Ensuring Fairness
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has recently approved a new land price list, set to take effect from January 1, 2026. This update has garnered significant attention from residents and businesses, especially as it coincides with the merger of HCMC, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau into the new HCMC metropolitan area.
In its review of the HCMC People’s Committee’s proposal, the Economic and Budget Committee of the HCMC People’s Council noted that the new HCMC was formed following the National Assembly’s resolution on administrative reorganization, merging HCMC, Binh Duong Province, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province.
The new land price list ensures fairness for residents.
The previous land price lists of the three localities were based on different socio-economic conditions, development levels, and market values, making them unsuitable for unified application in the new HCMC. The introduction of the new land price list aims to address these limitations, ensuring consistency and transparency in land management. It provides a legal framework for financial obligations related to land, compensation, support, and resettlement, while also stabilizing residents’ lives, improving the investment environment, and fostering socio-economic development.
Mr. Nguyen Toan Thang, Director of the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that the new land price list promotes fairness for residents. Currently, land acquisition and compensation are based on specific land values. The new list serves as a crucial reference point without compromising the objectivity of compensation.
Regarding agricultural land interspersed within residential areas, a new provision has been added to address residents’ concerns, which were previously unaddressed in the Land Law. Based on over 154,000 real transactions, the department proposed setting the price for this land type at 10% of the residential land price in the same location, ensuring market-based fairness and protecting residents’ rights.
For purely agricultural land, the department employed the income method to assess land funds in each area, adjusting prices to ensure reasonableness in line with state principles.
Mr. Nguyen Toan Thang highlighted the transparency and comprehensiveness of the new land price list, noting that the department has updated over 11,960 road segments across the city. This allows residents to publicly and transparently access specific land prices for their locations, facilitating financial obligations. The list also standardizes alleyway location calculations and prices for commercial services and production, making it easier for organizations and individuals to access clear information.
“A key difference in the 2026 land price list compared to the 2024 version is the expanded scope of application. We’ve added three new groups to the financial obligation, tax, and fee categories, enhancing the legal framework to cover all economic activities and support socio-economic development,” Mr. Thang explained.
No Adverse Impact
Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, assured that the 2026 land price list is designed with a people-centric approach. For instance, lower land prices benefit residents when fulfilling state obligations, while specific land values are used for compensation during site clearance, ensuring no disadvantage.
The 2026 land price list is designed with a people-centric approach.
He added that the list balances fairness with investment attraction, ensuring prices are not excessively high for businesses to operate.
“The land price list has been carefully considered to avoid disruption. It is meticulously crafted, fair in compensation, and balanced. We will monitor and adjust prices if fluctuations exceed 20%,” Mr. Duoc stated.
According to Mr. Le Hoang Chau, Chairman of the HCMC Real Estate Association (HoREA), lower land prices do not compromise residents’ rights. Compensation for land acquisition is calculated by multiplying the land price by a coefficient from the approved compensation plan, often resulting in significantly higher values than the listed prices.
Mr. Chau cited examples where agricultural land prices were only a few hundred thousand VND, but actual compensation reached 38 to 40 times the listed price under Decision 02/2020.
