Among some ethnic minority groups, particularly those that are patrilineal, traditions persist whereby women either do not inherit or inherit smaller shares than male siblings, while widows are excluded from inheriting the land of their deceased husband in favour of his parents, sons or other male relatives (UNDP, 2014). Women and men in Viet Nam have equal ownership rights, including access to land. The 2003 Land Law grants individuals long-term leaseholds through land-use right certificates (LUCs) and de jure provision for joint titling of certificates. However, the law is not retrospective and applies only to certificates issued after 2003 (UNDP, 2010), a fact that has hampered implementation of this guarantee. Moreover, there is some evidence that the process of converting pre-2003 land titles is cumbersome, effectively dissuading people from registering joint certificates (World Bank, 2008). Since the law was amended, 90% of newly issued land-use right certificates carry the name of both husband and wife.