On the morning of August 26, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, Chairman of the Central Emulation and Commendation Council and Head of the Central Steering Committee for the nationwide elimination of makeshift and dilapidated houses, presided over the national online conference reviewing the Program and the Emulation Movement titled “The Entire Nation Joining Hands to Eliminate Makeshift and Dilapidated Houses in 2025.”

The conference was held in person at the Government Headquarters in Hà Nội and connected online to 34 provinces and cities. Attending the event were: Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Đỗ Văn Chiến; Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Head of the Central Commission for Mass Mobilization, Publicity and Education Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa; Politburo member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình; Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chief of the Party Central Office Lê Hoài Trung; Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Hồ Chí Minh City Party Committee Trần Lưu Quang; members of the Party Central Committee; Deputy Prime Ministers; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; leaders of central Party bodies, the National Assembly, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial and municipal leaders; representatives of embassies and international organizations in Việt Nam; as well as leaders of major corporations and outstanding enterprises.

At the conference, 19 collectives were awarded the Third-Class Labor Order by the Party and the State, and another 19 collectives received Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister for their outstanding achievements in implementing the Program and the Emulation Movement “The Entire Nation Joining Hands to Eliminate Makeshift and Dilapidated Houses in 2025.”

Many ministries, agencies, and organizations mobilized significant resources and support for the Program. For example, the Ministry of National Defense contributed nearly VND 1,000 billion, mobilized more than 414,000 workdays and nearly 63,000 vehicles; the Ministry of Public Security provided over VND 790 billion, mobilized 534,000 workdays, and supplied construction materials; the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front mobilized more than VND 125.88 billion through the Central “For the Poor” Fund; while the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union at all levels nationwide contributed more than 485,000 workdays.

Numerous exemplary models and initiatives were implemented, such as: the “Each Person Lends a Hand to Build a Home” model in Lâm Đồng; the “Neighborhood Solidarity – Even a Precious Plot of Land Can Be Donated” model in Tuyên Quang; the “Three Firm Foundations in the People’s Hearts” model in Quảng Trị; the “Land of Affection” model in Bắc Giang (formerly); the “Youth Volunteer Teams and Motorbike Squads Helping Households with Free Transport and Construction” model in Hà Giang (formerly); the “Volunteer Response Teams” model in mountainous communes of Quảng Nam (formerly); the “Mutual Assistance Work Teams” established in Lào Cai to help one another build houses; and in Vĩnh Long, initiatives such as “One Day of Volunteering for the People,” “Walking Together with the Poor,” and “Listening to the People, Earning Their Trust.”

Many businesses, organizations, and philanthropists actively supported the Program. The banking sector alone contributed more than VND 1,800 billion, with notable examples such as Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), which donated VND 80 billion.

At the conference, ministries, sectors, localities, and units presented reports on the results and experiences in implementing the Program and the Emulation Movement. Representatives of 334,234 families who had just received support to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated houses expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the attention of the Party and the State, as well as the solidarity and contributions of authorities at all levels, mass organizations, enterprises, and neighbors, whose collective efforts enabled these families to obtain solid homes, live with peace of mind, work with stability, and strive for a better life.

VND 24.7 Trillion and 2.7 Million Workdays to Finish 5 Years and 4 Months Ahead of Schedule

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính expressed his delight at attending the conference in the spirited atmosphere of August, as the entire country jubilantly celebrates the 80th anniversary of the People’s Public Security Force, the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, and National Day on September 2. Despite numerous difficulties and challenges, we have made great efforts and succeeded in basically achieving the goal of eliminating makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide. This accomplishment is a gift contributing to the shared joy and national pride of the entire people.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính recalled that President Hồ Chí Minh once reminded: “If the country gains independence but the people do not have happiness and freedom, then independence has no meaning.” In line with His teachings, throughout more than 95 years of revolutionary history, our Party has always pursued the greatest goal: independence and freedom for the nation, and a prosperous, happy life for the people.

