Building houses on agricultural land without proper permission is a violation of land laws in Vietnam. According to lawyer Tran Tuan Anh, Director of Bright Legal, many individuals construct homes on agricultural land, particularly in suburban areas undergoing urbanization, without legal authorization. This practice is common but illegal.

Under the Land Law of 2024, land users must adhere to the designated purpose of their land. Constructing a house on agricultural land without changing its purpose requires approval from the relevant authorities. If permission is not obtained, it constitutes a breach of land law.

Time alone does not legitimize the construction. The key factor is whether the land aligns with local land use planning. If the area is designated for residential use and is included in the annual land use plan approved by the local government, residents can apply to change the land use from agricultural to residential, as stipulated in the Land Law.

Conversely, if the land is classified as protected rice cultivation, forest land, or earmarked for public projects, even if a house has stood for ten years, it cannot be legalized and may be subject to demolition.

There is an exception for land that was improperly used before July 1, 2014. In such cases, if the land use is stable and conforms to the local land use plan, the authorities may issue a land use certificate, provided the user fulfills financial obligations.

To convert land use, residents should follow these steps:

• Prepare documents: Application for land use conversion, land use certificate, and personal identification.
• Submit documents at the local administrative office or through the online service portal.
• The land management authority will verify conditions for conversion based on the Land Law.
• Determine financial obligations related to land use.
• Pay the required fees and receive the decision to convert the land use, along with an updated land use certificate.