Regarding the proposal to transfer LROs to the commune level to facilitate land procedures for citizens, Mai Van Phan, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Land Administration, discussed the issue with VietNamNet.

The question of whether to transfer LROs to the commune level has recently attracted interest in many localities, especially as the two-tier government model enters the final stages of completion. In your opinion, is this proposal suitable for the current stage?

The model of a centralized LROs directly under the Department of Agriculture and Environment, with district-level branches, was developed after pilot results in four localities. This organizational structure is similar to many countries like the US, Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia, following the principle of socialization, staffing reduction, and administrative procedure streamlining, while striving for transferring specialized work to public service units.

Accordingly, the government only performs the initial legal determination, while subsequent changes such as transfers, inheritance and mortgages are handled by LROs. Currently, the single-tier LRO model is operating effectively and has proven successful in many provinces.

In practice, the system of LRO branches has helped reduce fragmented authority, ending overlaps in professional workflows, especially between establishing initial legal status and handling citizens’ rights.

This model also accelerates the issuance of certificates, cadastral record adjustments and land data updates. At the same time, it provides major support for land acquisition and site clearance, the areas that require highly skilled measurement and inventory teams.

Under current conditions, LRO branches remain the core workforce for major missions:

First, implementing the Politburo’s Resolution 57 and Plan 515 on enriching and cleaning land data. This is an enormous workload requiring personnel deeply knowledgeable in land administration.

Second, LRO branches support public investment projects by conducting measurements and cadastral mapping in teams of 3–4 people. Commune-level offices typically lack officers with the necessary expertise.

Third, more than 80 percent of LRO branches are financially self-sufficient. If transferred to communes, all operating costs, including salaries, allowances and other expenses would fall on the state budget, creating substantial pressure.

Fourth, 55 percent of personnel are contract workers. Transferring them to commune level would complicate staffing and financing, increasing budget burdens and potentially enlarging the administrative apparatus.

From a management perspective, any transfer of authority must be carefully studied to avoid expanding bureaucracy or creating overlapping duties. Adjustments must ensure assigned tasks are fulfilled, improving service to citizens without reversing the goals of administrative streamlining and modernization.

So, when would it be appropriate to transfer some activities of LRO branches to commune level?

Following the Party’s directives and Government instructions on reorganizing the administrative apparatus into a lean, efficient 2-tier local government model, reorganizing the LRO system must remain consistent, avoid overlap, and match land administration decentralization. It must also ensure the timely fulfillment of urgent tasks assigned by the Party and Government.

Notice 371 (October 4, 2025) from the Party Central Office summarizing the conclusion of Party Chief To Lam at the meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Document 20 (October 17, 2025) from the Steering Committee on reorganizing administrative units and building the 2-tier government model - regarding establishing multi-sector public service units at the commune level both show guidance on reviewing and reallocating staffing paid by the state budget.

They say: "Based on the total number of salaried civil servants from the state budget (excluding education and health service personnel), the Provincial People's Committees are immediately requested to review, balance, and allocate the number of salaried employees when establishing this public service delivery unit at the commune level”. 

We are currently reviewing legal regulations and the reality of the Land Registration Office system in general and the Land Registration Office Branches in particular to develop the most suitable option, ensuring no disruption or interruption during implementation.

There are complaints that commune officials do not have access to land data when receiving applications. Is this true?

Before implementing the 2-tier government model, 495 out of 696 districts nationwide had completed cadastral databases, with 49.7 million land plots in operation.

After reorganizing the system, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment instructed restructuring data under the province–commune format. To date, 2,342 out of 3,321 communes and wards have been granted access to land data. The remaining units are being connected and updated.

The lack of data only occurs temporarily in some communes due to incomplete technical connections or insufficient training, not a widespread issue.

Vu Diep