The 2013 Constitution of Vietnam stipulates: “The State shall acquire land used by organizations and individuals in necessary cases prescribed by the law for national defense, security, and socio-economic development in the national and public interests. The land acquisition must be public, transparent, and compensated following the law.” (Clause 3, Article 54). On that basis, the 2013 Land Law made significant changes in the regulations on land acquisition for economic development purposes to ensure the public interests. However, in practice, there are still land acquisition cases for production and business in the name of economic development. This article outlines the theoretical, legal, and practical issues of land acquisition for socio-economic development for the national and public interests. Through the theories related to compulsory land conversion in the world and the actual situation in Vietnam, this article proposes some criteria in principle to limit land acquisition for socio-economic development in Vietnam.