Ho Chi Minh City proposes digital land certificate issuance

The Institute of Natural and Environmental Economics has proposed transitioning the issuance of first-time land use certificates (red books) to a digital platform to alleviate administrative pressure. This recommendation follows a sharp decline in the issuance of these certificates nationwide.

In Ho Chi Minh City specifically, only 15 first-time certificates were issued across 168 communes and wards during the first five months of 2026. Dr. Pham Viet Thuan, Director of the Institute, attributed this decline to both objective and subjective factors, noting that local authorities are still inexperienced in updating land data and some officials are hesitant to act due to fear of making errors.

The proposal suggests utilizing the National Public Service Portal to issue electronic certificates. This digital approach aims to minimize direct contact between citizens and officials, thereby reducing processing time, travel costs, and potential corruption. Furthermore, digitalizing the process is expected to increase transparency by requiring citizens to self-declare and commit to the legal origin of their land.