With the consistent viewpoint of placing people at the center—as the subject, the goal, the driving force, and the most important resource for development—and with the principle of “leaving no one behind,” never sacrificing progress, justice, social security, or the environment for mere growth, the Party and the State have paid special attention to issuing mechanisms and policies, as well as prioritizing resources, to care for the material and spiritual life of the people. This includes supporting poor households, policy beneficiaries, and disadvantaged groups in securing safe and stable housing.

Implementing the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, and our nation’s traditional philosophy that “a settled home ensures a settled career,” in recent years we have rolled out many housing programs and policies for people with meritorious service and for poor households. Nevertheless, implementation has faced many difficulties, and numerous families have continued to live in makeshift and dilapidated houses (by the end of 2023, nearly 400,000 such homes still existed).

In response, the 8th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 42 on November 24, 2023, on continuing to renew and improve the quality of social policies, setting the target that by 2030, the situation of makeshift and dilapidated housing for poor households, near-poor households, people affected by natural disasters and climate change, and especially those with meritorious service to the revolution, must be completely eliminated.

The Prime Minister stated that under the leadership of the Party, with the involvement of the entire political system, all levels, sectors, localities, and the people, and drawing on the experience of the Ministry of Public Security when General Tô Lâm was Minister, the Government established the Central Steering Committee, working closely with the Vietnam Fatherland Front to accelerate implementation with breakthroughs, urgency, boldness, and continuous review, thereby shortening the time needed to achieve the goal of eliminating makeshift and dilapidated houses. Some key milestones included:

(1) On April 13, 2024, in Hòa Bình Province (now Phú Thọ Province), the Government, in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, launched the Emulation Movement “The Entire Nation Joining Hands to Eliminate Makeshift and Dilapidated Houses in 2025.”

(2) On October 5, 2024, the Government, in collaboration with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, held a nationwide launching program to support the elimination of makeshift and dilapidated houses and simultaneously initiated a 450-day-and-night campaign to eliminate such houses across the country.

(3) The timeline was shortened by setting the target to complete housing for people with meritorious service before July 27, 2025 (at the 4th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on May 11, 2025), and to essentially complete the elimination of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide before August 31, 2025 (at the 5th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on June 22, 2025).

According to the Prime Minister, the most important factor was the method of implementation to achieve the set goals. A message of solidarity and mutual support was conveyed through the spirit of “national affection and compatriotship”: “each contributing what they have—those with labor contribute labor, those with resources contribute resources, contributing little or much depending on one’s ability.” State funds played a leading and catalytic role, while social resources were mobilized from the people, businesses, and philanthropists. Citizens also made their own efforts, helping relatives, neighbors, and friends with money, materials, or labor. The armed forces and police acted as the core forces, while the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, ministries, sectors, and localities all took part. In terms of organization, Steering Committees were established from central to local levels, working regularly and closely aligned with reality to provide guidance.

In practice, while State support amounted to VND 50 million (later raised to VND 60 million) for each newly built house, many homes were actually constructed at costs of VND 200–300 million thanks to the additional contributions and collective efforts of communities and citizens. This demonstrates how the will of the Party resonates with the will of the people; resources stem from vision and foresight; motivation comes from renewal and innovation; and strength originates from the people and the business community.

Over the course of just 1 year and 4 months, the Central Steering Committee and localities launched a rapid campaign that mobilized more than VND 24.7 trillion (with nearly half—about VND 12.3 trillion—contributed directly by citizens and socialized resources), supported more than 2.7 million workdays with the participation of over 454,000 people, and completed the elimination of 334,234 makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide with new, solid “three-firm” homes (sturdy roofs, walls, and foundations) built in 12 design types suited to local conditions.

As a result, the task was completed 5 years and 4 months ahead of the target set by Resolution No. 42 of the Party Central Committee, and 4 months earlier than the goal set when the Emulation Movement was launched. Notably, housing for all people with meritorious service and families of fallen soldiers was fully completed before July 24, 2025.

