A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991

The thesis studies the land management issues with regard to housing development in Hanoi . The system of urban land administration, and the operational practice, and the official procedure of land allocation for housing development , including land for self-build housing construction, were studied intensively in order to identify t heir shortcomings and to propose possible improvements. It was found that the urban land system in Hanoi is incomplete , and piecemeal in concept , and ineffective in operation . The cadastral book record system has not been used and maintained for more than 30 years , seriously hindering the land management for the c i ty . The l and tenure for government and private l and users is not clearly defined , creating confusion in land management and land use, as well as opening scope for violations. No revenue is generated for government from l and, because of deep-rooted subsidization policies over decades, t hat have also resulted in the inadequate provision of basic network infrastructure and wasteful use of precious land resources . The procedure of land allocation is lengthy and complicated. As the liberalization of the economy is going ahead , the allocation of land does not meet the high demand from the population for land for housing development . Based on the study findings, t he report recommends immediate four main measures to improve the land management situation in Hanoi, these being ... (i) .Completing t he l and administration system by establishing a cadastral book record system; (ii) Keeping land in public ownership but granting a leasehold l and tenure to land users (with payment of an annual land rent), which they can transfer by gift, sale, inheritance or mortgage; (iii) Strengthening the professional capability in land management of the staff involved in land administration in Hanoi; and (iv) Increasing the allocation of land for new housing development, particularly for self-build housing. The second measure for a transferable leasehold tenure will facilitate the supply of land for housing redevelopment.