization and interlinked databases. “With the expansion of administrative areas, land transactions and usage will naturally increase. We’re transitioning toward smart land management using digital platforms and interconnected systems,” he emphasized.

The establishment of a two-tier local government aims to streamline operations, clarify responsibilities, and improve public service quality. Commune-level authorities will handle the majority of administrative tasks directly related to daily life—particularly those involving land documentation and registration.

From July 1: 14 Land-Related Procedures Decentralized to Commune-Level

Starting July 1, commune-level People’s Committees will officially take over responsibility for 14 land-related administrative procedures, including:

• 5 procedures related to land title (Red Book) issuance: corrections, reissuance due to errors, initial issuance for organizations or overseas Vietnamese, and area reassessment.

• 5 procedures involving land allocation, leasing, and land-use purpose conversions.

• 4 people-focused procedures: donating land to the community or the State, multi-purpose land use, land dispute resolution, and organizing grassroots-level mediation.

This decentralization is expected to shorten processing times, reduce the burden on district-level agencies, and make land-related procedures more accessible to the public. If effectively implemented, the two-tier government model will lay the foundation for a transparent, modern, and citizen-friendly land management system.