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Vietnam raises land‑use fines and expands commune officials' penalty powers
Effective 31 August 2026, Vietnam’s government will implement Decree 281/2026/NĐ‑CP, amending Decree 123/2024/NĐ‑CP on administrative penalties for land‑use violations. The decree dramatically increases the maximum fine a commune‑level chairperson can impose, from the previous 5 million VND to 250 million VND – a 50‑fold rise – and adds powers to issue warnings, suspend consulting services for three months, and enforce remedial actions.
In parallel, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued document 73/2026/VBHN‑NĐ‑BNNMT on 27 July 2026, setting detailed fines for a range of land‑related offences. Penalties for obstructing land use range from 1 million to 10 million VND, with more serious breaches (e.g., illegal excavation, wall construction) attracting fines up to 20 million VND. The document also prescribes fines of 2 million to 20 million VND for falsifying land documents and for false statements that affect land‑title issuance.
The new rules include exemptions, such as no penalty for delayed registration of land‑use changes when the land right is obtained for an investment project under Article 127 of the Land Law. Additionally, violation records filed before 31 August 2026 that have not yet resulted in a decision will not be enforced. Four remedial measures are added, requiring violators to restore the land to its original condition.
Entities
Chairperson of Commune People's Council (Vietnam) · Decree 281/2026/NĐ‑CP · Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Vietnam) · Vietnam · Vietnam Land Registry
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued document 73/2026/VBHN‑NĐ‑BNNMT on 27 July 2026 detailing land‑related administrative fines. soha.vn
- [● 2 SOURCES] The decree introduces four remedial measures, including requiring violators to restore the land to its original condition. tienphong.vn
- [● 2 SOURCES] Violation records filed before 31 August 2026 that have not yet resulted in a decision will not be penalized. tienphong.vn
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The ministry document penalizes falsification of land documents with fines ranging from 2 million to 20 million VND. soha.vn
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The document sets fines for obstructing land use ranging from 1 million to 10 million VND, with higher penalties for serious violations up to 20 million VND. soha.vn
- [● 2 SOURCES] The decree raises the maximum fine a commune chairperson can impose for land violations to 250 million VND, up from 5 million VND. tienphong.vn
- [● 2 SOURCES] The decree adds an exemption: no penalty for failure to register land‑use changes when the land right is obtained for an investment project under Article 127 of the Land Law. tienphong.vn
- [● 2 SOURCES] Decree 281/2026/NĐ‑CP takes effect on 31 August 2026, amending Decree 123/2024/NĐ‑CP on land‑use administrative penalties. tienphong.vn