Vietnam announces land acquisition overhaul to speed up housing, infra projects: What changes

The proposed rules would give affected residents priority for new residential land in the same location after their property is acquired.

Vietnam’s government has proposed measures to speed up housing and infrastructure development by allowing land acquisition and construction to begin before affected residents receive compensation.The proposed changes, being debated by lawmakers this week, aim to address delays in major projects caused by disputes over compensation and resettlement. They could be approved as early as October.Under the draft amendments, authorities would no longer have to wait for compensation plans to be approved and resettlement arrangements to be completed before acquiring and using land. The move is aimed at removing institutional bottlenecks and unlocking land resources “to serve socio-economic development and the goal of double-digit growth in the new period,” a government website said, citing agriculture and environment minister Trinh Viet Hung.Vietnam wants to achieve annual economic growth of at least 10% through 2030 as it seeks to accelerate development. The proposed reforms would also shift the focus of compensation towards “rebuilding people’s lives” after land is acquired. People whose residential property is acquired would be put on the priority list for new land in the same location.The changes come amid delays to projects including a Trump family-backed golf club in northern Vietnam and a plan to rejuvenate Hanoi’s Red River corridor, which could affect up to 200,000 people.The amendments would also introduce clearer land acquisition criteria and more transparent, data-driven land valuation methods.