How to manage land in the two-level government period?

Proactively prepare for a two-tier government model

From July 1, 2025, the two-level local government model will be officially applied nationwide. In response to the new requirements of the two-level local government model, especially in the land sector, an area that directly affects the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has clearly identified the importance of careful preparation to avoid obstacles and delays in management work. The Department of Land Management, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, has proactively reviewed legal documents on land to propose decentralization and delegation of powers in accordance with the two-level local government organization model.

This agency has advised the Ministry to submit to the Government Decree No. 151/2025/ND-CP dated June 12, 2025, regulating the decentralization of authority of two-level local governments, decentralization, and decentralization in the land sector. At the same time, the Minister also issued Circular 23/2025/TT-BNNMT regulating decentralization, decentralization, and decentralization of state management authority in the land sector and Decision 2304/QD-BNNMT promulgating administrative procedures in the land sector. These documents are an important legal basis, creating a solid legal corridor for the implementation of the new model in a synchronous, effective, and efficient manner.

In addition to completing the legal framework, the Department of Land Management also actively accompanies and removes obstacles for localities, ensuring connectivity, transparency and taking people and businesses as the center of service. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued many documents directing localities related to land management when implementing two-level local government. Localities are also required to review procedures, standardize databases and train staff to meet new tasks.

Ms. Doan Thi Thanh My - Deputy Director of the Department of Land Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment - said that recently the Department has proactively reviewed the entire system of legal documents related to land, thereby advising the Ministry to promulgate and submit to the Government for approval documents regulating decentralization and delegation of power in accordance with the two-level local government model.

The handbook consists of two parts. Part one systematizes the authority and tasks of the People's Council, People's Committee, People's Committee Chairman and specialized land agencies at the provincial and communal levels. This part will help the government fully visualize the work that needs to be done when implementing the two-level local government model.

Part two presents in detail the administrative processes and procedures in the land sector, including: Land use planning and plans; land recovery, compensation, resettlement support; land allocation, land lease, permission to change land use purposes; land registration, property attached to land, issuance of land use right certificates, ownership of property attached to land; land dispute resolution.

Technical instructions on land recovery and red book issuance procedures

The handbook has a dedicated section that provides detailed instructions on the 16 steps of the land acquisition process, from planning to organizing inventory, issuing decisions, paying compensation and handing over the site. The process includes developing a land acquisition plan, organizing meetings with people, issuing notices, inventorying assets, preparing and approving compensation plans, and implementing compensation and handing over land.

Regarding the procedures for granting the first Certificate of land use rights and ownership of assets attached to land by the commune level, the Handbook also provides specific instructions including 3 steps, clearly assigning responsibilities between state agencies and people. This process includes submitting the application at the Public Administration Service Center, the agency handling the procedure checks and transfers the application to the People's Committee at the commune level for verification, and finally the People's Committee at the commune level issues the Certificate after completing financial obligations.

The handbook has just been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment .

The time for processing procedures for first-time land registration shall not exceed 17 working days; for land registration with issuance of Certificate shall not exceed 20 days. For mountainous areas, islands, remote areas or areas with particularly difficult socio -economic conditions, the time shall be extended to a maximum of 30 working days.

The Handbook has specified the authority and tasks of provincial and commune authorities in land management, ensuring unity, transparency and efficiency in implementation. Specifically, the authority and tasks of the People's Council, People's Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level, and the Department of Agriculture and Environment are 6, 50, 37 and 15, respectively. At the commune level, the authority and tasks of the People's Council, People's Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee, and land management agencies are 4, 45, 44 and 19, respectively.

The drafting agency hopes that this is a useful handbook to help localities clearly understand regulations, authorities, and procedures, thereby effectively implementing tasks according to decentralization, delegation of authority, and new authority assignment. At the same time, the handbook also helps people better understand administrative procedures, facilitating the process of implementing rights and obligations related to land.