A Milestone in the Pursuit of Sustainable Poverty Reduction

According to the Prime Minister, from the moving and joyful images we have witnessed, these are truly “Special National Projects” of the “Party’s Will and the People’s Heart,” of “national affection and compatriotship,” carrying profound political, social, and humanitarian significance. This is also a milestone achievement in the cause of sustainable poverty reduction, strengthening the foundation for our country’s development philosophy of fairness, social progress, and sustainability in the new era. It stands as an outstanding, practical accomplishment to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2), the 80th anniversary of the heroic People’s Public Security Force, and in welcome of Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th National Party Congress.

Each home is a vivid testament—“a gift,” “a shelter,” “an act of compassion”—a gesture of sharing with those in hardship, a tribute to those who rendered service, and a realization of the Party’s sound policies and guidelines. It reflects the good, humane, and superior nature of our regime; affirms the nation’s fine traditions and humanistic values of “repaying gratitude,” “remembering the source when drinking water,” “remembering those who planted the trees when eating the fruit,” and “the healthy leaf covering the torn one.” It inspires national pride and patriotism, reinforces the people’s trust in the Party’s leadership, strengthens the great national unity bloc, and contributes to promoting economic development, ensuring social security, and consolidating national defense and security.

On behalf of the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Central Steering Committee for the nationwide elimination of makeshift and dilapidated houses, and the Central Emulation and Commendation Council, the Prime Minister acknowledged, highly appreciated, congratulated, and warmly commended the extraordinary efforts and achievements in eliminating makeshift and dilapidated houses by Party committees, local authorities, ministries and sectors, socio-political organizations, the business community, officials, Party members, as well as all compatriots and soldiers nationwide, whose contributions have made an important mark on the overall achievements of our country.

According to the Prime Minister, from the practical experience of leadership, direction, and implementation, along with the important results of the Program, many valuable lessons can be drawn, as clearly reflected in the ministry’s report and the opinions of ministries, sectors, and localities.

The Prime Minister emphasized several key lessons learned, the overarching one being the strict adherence to and serious implementation of the Party’s guidelines and policies, and the State’s laws, under the mechanism of “Party leadership, State management, people as masters, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations actively engaged.” With the movement to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated houses, the Party exercised leadership through Resolution 42 and the directives of the General Secretary; the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front acted decisively and effectively; and the people responded enthusiastically, in cooperation with the business community joining hands to provide support.

Specifically:

First, closely following the resolutions, conclusions, and directives of the Party Central Committee, and in particular the direct and frequent instructions of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and especially the General Secretary; concretizing them into programs, plans, and specific solutions, and implementing them resolutely with the spirit of acceleration and breakthroughs: “faster, ever faster,” “only talk about doing, never about retreating,” with “high determination, great effort, and decisive action.”

Second, mobilizing the participation of the entire political system, all social strata, and the business community; promoting the strength of great national unity and the solidarity and shared commitment of the people; and implementing the principle of “four truths: speaking the truth, doing the truth, achieving true effectiveness, and ensuring people truly benefit.”

Third, diversifying resources in a comprehensive, nationwide, and inclusive manner, in the spirit of “the intact leaf covers the torn one,” “the less intact leaf covers the more torn one,” and “each contributing what they have—those with labor contribute labor, those with resources contribute resources, little or much depending on one’s ability.” All joined together with sincerity and transparency to address urgent issues in service of the people.

Fourth, firmly grasping developments in the situation, responding with proactive, timely, flexible, and effective policies, acting early and from afar, making decisive moves, and seizing the right opportunities at the right moment to swiftly complete the targets as early and effectively as possible; assigning tasks under the principle of “six clarities: clear person, clear task, clear responsibility, clear authority, clear timeline, clear results”; while strengthening inspection, supervision, and urging implementation.

Fifth, attaching great importance to information and communications, creating social consensus, building motivation, and inspiring a wide and deeply humane movement, organizing implementation like a nationwide campaign or festival so that everyone supports, shares, and joins hands in providing assistance.

