Gov’t revokes 266,000 sqm of public land
By Hong Phuc - The Saigon Times Daily
HANOI – The Ministry of Finance has revoked more than 266,000 square meters of public land from State-owned corporations and groups in Hanoi and HCMC since last September, to reorganize public assets.
The ministry took 252,000 square meters from 57 enterprises in HCMC and a further 14,000 square meters from four Hanoi-based groups. These enterprises were illegally leasing State-owned assets for profit, while many land plots were left unused as well. 
Now, the land will be used for national defense, security and public interest projects. Otherwise, the Government will sell properties or transfer land use rights to contribute to the State’s budget.
However, the ministry said the public land inspection and revocation process had been slow. So far, only 66 ministries and departments, 17 corporations and 35 provinces and cities had reorganized an allocated 1.8 million square meters of land and houses on an additional 66 million square meters as of last year.
HCMC was the first locality to carry out the program, restructuring land use at 1,262 State-run enterprises and commercial banks, spanning nearly seven million square meters.
Meanwhile, public land inspection and management in Hanoi had been slow due to adjustments of the capital city’s administrative precincts. The capital city reorganized property use at 209 enterprises, revoking two million square meters of land as of last September.
The ministry suggested the Government take measures to speed up the reorganization progress to complete the program late this year.