How Will Ho Chi Minh City Manage Thousands of Public Properties Post-Merger?

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has issued Report No. 266/BC-UBND on the implementation of statistics and reporting on land, properties, and state-managed facilities that are either unused or underutilized, aiming to combat waste post-merger.

According to the report from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, ward-level People’s Committees and relevant agencies have submitted reports (albeit incomplete, with many commune-level authorities yet to report) on the status of land, properties, and state-managed facilities following the merger of local governments into a two-tier administrative model.

Specifically, out of the 102 commune and ward People’s Committees in the former Ho Chi Minh City, only 73 have submitted reports (29 remain outstanding). The total number of land and property parcels is 1,453, covering over 4 million square meters. Currently, 836 parcels are vacant. The progress in handling these assets includes 91 properties retained for management, 17 proposed for lease, 1 undergoing auction procedures, and 1,344 under other arrangements.

In the former Binh Duong Province, 16 out of 36 commune and ward People’s Committees have submitted reports (20 are yet to report). The total number of land and property parcels is 144, spanning over 380,000 square meters. Approximately 60 parcels are vacant, and 68 are in use. The handling progress includes 7 proposed for auction and 137 under other arrangements.

In the former Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, 17 out of 30 ward, commune, and special zone People’s Committees have submitted reports (13 are yet to report). The total number of land and property parcels is approximately 150, covering over 341,000 square meters. Currently, 100 parcels are vacant, and 163 are used for other purposes. The handling progress includes 6 proposed for auction and 144 under other arrangements.

Additionally, the Ho Chi Minh City Land Fund Development Center manages 216 properties, totaling over 3.9 million square meters. The current status includes 117 vacant properties and 104 used for other purposes.

The Binh Duong Land Fund Development Center manages 1 property, covering over 525 square meters. The Ba Ria – Vung Tau Land Fund Development Center oversees 339 properties, totaling over 15.9 million square meters. Currently, 150 parcels are vacant, and approximately 186 are used for other purposes. The handling progress includes 71 proposed for auction or short-term lease and 268 under other arrangements.

In response, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has directed ward, commune, and special zone People’s Committees to base their reports and proposals for rearranging and handling properties on urban and rural development plans, land use planning, and local land needs, ensuring compliance with laws on public asset management, land, planning, and construction to promote efficient and economical land use.

The Department of Finance has been tasked with urgently advising and proposing to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on the effective handling and allocation of public properties to prevent waste. Commune-level People’s Committee Chairpersons are to resolve all disputes and complaints regarding properties and reclaim encroached land for productive use.

For properties managed by the Land Fund Development Center, Ho Chi Minh City has instructed the center to propose suitable land use plans or initiate short-term leasing proposals in accordance with the procedures for leasing land and associated assets.

Ho Chi Minh City has also directed the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Finance, Department of Construction, and other relevant departments and agencies to collaborate and guide commune-level People’s Committees and the Land Fund Development Center in managing and using properties efficiently, in line with urban and rural development plans, land use planning, and legal provisions on public asset management, land, planning, and construction.