Dong Nai: Planning and land use structure necessary to be adjusted for new period

The adjustment of planning and land use structure in Dong Nai is a requirement arising from the practical situation after the provincial merger, the operation of the two-tier local government, and the provisions of the 2024 Land Law. This aims to overcome existing shortcomings and effectively exploit land resources, creating new momentum for local socio-economic development.

The Delegation of National Assembly Deputies of Dong Nai province inspects the actual land use project for the 2021-2025 period in Tran Bien ward. Photo: Le An

Many shortcomings arise

Land use planning is developed with a 10-year cycle, with periodic updates and adjustments every 5 years to suit the reality and ensure synchronization with subsequently approved plans such as provincial, regional, sectoral, and national land use plans. The development, approval, and adjustment of these plans help to use land resources rationally, effectively, and sustainably, ensuring harmony between economic development, environmental protection, and social welfare.

In the former Dong Nai province, after more than 4 years of implementing the Land Use Plan for the 2021-2030 period and the Land Use Plan for the 2021-2025 period, land management has seen many positive changes. The management apparatus has been consolidated, administrative procedures have been reformed, and the inspection and supervision of land use projects have received more attention. Many violations have been detected and handled, contributing to enhancing state management responsibility.

In the former Binh Phuoc province, the synchronized implementation of land use planning and plans was carried out according to the orientation of industrial, urban, and high-tech agricultural development. Information on land use planning and plans was made public and transparent, contributing to improving land use efficiency and ensuring the rights of people and businesses.

However, in both provinces before the merger, there were still many shortcomings. These include land planning not being close to actual needs; the situation of illegal plot sales not being effectively controlled; many land acquisition projects being slow to implement, causing resource waste; and land acquisition for auctioning land use rights being limited, affecting budget revenue and the progress of putting land into use.

In addition, the situation of land misuse, illegal construction, and encroachment on public land still occurs. The implementation of land planning, management, and use through two changes of the Land Law (in 2013 and 2024) also caused some difficulties.

According to Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Tuan Anh, the root cause of these shortcomings is the complex origin of land, changing policies, slow detection and handling of violations, and insufficient deterrent penalties. In addition, the demand for social housing has not been met, especially in areas with a high concentration of workers, leading to an increase in illegal construction and land misuse.

Another reason, according to the assessment of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, is that the previous district-level land use planning and plan formulation were carried out before the provincial, regional, and national plans were approved, leading to a lack of synchronization, changes in targets, and reduced feasibility in implementation. A typical example is the former Long Thanh district, where the actual agricultural land area is much lower than the approved target in the land use plan. Conversely, the targets for industrial, transport, and commercial-service land in the plan are lower than the actual demand.

Necessary to be adjusted

From the above reality, especially in the context of the recent provincial merger, the adjustment of land planning, management, and use is necessary to ensure suitability with the new administrative boundaries, space, and future development orientation.

The new Tran Bien ward area, where many projects are being implemented. Photo: Le An

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang stated that the adjustment of land planning, management, and use at the current time is a requirement stemming from both legal and practical considerations. Legally, this has been specifically regulated in the 2024 Land Law. Practically, the natural area of Dong Nai province is now much larger than its initial plan. At the same time, the administrative unit system has also changed, with no longer a district level.

Provincial Party Committee member and Standing Deputy Head of the Delegation of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Bui Xuan Thong, believes that to achieve a double-digit growth target in 2025 and subsequent years, the province needs to unlock resources, with land playing a key role.

In addition, Bui Xuan Thong proposed that the Provincial People's Committee soon issue a document clearly assigning responsibilities to each department, sector, and locality in the work of planning and adjusting plans, and at the same time direct specialized units to support communal authorities in carrying out land procedures, reviewing slow-moving projects for timely and proper handling while still creating favorable conditions for people and businesses.

At the working session with the Provincial National Assembly Delegation in mid-July 2025, the Provincial People's Committee proposed several contents to central ministries and sectors. Among them, it proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment research and supplement guidance on assessing the consistency between communal land use planning and provincial, sectoral, and national planning; and soon provide guidance on developing economic-technical norms to serve the work of preparing and adjusting land use plans and schemes. The Ministry of Finance should supplement regulations on the scope of use of Provincial Planning to serve as a basis for specialized ministries and sectors to consider and appraise investment project dossiers, ensuring synchronization with the land allocation and zoning plan and the sectoral and field development plan integrated into the approved Provincial Planning.

National Assembly delegate Trinh Xuan An, working as a specialized person at the National Assembly's Committee for National Defense, Security, and Foreign Affairs, believes that with its large area and abundant development potential, Dong Nai province, after the merger, has many advantages. Effectively exploiting land potential is not only a requirement in line with legal regulations but also plays a key role in resource management, ensuring social welfare, and attracting investment in the new development phase.

By Le An/Translated by V.Nga-H.Trang