An Overview of Foreign Land Acquisition in Vietnam

According to official doctrine, land in Vietnam belongs to the people, while the use of such land is administered on the people’s behalf by the State. Thus, “land ownership” is more appropriately referred to as a “land use right” (LUR). The State administers the LUR by issuing a Land Use Right Certificate (LURC), similar to a title deed to real property in the West. LURCs designate, among other things, the duration and purpose of the land use. Any use of the land beyond the scope of the LUR can lead to a withdrawal of the LUR by the State.