What is a red book? What information is recorded in a red book in the US?

What is a red book? What information is recorded in a red book in the US? What Is the “Red Book”? Key Information About Vietnam’s Land Use Right Certificate

The term "Red Book" (Sổ đỏ) is commonly used by the public in Vietnam to refer to various types of land use right certificates and housing ownership certificates. But what exactly is the Red Book, and what information does it contain? Let’s explore it based on the relevant legal provisions.

What Is the "Red Book"?

The "Red Book" is a colloquial term used by the public to refer to the Land Use Rights Certificate, named after the color of its cover. However, this terminology is not officially defined in Vietnamese land laws.
What is a red book? What information is recorded in a red book in the US?

Over time, Vietnam has issued various types of certificates, including:

• Certificate of Land Use Rights

• Certificate of House Ownership and Land Use Rights

• Certificate of House Ownership

• Certificate of Ownership of Construction Works

However, following Decree No. 88/2009/NĐ-CP, issued by the Government on October 19, 2009, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) introduced a unified certificate format nationwide, effective from December 10, 2009. This certificate is officially named:

“Certificate of Land Use Rights, Ownership of Residential House, and Other Assets Attached to Land”

This name has been retained in the 2013 Land Law and its guiding documents.

Legal Definition

According to Clause 16, Article 3 of the 2013 Land Law, the certificate is:

“A legal document issued by the State to certify the lawful land use rights, house ownership, and ownership of other assets attached to the land.”

In short, the “Red Book” is an informal term used by the public to refer to this certificate. While not legally recognized, the term is widely used for convenience in news articles and everyday conversations.

Related: [How to distinguish between Red Book, Pink Book, and White Book in Vietnam]

What Information Does the Red Book Contain?

According to Article 3 of Circular 23/2014/TT-BTNMT, the certificate is issued on a standardized format by MONRE and is applicable nationwide for all types of land, housing, and assets attached to land.

General Structure:

The certificate consists of four pages (plus supplemental pages if applicable) with the following features:

• Printed on pink-patterned paper with Dong Son drum motifs

• Page size: 190mm x 265mm

• Includes the following sections:
  What is a red book? What information is recorded in a red book in the US?

Page 1: Basic Information

Printed in color and includes:

• National emblem, national motto, and the title:

  “Certificate of Land Use Rights, House Ownership, and Other Assets Attached to Land” (in red)

• Section I: Name of the land user or property owner

• Serial number: 2 Vietnamese letters + 6 digits (in black ink)

• Embossed seal of MONRE

Page 2: Land and Property Information

Printed in black ink and includes:

• Section II: Information about the land plot, residential property, construction works, planted forests, perennial trees, and relevant notes

• Date of issuance and issuing authority

• Registration number of the certificate

Page 3: Land Plot Diagram and Changes

Printed in black ink and includes:

• Section III: Diagram of the land plot and assets attached to the land

• Section IV: Any changes made after the certificate was issued

Page 4: Continuation and Notes

Also in black ink and includes:

• Continuation of Section IV: Post-issuance changes

• Notes to certificate holders

• Barcode for identification

Supplemental Page (if applicable)

Printed in black ink and includes:
What is a red book? What information is recorded in a red book in the US?

• Title: “Supplemental Page of the Certificate”

• Plot number

• Certificate serial number

• Certificate registration number

• Section IV: Continued updates and changes after issuance

This standardized certificate format ensures uniformity across all localities and improves transparency and efficiency in land and property management.