Vietnam drafts land law amendment with new compensation rules and apartment usage limits

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is seeking public comment on a draft amendment to Vietnam's Land Law. The proposal replaces the current broad categories of non‑compensated land acquisition with a detailed list of nine specific cases, such as land transferred without land‑use fees or land leased with fee exemptions, to improve transparency and reduce disputes during land‑expropriation.

At the same time, Resolution 21 (Nghị quyết 21) sets a policy that newly built apartment complexes will have a usage term linked to the construction lifespan. Owners will retain the right to use the property long‑term and are obliged to finance reconstruction when the term expires, but there is no provision for forced demolition if the building remains in good condition. Legal experts say the resolution maintains existing commercial housing policies while clarifying owner responsibilities, and the revised Land Law will incorporate these provisions.