Dong Nai accelerates implementation of social housing projects

Developing social housing (SH) not only helps people realize their dream of stable housing, but also serves as a foundation for ensuring social welfare and creating momentum for sustainable development.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh delivers concluding remarks when working with the Department of Construction on the implementation of tasks related to the state management scope of the Ministry of Construction in Dong Nai and social housing development on August 21. Photo: Hoang Loc

To support Dong Nai in achieving this goal, since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Construction directly worked with the province twice to remove difficulties and accelerate the implementation progress.

Institutional barriers needed to be removed

Dong Nai is one of the localities with the largest demand for social housing in the country. With a population of over 4.4 million people following the provincial merger, including over 1 million laborers currently working in industrial parks (IPs), the pressure on housing for workers, state officials, and residents has become increasingly urgent.

In 2025, Dong Nai was assigned by the Government to complete over 4.2 thousand social housing units. By the end of August 2025, the province has commenced and is constructing over 4.3 thousand units. With this number, Dong Nai is capable of completing, or even exceeding, the assigned target. However, the final result still depends on the capacity and determination of investors, and the support of central agencies in removing institutional barriers to fast-track the projects.

Developing social housing is not just about solving immediate housing needs, but also a foundation for sustainable development. It is because when workers and laborers have stable housing, they will feel secure and committed to their jobs and localities in the long term. This contributes to ensuring social welfare, political and social stability, and creating a foundation for comprehensive and sustainable development.

Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha

Deputy Director of the Department of Construction Do Thanh Phuong said: In recent times, the province has made great efforts, but the process of implementing social housing projects has encountered many difficulties. Many investors are not truly interested in due to low profitability and long capital recovery periods. Some land plots planned for low-rise housing in rural areas are no longer suitable. Land auction projects for commercial housing, including the allocation of land funds for social housing, have not yet been successful.

Given this reality, the Department of Construction proposed that the Ministry of Construction soon research and submit to the Government amendments and supplements to some regulations. Specifically, allowing the construction of individual social housing in rural areas to meet the needs of workers in industrial parks; promptly issuing guidelines on the construction of worker dormitories in industrial parks, ensuring environmental safety and compliance with technical standards.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh (4th, from left); Provincial Party Committee Member, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang (3rd, from left) and the investor representative perform the groundbreaking ritual for 3 social housing projects in Dong Nai on August 21.

Along with that, the province proposed that the Central Government provide detailed guidance on criteria, especially financial capacity, capital mobilization, and bond issuance of enterprises when appraising and assigning investors to implement projects according to Resolution No. 201/2025/QH15 dated May 29, 2025, of the National Assembly on piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for social housing development.

Another important proposal is about income determination for purchasing social housing. The province proposed two contents to the Ministry of Construction: Amending regulations to allow individuals without labor contracts to self-declare and be responsible for their income instead of having to obtain confirmation from local authorities; promptly adjusting by raising the income level for individuals and households eligible to purchase social housing, because the current income level of 11 million VND/individual is no longer appropriate.

Companionship of the Central government and businesses

Thong Nhat Joint Stock Company (in Trang Bom commune) is one of the real estate investors in Dong Nai. On August 19, the company started construction of 75 social housing units belonging to the Social Housing Development Project at Bau Xeo Industrial Park Service Center (the project), Trang Bom commune. The project is expected to be completed in July 2026, contributing to the province’s efforts to achieve the goal of providing stable housing for workers and residents.

The social housing project of Thong Nhat Joint Stock Company just started construction of an additional 75 apartments on August 19. Photo: CTV

A representative of the project investor shared: In the past, departments, agencies, and localities in the province supported the enterprise in resolving difficulties related to design and beneficiaries, so the project has been implemented smoothly. As of now, the project has started construction and completed nearly 300 out of more than 600 apartments. The project is designed with modern, synchronized amenities to create a civilized and safe living space.

In July, Kim Oanh Real Estate Group Joint Stock Company (Kim Oanh Group, in Bien Hoa ward) held a groundbreaking ceremony for 3 social housing projects with a scale of about 5,500 units in the province. Dang Thi Kim Oanh, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Kim Oanh Group, said: This is a strategic step to accompany the Government and Dong Nai province in the goal of building social housing. The group's projects not only aim to be affordable for workers but also ensure quality according to Singaporean standards, optimize functionality, be environmentally friendly, and meet all essential needs of the people.

In Decision No. 444/QD-TTg dated February 28, 2025, of the Prime Minister, Dong Nai province is assigned to complete more than 4,200 social housing units in 2025 and a total of 66,700 units for the entire 2021-2030 period.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh, when working with the Department of Construction on August 21, stated: Dong Nai is a populous province with many industrial parks, so the demand for social housing is very high. The province needs to focus on strongly developing this type of housing, not only to meet the quantitative targets assigned by the Central Government but also to ensure synchronization and quality, contributing to improving people's lives.

Regarding the recommendations, the leader of the Ministry of Construction said: Many regulations are being advised for adjustment, especially the resolution on the special pilot mechanism for social housing development. The ministry's leaders also suggested some solutions for the province to develop social housing, such as: Issuing a resolution on preferential policies to attract businesses, shortening administrative procedures, preparing clean land funds, and balancing the budget to implement social housing projects combined with public service housing for state officials after mergers.

"The Ministry will continue to accompany localities, focusing on administrative reform and simplifying investor selection criteria to attract more businesses to participate. This is also the basis for the whole country to achieve the goal of 1 million social housing units in the 2021-2030 period," said Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh.

This is the second time in 2025 that the ministry directly worked with the province to resolve difficulties and accelerate the implementation progress.

By: Hoang Loc

Translated by: Mai Nga – Thu Ha