Vietnam discusses land data digitalization and stricter land use regulations

During a recent seminar organized by the An Ninh Thu Do newspaper and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, officials discussed the progress of national land data digitalization. Currently, approximately 68.3 million out of 104.8 million land parcels in Vietnam—about 65%—have been integrated into the National Land Information System (VNLIS).

Experts emphasized that while digitalization aims to increase transparency and reduce paperwork, success depends on standardizing records and completing the legal framework. Digitalizing land data is considered a critical task as it directly impacts property rights, investment activities, real estate transactions, and urban planning.

In separate discussions during the 2nd session of the 16th National Assembly, lawmakers addressed the issue of land speculation. Delegate Ta Thi Yen proposed stricter sanctions against entities that hold land for projects without utilizing it, a practice described as “holding land while waiting for price increases.” Such delays lead to wasted resources, reduced supply, and increased social costs. Proposals include shortening the timeframe for land recovery in cases of subjective delays and increasing progressive fees for unused land to ensure more efficient resource management.