Rare Opportunity: Prime Land Plot with Red Book in Hai Phong – Owner’s Dream Home Left Abandoned

A man purchased land, built a house, and was on the verge of completion when he was sued for constructing on someone else’s property. Upon presenting legal documents to prove ownership, a shocking paradox emerged: both parties held red books (land ownership certificates) for the same plot of land.

From landowner to victim, the man’s nearly finished house—just a month from completion—was halted, and he temporarily lost the right to use the land he had purchased. This unprecedented case occurred in Thien Huong Ward, Hai Phong City.

Almost Finished, Now Abandoned

According to Mr. La Van Kien (born in 1981), in February 2020, his family purchased plot number 10A in Village 8, Thien Huong Commune, former Thuy Nguyen District (now Ward 5, Thien Huong Ward, Hai Phong City) from Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xinh. At the time, the People’s Committee of Thien Huong Commune (former) certified the sales contract for his family.

While awaiting the transfer of the land ownership certificate, Mr. Kien applied for permission from the Thien Huong Commune People’s Committee to build a house, which was approved. The committee assigned a land officer to measure and demarcate the plot for the house’s foundation.

By August 2020, as the house neared completion, Mr. Kien discovered that his plot encroached 100% on the land of Mrs. Doan Thien Huong’s family (also residing in Village 8, Thien Huong Ward). Mrs. Huong reported the matter to local authorities, claiming Mr. Kien was building on her family’s land.

Consequently, construction on the house was halted. Mrs. Huong also temporarily lost her land use rights, despite holding a certificate issued by Thuy Nguyen District authorities.

Over the past five years, Mr. Kien has repeatedly filed complaints with various authorities, but the issue remains unresolved. On March 18, 2024, after years of futile waiting, Mr. Kien and Mrs. Huong submitted another petition to the Thuy Nguyen District Police and Hai Phong City Police, receiving a notice to contact the Thuy Nguyen District Police for resolution.

Following the notice, both parties provided additional evidence to the investigator as requested. However, they have received no further updates.

Frustrated, on November 12, 2024, Mr. Kien and Mrs. Huong submitted another petition to the People’s Procuracy of Thuy Nguyen District and Hai Phong City, only to be informed that their case had been forwarded to the Investigative Police Agency of Thuy Nguyen District. The matter remains unresolved.

“For over five years, the issue has not been settled. My family of five has no home, and my mother suffered a stroke. After much effort and borrowing, we built a house only to abandon it and rent elsewhere. Mrs. Huong lost her land rights.

We urge the authorities to investigate and resolve this matter promptly, preventing further harm to citizens and upholding local credibility,” Mr. Kien lamented.

Landowner Turned Victim

Mrs. Doan Thien Huong shared that in 2003, she purchased the land from Mr. Tran Van Dong and had the ownership certificate transferred to her name. Her family bought the land for their son to build a house, but due to financial constraints, it remained vacant.

In 2019, Mrs. Huong went to Hanoi to care for her grandchild during the COVID-19 lockdown, preventing her from regularly checking on the land. In September 2020, upon returning home, she discovered Mr. Kien’s family constructing a house on her land. She promptly reported this to the Thien Huong Commune People’s Committee.

Mrs. Huong stated, “The Thien Huong Commune People’s Committee summoned both parties and declared the matter beyond their jurisdiction, advising us to report it to the district. However, after waiting, we received no response from the district or any other authority.”

“I then petitioned the People’s Court of Thuy Nguyen District, which declined jurisdiction, directing us to the Hai Phong City People’s Court.

The city court concluded that the error lay with the local authorities and instructed us to petition the Thuy Nguyen District People’s Committee. Despite multiple petitions, the district has taken no action to address our complaints,” she added.

After prolonged inaction, Mrs. Huong petitioned the Thuy Nguyen District Police, who invited her for questioning and evidence submission.

“We’ve inquired multiple times, and the investigator claims the case is still under investigation. Despite over two years, we’ve received no updates. When we escalated to higher authorities, they referred us back to the Thuy Nguyen District Police or People’s Committee. Years have passed, yet the case remains unresolved,” Mrs. Huong lamented.

Reflecting on her legally certified land now unusable, Mrs. Huong said, “I own the land but cannot build a house for my son or live on it. Mr. Kien built a house but cannot occupy it. We are both victims, yet no authority has resolved this or restored our rights.”

On September 22, the Thien Huong Ward People’s Committee informed VTC News that they had received Mr. La Van Kien’s petition and assigned the relevant department to review the case. Once all documents are gathered, the committee will petition higher authorities for swift resolution.

Meanwhile, the Hai Phong City People’s Procuracy reported that in 2022, during their oversight of the civil case between Mr. La Van Kien and Mrs. Doan Thien Huong, they found that the Thuy Nguyen District People’s Committee and the Land Registration Office had erred in issuing overlapping land ownership certificates, violating regulations and severely affecting citizens’ rights.

The procuracy recommended that the Hai Phong Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) and the Thuy Nguyen District People’s Committee investigate and discipline responsible parties, resolve the parties’ rights, and report back. However, the procuracy has yet to receive a response from these agencies.

VTC News will continue to follow this case!