The term “pink book” and “red book” are derived from the colors of the respective land-use right and homeownership certificates in Vietnam.
The pink book, with its pink lotus cover, was issued by the Ministry of Construction before August 10, 2005, as a certificate of homeownership and residential land-use rights. From August 10, 2005, to December 9, 2009, it was replaced by the “Certificate of Homeownership and Construction Work Ownership.”
The red book, on the other hand, is the “Land Use Right Certificate” with a red cover, issued before December 10, 2009, by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
To streamline and unify land management, the government enacted Decree No. 88/2009/ND-CP (guided by Circular No. 17/2009/TT-BTNMT), introducing a single certificate: the “Certificate of Land Use Rights, Homeownership, and other Assets Attached to Land.” This new certificate has been in use since December 10, 2009, ensuring consistency and convenience for citizens.
Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Circular No. 10/2024/TT-BTNMT, stipulating that the red and pink books will be replaced by the “Certificate of Land Use Rights and Ownership of Assets Attached to Land.”
The new certificate will be A4-sized, consisting of two pages. The first page will feature the national emblem, the words “Certificate of Land Use Rights and Ownership of Assets Attached to Land” in red, and a QR code containing detailed information. This page will also include sections on the land user, land lot information, and attached assets.
The new “Certificate of Land Use Rights and Ownership of Assets Attached to Land” features two pages and several improvements over the previous version.
The second page will include a land lot diagram, a coordinate list, notes, and information on any changes made after the certificate is issued.
The QR code printed on the certificate stores and displays detailed information, and its feedback is as valuable as the information on the certificate itself, consistent with the land database or land registry records where the database is unavailable.
The certificate’s code is unique nationwide and is automatically generated by the land information system software when the National Land Information System is officially operational.
Implementing this new certificate format enhances authenticity, security, and ease of information retrieval regarding land use rights and attached assets for citizens.
The legal validity of red and pink books issued before August 1, 2024, remains effective, and citizens can continue using them until they choose to have them replaced.
