My mother pressures me to sell land cheaply to my younger brother and his wife

My mother is urging me to accept whatever price my younger brother and his wife offer for my plot of land. Illustration photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Born in a commune on the outskirts of Hai Phong city in northern Vietnam, I am the eldest sister with two younger brothers. We all have families now.

My husband and I own a small apartment in the city and a land plot of over 100 square meters near my parents’ house in the countryside. My parents possess two plots—300 square meters and 200 square meters—where they built homes and we grew up.

Over 20 years ago, when my parents reconstructed their house, I contributed several tens of millions (VND10 million equals US$398). My mother promised to later give me a portion of their land equivalent to what I could have bought with the money I gave them at the time. It was thus verbally agreed that my brothers would each receive 200 square meters from the land plots my parents own, I would get 60 square meters, and my parents would retain 40 square meters.

After university, our middle sibling built a house on our parents’ 300 square meters plot using a loan I provided and later married, contributing nothing further to the family. My youngest brother also got married afterwards and has since resided with our parents.

Currently, with changes in land laws, my parents wish to transfer the land titles to us.

However, my middle brother’s wife feels the plot they reside on is less valuable than other family plots and demands more land or that I sell my 60 square meters at a low price to them to even out perceived inequities. They propose paying in installments as they lack full payment.

Hearing her idea, I sensed my sister-in-law’s shrewdness, knowing land prices will rise. Additionally, my husband and I don’t wish to sell as we plan to retire soon and build a house on the 60 square meters plot to stay close to and help my brother and his wife care for our parents.

Regarding the other plot of land we own, we plan to sell it as well to aid our son abroad in purchasing an apartment. If we move abroad post-retirement, I might consider selling the 60 square meters and splitting the proceeds with my siblings.

But under my sister-in-law’s influence, my mother keeps urging me to sell the plot to my brother and his wife. After discussing it with my husband, who suggested following my parents’ wishes, I agreed. Yet, days later, my mother called and proposed selling at 20% below market value. I tried to discuss this, but she hung up.

She later called again to insist I accept whatever my brother offers, deepening my frustration. I attempted to explain, but again, she hung up and threatened to transfer ownership directly to my brother and his wife, giving my husband and I nothing.

Since then, she hasn’t called. My husband advises letting it go for peace of mind, but I’m torn.

Should I sell the land cheaply, fight for it, or relinquish it? If I choose to fight, how should I proceed?