Democratic Voice of Vietnam

International law recognizes the right of all people to own property, and to be protected from arbitrary deprivation of property.   While Vietnam does not currently recognize the right to land ownership, it does recognize the right to use land and acknowledges that the right to use land is a property right.  Historically, the rights to land ownership and land use have been repeatedly violated by the Government of Vietnam, which has routinely seized land from lawful owners and land users through expropriation.  Victims include farmers, urban dwellers, indigenous people, religious institutions, and traditional communities. 
Though Vietnamese law does allow for expropriation of land, the law also requires that land users be compensated for that taking.  Unfortunately, though land seizure is a common practice, compensation is not.  Additionally, the expropriation process in Vietnam is often associated with “widespread” allegations of corruption, and a lack of transparency and due process in the confiscation process. Furthermore, victims of land expropriations who contest the unlawful or unjust practices have been arrested and abused by state authorities, as well as by suspected plainclothes officers who contract with private development companies and threaten citizens.
The Government uses many legal pretenses in attempting to justify its unjust practices, but one thing remains constant: victims have little to no opportunity for recourse or compensation. 

Reports on Land Grab:
Submission for ICCPR Review 2019
Dong Yen Parish
Con Dau Parish
Loc Hung Vegetables Garden
Thien An Monastery
An Dan Dai Dao  Buddhist Sect
Lien Tri Temple
An Cu Temple

Vietnam Property Restitution Project: http://doitaisan.org/