Hanoi puts all land information services online to modernize public administration

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi has moved all land-information and land-data procedures fully online, ending paper submissions at one-stop offices as part of its latest digital-government push, with the Hanoi Public Administration Service Center now processing every request through a unified citywide platform and discontinuing paper submissions at one-stop offices.

This move marks a strong shift in Hanoi’s plan to digitize land administration, a complex and sensitive field.

Hanoi has led the country for many years in applying technology to administrative services, yet online usage in land-related procedures remained low because residents preferred in-person submissions, agencies needed to verify legal documents and data digitization had progressed slowly.

With the new decision, Hanoi now requires full online processing for all land-information requests, including land-use planning information, maps and current-status data, plot-specific details, information about land users as allowed by law and other specialized data for public agencies or private demand.

Residents and businesses can complete submissions, pay fees, track progress and receive results through the city’s Public Service Portal and the National Public Service Portal.

Nguyen The Diep, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Real Estate Club, said the policy’s breakthrough lies both in electronic records and removing administrative boundaries.

He said residents and businesses can now submit multiple requests for different districts from any location without traveling. Specialized agencies will process requests based on shared data, which prevents fragmented or inconsistent information.

“This change cuts time and reduces social costs. People no longer need to line up or wait. It increases transparency, lowers risks from in-person contact and improves management because digitized data creates cleaner processes,” said Diep.

He added that the system allows better analysis of land-use conditions, helps monitor changes and supports more accurate planning. “This shift creates a structural upgrade.”

Diep said the reform creates momentum for other land-related procedures such as land-use changes, first-time land-use certificate issuance, re-issuance, adjustments and land-use plan registration to shift fully online.

“Once land data is standardized, moving additional procedures online is only a matter of time,” he said.

Analysts view Hanoi’s move as timely and aligned with public expectations for simpler and more transparent services, consistent processes, reduced administrative load and improved decision-making.

Nguyen Duc Thong, a resident of Thien Loc Commune, said the change brings clear benefits.

“I can request planning and legal information quickly. It speeds up processing and makes it easier to check details for a mortgage appraisal. I avoid lost records and save time and travel costs.”

Need for stronger technology infrastructure

Digital transformation expert Tran Quoc Viet said Hanoi shows strong determination, but the reform still faces major challenges.

According to him, the system must operate reliably around the clock because Hanoi handles a massive volume of land records, which requires high server capacity.

Local authorities must unify land-data standards across all wards and communes because historical land databases were developed under different formats. Older residents and those unfamiliar with technology need support to adapt to online services.

“To ensure success, Hanoi has invested heavily in digital infrastructure, including a centralized land-database system, high-capacity servers, integrated online-payment systems and advanced electronic verification through VNeID and digital signatures,” said Viet.

He stressed the need for strong cybersecurity because land data requires the highest level of protection.

Echoing Viet, land-law specialist Nguyen Van Dinh said Hanoi took the right step in shifting fully to online submissions, but implementation remains complex because the land-database system contains gaps and inconsistencies.

He said the main challenge is inconsistent accuracy in digitized land data due to maps created at different times and standards, which can slow processing or lead to incomplete results, adding that the system must also handle heavy demand in a city of nearly 10 million people.

He said that users who hesitate to adopt digital tools, including older residents and people with limited technology access, may face confusion or resistance without proper support. But full online land-information services serve residents and businesses while creating a foundation for digital government, digital economy and transparency in the real estate market.

“With better technology and more complete digital data, Hanoi now has a solid foundation to modernize land administration and public services,” Dinh stated.

Urban-planning expert Tran Tuan Anh said Hanoi must accelerate the standardization of its land-database system, invest more in backup infrastructure, integrate deeply with national databases and publish real-time processing updates to increase transparency.

The city should support residents during the transition, especially for 6-12 months, with a focus on older people and others who struggle with technology.

“Once data is standardized, online procedures will run accurately and more automatically, significantly shortening processing times,” he noted.

“Once data is standardized, online procedures will operate accurately with more automation, which will shorten processing time,” he said.