Immediate action against negative and profiteering behaviors in the social housing sector

Developing social housing - A key pillar of social welfare policy

The meeting was attended via online connection from the Government headquarters to localities, with leaders from ministries, central agencies, provinces and cities, as well as representatives of corporations, enterprises, and commercial banks.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the Party and State’s viewpoint is to pursue social progress and equity, continuously improving people’s living standards; without sacrificing social equity and progress, or social welfare, in pursuance of mere economic growth; ensuring citizens’ right to housing. In this context, housing development is a key pillar of social welfare policy and contributes to promoting socio-economic development.

We are currently at a stage of acceleration, striving to achieve the targets and objectives set for 2025 and the entire term. In this context, the real estate market serves as an important channel for mobilizing and allocating capital, with strong spillover effects on other economic sectors, thereby contributing to rapid and sustainable national growth and development.

In recent times, the Party, the State, particularly the National Assembly and the Government, have gradually removed institutional, legal, capital, land fund, and administrative procedure obstacles for projects; improving the supply of social housing, especially for low-income groups, workers, and laborers. We consider “investment in social housing as investment in the development of society and the country”; it is one of the key tasks for the 2025–2030 period, serving as a “dual lever” to both provide housing for citizens and ensure social welfare, while promoting growth and creating jobs for the population.

The Prime Minister stated that, since the beginning of the term, the Government and the Prime Minister have issued 22 resolutions, 16 directives, and numerous official dispatches related to the real estate market and the development of social housing, achieving very positive results.

In implementing the Scheme of 1 million social housing units, cumulatively nationwide there are 696 social housing projects under implementation with a scale of more than 637,000 units, of which over 128,600 units have been completed. From the beginning of 2025 to the present, more than 123,000 units are under construction, and nearly 62,000 units have been completed.

Enhancing transparency and promptly addressing negative and profiteering behaviors

Housing prices, particularly in major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, remain significantly higher than residents’ incomes. The progress of some social housing projects is still slow, despite the National Assembly issuing Resolution 201 and the Government promulgating Decree 192. The allocation of 20% of land for social housing in commercial housing projects has not been strictly implemented.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that some localities have not paid sufficient attention to the approval of eligible beneficiaries for purchasing, renting, or lease-purchasing social housing, and there have been instances of negative practices causing public concern. Stressing the need for full transparency, the Prime Minister instructed the relevant ministries, agencies, and particularly local authorities to closely monitor this issue. He also required the Ministry of Public Security to direct its forces to gather information and immediately handle violators, prevent negative practices, and ensure that a highly humane policy of the Party and State is not distorted.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Construction to report, and for ministries, agencies, and localities to review and assess the implementation of assigned tasks, clearly stating what has been accomplished, what remains delayed, clarifying responsibilities - especially those of the leaders - identifying remaining obstacles, and proposing priority solutions to resolve them.

Regarding the progress of social housing projects, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Construction to report in detail on the procedures for investing in and constructing social housing projects that remain slow, specifying the causes and obstacles.

In addition, regarding the allocation of clean land, localities have been proactive; however, few large enterprises have proactively proposed to use their clean land for social housing projects. The Prime Minister raised the issue of what policies are needed to mobilize and encourage enterprises to participate, while also emphasizing that enterprises must uphold a sense of national solidarity and responsibility toward the country, the people, and the disadvantaged.

To strengthen transparency and prevent negative behaviors, including “hoarding,” price manipulation, speculation, and profiteering in the approval, purchase, and rental of social housing, the Ministry of Construction has drafted a Prime Ministerial Directive on the matter. The Prime Minister requested deputies to provide specific feedback on the draft Directive.

Regarding credit policies targeting social housing development, the Prime Minister asked the State Bank of Vietnam to report on the disbursement results of the VND 145 trillion social housing credit package (including successes, shortcomings, causes, and solutions).

The Prime Minister encouraged deputies to demonstrate responsibility, initiative, creativity, and decisive action, speaking briefly, clearly, and to the point according to the principle of the “six clarities”: clarity of persons, clarity of tasks, clarity of responsibilities, clarity of progress, clarity of authority, clarity of results; speaking frankly, truthfully, and precisely to identify practical solutions that are effectively implemented, ensuring real benefits for the people.

The State facilitates, enterprises must take the lead, public and private sectors must cooperate; developing a healthy and sustainable real estate market contributes to macroeconomic stability, ensures social welfare, strengthens the nation, and brings happiness to the people.