The Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Economics in HCMC has proposed that the provincial land registration office become the single focal point receiving and processing all cases related to natural resources and land, including first-time certificate issuance. 

This means commune authorities would no longer handle land-related tasks, except for matters involving land clearance, land allocation and leasing under delegated authority, and land-use purpose changes within a commune or inter-commune area.

Many readers have responded with differing opinions: some supported transferring all procedures to the commune level, some agreed with the provincial-level plan, and others suggested an online submission option.

Commune authorities

Reader Do Chung AHM commented: “Since administrative units have already been consolidated, land-related procedures should be fully assigned to commune authorities.”

Sharing this view, Xuan Thuy noted: “Land procedures should be handled at the commune level. District-level offices are gone, so land registration offices should return to the commune level as per policy.”

“Handling at the commune level helps people. If disputes arise, commune authorities understand the situation better. Avoiding unnecessary procedures can make things easier for the public,” reader Duc Nguyen Trung said.

Reader Anh Phuong added: “District-level land registration offices are always overloaded, and many procedures take forever. Bringing things down to the commune level would reduce difficulties and speed up processing. Many cases have remained unsettled at the district level for many years. As they have been transferred to the provincial level, the time of settlement has become even farther away. I hope procedures are handled as close to the people as possible.”

“After the merger, the administrative boundaries are wider. Many places are 200–300 kilometers away from the provincial center, forcing people to travel long distances, back and forth, to resolve land procedures. We need to figure out how to be convenient for the people, and how to manage land so that people can use their land effectively," reader Minh Pham suggested.

Land data online

Meanwhile, some readers supported keeping the provincial land registration office as the primary authority. People would submit dossiers at commune-level one-stop service centers, and specialized agencies would handle the rest.

According to Vo Hien, “Everything should go to the provincial land registration office for professionalism. Citizens only need to go to one place to handle all procedures, avoiding the need to visit multiple offices.”

Reader Dat Nguyen wrote: “Provincial offices have proper expertise, so processing is faster than at the commune level. The Land Registration Office is financially self-sufficient, and the system in many places is overloaded. Commune offices should remain the initial guidance point, while technical handling stays with the province. The goal is fast, simple procedures. If a dossier has to go through 2–3 levels, this wastes time.

“Besides, if responsibilities are divided across 3,321 communes, data becomes fragmented and there will be 3,321 interpretations of the law, i.e., everyone does things their own way. Meanwhile, provincial authorities find it difficult to supervise commune agencies regularly.”

Another reader wrote that he doesn’t care which agencies will handle procedures, but the handling process must be transparent. All land-related procedures should be publicly posted in village and neighborhood halls so everyone can have sufficient information. Without transparency, assigning authority to communes may worsen the problem.

Reader Dong Son added: “Other countries have done this for years; we should learn from them. If land data is digitalized, let people submit online. Clearly list which documents must be scanned and uploaded (those who can’t should hire scanning services or ask relatives). Once the online dossier is received, authorities verify it. If approved, citizens only need to present original documents for comparison before issuing new certificates.

“After new certificates and documents are issued, the new owner begins paying property tax from that day, and the previous owner's tax obligation stops, with no gaps or interruptions. This method does not depend on the submission location because it can be processed online. People only need to go to the commune level for verification for convenience; the completed certificates and documents will be sent to the person's address via delivery service.”

Hong Khanh