Developing land databases: Practices at the local level – Vietnam.vn

Completing the land database is a crucial task in implementing the National Data Strategy until 2030. The experiences in Thai Nguyen and Hanoi demonstrate the local authorities' efforts in collecting, standardizing, cleaning, and connecting data, aiming to improve the efficiency of land management.
On February 2, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 142/QD-TTg approving the National Data Strategy until 2030. The strategy identifies data as a new resource and a key factor for national digital transformation , creating new value to promote socio-economic development and enhance competitiveness.
Notably, within the national data development task group, the national land database is one of the databases requiring focused completion, along with national databases on population, business registration, finance, insurance, and civil servants. The data needs to be created in a machine-readable format, readily shareable, accessible, and usable; and simultaneously updated fully, in real time, ensuring quality according to the criteria of “accurate, complete, clean, and up-to-date.”
To realize these requirements, the development of land databases at the local level needs to be implemented synchronously from data collection, review, standardization to updating and connectivity. When information is complete and interconnected across systems, management agencies can more effectively utilize data for planning, monitoring changes, and resolving administrative procedures; while also facilitating citizens and businesses in searching for and using land information.
Thai Nguyen : Focusing on digitalization from the grassroots level.
In accordance with Plan No. 132/KH-UBND and Plan No. 133/KH-UBND dated April 2, 2026, of the Provincial People’s Committee, Thai Nguyen province is implementing a 100-day campaign to digitize, clean, and standardize data, while simultaneously accelerating land registration, cadastral record keeping, and completing the land database. This process is being carried out at the local level, with the participation of local authorities and citizens in declaring, reviewing, and verifying information.
In La Hien commune, the workload is quite substantial, with over 19,000 land parcels requiring data review and updating. As of May 29, 2026, the local authorities have guided the registration process for over 3,500 land parcels that have not yet been issued land use right certificates, and have completed registration for all 6,283 land parcels managed by the commune People’s Committee. Working groups have been mobilized to the grassroots level to disseminate information and guide people in completing the necessary paperwork.
Meanwhile, in Vo Nhai commune, one of the challenges is the large volume of archived records, with many documents accumulated over the years requiring review, classification, and organization before digitization.
As of the time this article is published, the locality has organized 78 meters of archival documents, completed the cataloging of 64 permanent records, and digitized 116 records with more than 10,000 pages of documents. Regarding land data, the commune has collected information on 2,449 out of a total of 24,595 land parcels to serve the database update.
The experience in these two localities shows that digitizing land data is not simply about transferring information from paper records to the system. This work requires reviewing original records, comparing them with the current land use status, and coordinating with the people to verify the information. This is a crucial step to minimize discrepancies and missing data right from the collection process, creating a basis for updating and exploiting the data later.
Hanoi: Stepping up data collection, verification, and connectivity.
In Hanoi, the city launched the “45-Day Land Database Construction Campaign” starting July 1, 2026, mobilizing the participation of all levels, sectors, and local authorities. As of October 14, 2026, the total number of land parcels established on the city’s cadastral map reached 4,826,776, an increase of 831,502 parcels compared to the start of the campaign. The number of parcels meeting the criteria of “correct, complete, clean, and viable” increased by 1,976,746.
To date, 86 communes and wards have completed 100% of their data collection; the remaining 40 communes and wards have all achieved a collection rate of over 90%. The verification process with the population database has reached approximately 4.6 million out of a total of 4.8 million land parcels, equivalent to 96%. This result has helped Hanoi improve its ranking in land database updates, moving from 25th to 6th place among 34 provinces and cities.
However, a significant amount of data still needs to be completed. The city still has 20,765 land parcels that require new data collection or additional information; 1,974,325 land parcels are already in the database but need further enrichment and cleaning.
To support localities in completing their tasks, Hanoi maintains 5 specialized working groups to assist the remaining 40 communes and wards, while also coordinating with the police force in verifying, identifying, and synchronizing land data with the national population database.
A notable aspect of Hanoi’s implementation is the integration of data completion with the ability to utilize and serve the people. The city is accelerating the transfer of data to a shared data center, connected via the iHanoi application, so that people can review and report errors in land plot information. Once standardized and connected, the data can support the management of land use changes, planning, land clearance, and the resolution of administrative procedures.
Based on the implementation experience in Thai Nguyen and Hanoi, it can be seen that building a land database not only requires resources to accelerate the digitization process, but also needs to address simultaneously issues related to data quality, updating, and exploitation.
First and foremost, data quality needs to be ensured right from the collection and standardization stages. Reviewing land records, comparing information with reality, and verifying data with land users are crucial to minimizing discrepancies and omissions, and creating a reliable foundation for data exploitation.
Furthermore, it is necessary to maintain regular data updates, instead of focusing solely on time-bound digitization campaigns. Changes in land ownership, intended use, and legal status need to be updated promptly, along with a clear delineation of responsibilities among relevant agencies and units.
Finally, it is necessary to strengthen connectivity and data exploitation between agencies and sectors. Interconnecting with the population database and related information systems not only contributes to reducing duplication and improving management efficiency but also facilitates citizens in carrying out administrative procedures, searching for information, and providing feedback. The process of sharing and exploiting data must also be linked to the requirements of ensuring information security and protecting personal data.
References
[1] Prime Minister (2024), National Data Strategy to 2030 .
[2] T. Mai (2026), “Digitizing land data: Creating a foundation for modern administration, data-driven governance”, Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee , https://thainguyen.gov.vn/kinh-nghiem-thuc-tien/so-hoa-du-lieu-dat-dai-tao-nen-mong-cho-nen-hanh-chinh-hien-dai-quan-tri-bang-du-lieu-273965 accessed 9/11/2026.
[3] TT Hien (2026), “Hanoi maintains 5 working groups to support communes and wards in collecting data”, http://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/ha-noi-duy-tri-5-to-cong-tac-ho-tro-xa-phuong-thu-thap-du-lieu-d839691.html accessed 9/11/2026.
DEPARTMENT OF GRASSROOT INFORMATION AND FOREIGN INFORMATION
MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM
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Mr. Pham Anh Tuan
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