Continuing to Create Jobs and Livelihoods so Households Can Truly “Settle in Life”

According to the Prime Minister, the goal of eliminating makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide has been basically achieved. However, this is only one important step within the broader framework of social policy. The essential task now is to continue promoting production and business activities, creating jobs and livelihoods, and constantly improving the quality of life—both materially and spiritually—for the people. Citizens must be encouraged to sustainably escape poverty, advance toward prosperity, and rise through their own “hands, minds, land, sky, and sea,” overcoming themselves, achieving legitimate wealth for their families, and contributing to society.To build on the achievements of eliminating makeshift and dilapidated houses, while further strengthening social security, the Prime Minister called on the Central Steering Committee, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Central Emulation and Commendation Council, and all levels, sectors, and localities to focus on a number of key tasks and solutions in the coming period.

First, thoroughly grasp and effectively implement Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee on continuing to reform and improve the quality of social policies. Housing support for people with meritorious service, poor households, near-poor households, and residents living in areas frequently affected by natural disasters and climate change must be regarded as a regular, continuous, and long-term task. Ministries, sectors, and localities need to continue reviewing and promptly improving housing support policies.

Second, for the 334,234 households that have received support to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated houses—this is only the initial foundation of “settling in housing.” In the coming time, further support is needed so these households can “settle in life,” striving to ensure that by 2030, Việt Nam will basically have no poor households, in line with Directive No. 05-CT/TW dated June 23, 2021, of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party’s leadership over sustainable poverty reduction through 2030.

Third, the Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, in coordination with ministries, sectors, and localities, in thoroughly implementing the Party’s policy that the State budget is the primary and fundamental resource for ensuring social security, while at the same time mobilizing social resources, especially for vocational training, livelihood support, and job creation for the poor and ethnic minorities. Local Party committees and authorities must bear responsibility for mobilizing, managing, and using resources to implement support policies for vocational training, livelihood, employment, healthcare, education, and housing, with priority given to households that received support in eliminating makeshift and dilapidated houses.

Fourth, based on practical experience gained from launching and implementing the nationwide movement to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated houses, the Central Emulation and Commendation Council must continue to innovate and further improve the quality of social security programs and other emulation movements, ensuring they deeply inspire the entire people, the armed forces, and the whole political system to join hands for the legitimate interests and aspirations of our compatriots.

Fifth, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations are requested to further coordinate with the Government, ministries, sectors, and localities in ensuring social security. They must effectively carry out oversight and criticism of the process of formulating and implementing social security policies; regularly pay attention to and capture the sentiments and aspirations of the people; and make timely recommendations to Party committees, authorities, and State agencies at all levels to resolve related issues, thereby safeguarding the rights and interests of the people.

Sixth, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security are requested to direct the people’s armed forces to continue promoting their revolutionary tradition and close ties with the people. They must remain the core force in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, while also serving as a solid pillar for socio-economic development and social security, especially in border areas, islands, and remote and isolated regions.

On behalf of the Government, the Central Steering Committee, and the Central Emulation and Commendation Council, the Prime Minister expressed sincere gratitude for the special attention and close guidance of the leaders of the Party and the State—particularly the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and General Secretary Tô Lâm—toward social welfare in general and the elimination of makeshift and dilapidated houses in particular.The Prime Minister extended heartfelt thanks to all levels, sectors, Party committees, local authorities, associations, mass organizations, the business community, philanthropists, compatriots, comrades, and soldiers nationwide for joining hands with the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the Central Steering Committee. He also expressed appreciation for the close coordination and strong support of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations.

“Today, with hundreds of thousands of new, solid homes inaugurated across the country, hundreds of thousands of families now living in warm, loving shelters, and millions of lives given a brighter future, we can be fully confident that under the leadership of the glorious Communist Party of Việt Nam, with the collective efforts of the entire political system, the people, and the armed forces, we will continue to strive and successfully accomplish the objectives and tasks of Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee on renewing and improving the quality of social policies. We will fulfill the two centennial strategic goals by 2030 and 2045, contributing to firmly advancing our nation into a new era—the era of a prosperous, civilized, and flourishing Việt Nam—where our people enjoy ever greater well-being and happiness,” the Prime Minister stated.