Redefining "broker"
If the law doesn't prohibit authorized agents from handling land-related procedures, then why not redefine the term "broker"? Specifically, give them a recognized status, such as a professional consultant. They should be subject to legal regulation, and along with the responsibilities entrusted to them, they should also be held accountable for fulfilling related obligations like any other worker in society!
Content:Nhat Lan |Present:Huu Quan• July 22, 2026
After two working days (July 13th and 14th, 2026), the 4th Session of the Nghe An Provincial People's Council concluded. However, the repercussions of the questioning session continued to spread on Facebook, attracting many comments and discussions. In particular, Facebook users paid special attention to the question posed by delegate Trinh Van Nha, Secretary of the Party Committee of Dai Dong commune, to Mr. Hoang Quoc Viet, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, regarding the issuance of land use right certificates.
Specifically, during the questioning session on the morning of July 14th, Representative Trinh Van Nha reported that people submitting applications for land use right certificates are being rejected, sometimes repeatedly, while those acting on behalf of others, or "brokers," receive faster processing. Regarding this issue, Representative Trinh Van Nha requested the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment to assess the current situation and propose solutions for future action.
Responding to the questions, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment informed that, from the time the two-tiered local government system began operating until now, the 20 branches of the Land Registration Office have received more than 187,000 land-related applications of all types. Of these, more than 3,000 applications were returned, accounting for 2%. Regarding the concerns raised by delegate Trinh Van Nha, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment stated that this does occur in some communes and wards. He explained: Consulting units, or "brokers," handle applications professionally because they receive money from the people, so they invest, focus, and meticulously follow up on applications, ensuring compliance with regulations and procedures. Meanwhile, people only occasionally submit applications, so their applications may not be complete. He also acknowledged that the return of applications by some communes and wards has created a negative impression among the people.
Regarding solutions, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment affirmed that the Department has grasped the issue and has directed communes and wards to improve the skills of officials and civil servants in the field of land management, especially those working at public administrative service centers receiving applications, to ensure the quality of incoming applications and minimize the number of rejected applications. He stated: "I request that the Secretaries and Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes and wards pay attention to improving the skills of officials and civil servants in the field of land management, especially those working at public administrative service centers, handling administrative procedures for the people."
I spoke with Representative Trinh Van Nha a few days after the Provincial People's Council meeting, and he told me that since the era of the three-tiered local government system, he had been aware of the hidden aspects of land use right certificate issuance. Furthermore, he was aware of the reality that some land officials lacked professional skills and dedication to their duties, often spending their time providing "services" for personal gain. Currently, after one year of operating under the two-tiered local government system, there have been improvements, but the problem hasn't been completely resolved. Therefore, he hopes for a definitive solution to this issue. He stated: "The truth is that some people lack understanding, are afraid of inconvenience, and are reluctant to waste time... leading them to use intermediaries to process land documents. Because of this, the situation of intermediaries exploiting people's lack of knowledge for excessive profit still persists..."
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Returning to the opinions on the Facebook social media platform, most praised the content of the questions and answers. However, some opinions expressed dissatisfaction with the responses. They argued that "brokers" are a serious problem that has existed for many years, but the proposed solutions are not strong enough to completely resolve the issue. Interestingly, some opinions also suggested solutions to end the "broker" problem. For example, Facebook user Le Duy Hoan on the "Nghe An News" Fanpage suggested: To end the situation where people's land registration documents are returned and to prevent people from having to pay a lot of money to "brokers," communes should be allowed to recruit retired land administration officials or college/university graduates specializing in land administration to form "land procedure service" groups for people in need. The commune should set the unit price, ensure transparency, and provide it free of charge for eligible individuals. The funds collected are used to pay salaries for seasonal contract workers, and a percentage is allocated to the commune's regular operating expenses...
I understand the concerns of Representative Trinh Van Nha, and I also understand why the issuance of land use right certificates always receives significant social attention. Land use right certificates are a vital need for everyone, yet for many years, this field has been plagued by negative publicity. Particularly noteworthy is the phenomenon of some land officials attempting to create difficulties, extorting bribes, and even colluding with "brokers." In Nghe An province in general, and the former Thanh Chuong district (where Representative Trinh Van Nha worked) in particular, there have been instances of land officials abusing their positions and authority, committing illegal acts that resulted in administrative and even criminal penalties.
Then I realized that the suggestions for solutions, like those made by Facebook user Le Duy Hoan, weren't without merit. I then wondered, if the law doesn't prohibit authorized representatives from handling land-related procedures, why not redefine the term "broker"? Specifically, give them a recognized status, such as a consultant. They should be subject to legal regulation, and along with the responsibilities entrusted to them, they should also be responsible for fulfilling related obligations like any other worker in society!
