Putting people at the heart of urban development

Dong Nai is entering a period of robust development, marked by a series of projects in transport, industry, urban development, airports, and seaports. Behind these major infrastructure projects is the issue of housing for people who have yielded their land for development, as well as for the thousands of people coming to the city to work and build their lives.

Housing is an essential need for every family and a foundation that enables residents to put down roots and contribute to building the city. From this perspective, Dong Nai is focusing its resources on developing social housing, commercial housing, and resettlement areas, with the aim of creating integrated, high-quality living spaces that are in step with the development of a major urban center.

Housing as a crucial component of urban development policy

For every family whose housing is affected by the implementation of infrastructure projects, the first priority is to receive adequate compensation. However, compensation money is not everything. People have many other concerns: After leaving their old homes, where will their families live? How will their children continue their education? How will they commute to work? Will life in the new location be as good as it was in the old one?

A housing project for low-income earners is currently under construction in Long Hung Ward.

Understanding these concerns, and in an effort to accelerate site clearance for projects, Dong Nai City has identified ensuring resettlement for residents as an important part of its urban development policy.

Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee Vo Tan Duc stated, "It is necessary to accelerate the construction of resettlement areas, review the needs of each project and locality, and, on that basis, balance land funds, infrastructure investment schedules, and actual allocation capacity. We must avoid situations in which residents have had their land reclaimed but do not know where they will be resettled, or where a resettlement area exists but its infrastructure has not been completed, leaving residents unable to move in."

This directive demonstrates that Dong Nai is gradually changing its mindset and approach. Accordingly, resettlement must be planned one step ahead, and housing for residents cannot be treated as an afterthought in the project implementation process. The city will conduct a comprehensive review of resettlement needs in the coming years to proactively develop a land bank for resettlement, rather than searching for land only when each new project is implemented.

For upcoming projects such as the extension of the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro line to the City Administrative Center and Long Thanh International Airport, the North-South high-speed railway, Cat Lai Bridge, Long Hung Bridge, and Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 4, localities and the Dong Nai Land Fund Development Center are calculating resettlement land banks from the project planning stage, rather than waiting until land is reclaimed to identify locations.

In addition to resettlement housing, Dong Nai is paying particular attention to housing for workers and urban residents. This focus is a prerequisite for the city to continue attracting investment and expanding space for industrial, logistics, and service development, while creating conditions for workers to settle down, work, and make a long-term commitment to the city.

The city has determined that if urban development focuses solely on modern industrial parks, major roads, and new urban areas while lacking affordable housing for residents, as well as schools, healthcare, markets, transport, and public spaces, development will not meet the requirements for improving quality of life.

Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Van Ut stated, "Industrial development both creates growth momentum and sets increasingly high requirements for housing, social infrastructure, and living conditions for workers. From this perspective, housing has become part of urban development policy."

The city identifies people as the center of the development process, with all guidelines, policies, and investment resources directed toward the goal of improving quality of life and ensuring that residents enjoy the fruits of development. In this regard, settling down and ensuring social security are foundational tasks that contribute to building a sustainable, civilized, and livable city.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the City People's Committee

When workers have stable housing, they can work with peace of mind and remain committed to their employers and the city. Stable housing also provides families with better conditions to care for and raise their children. The city's infrastructure, including housing, is also improved.

Secure homes, peace of mind

As one of the country's major industrial hubs, Dong Nai is urbanizing rapidly. Along with the influx of people coming to work and live in the city, demand for housing and essential infrastructure is also constantly increasing.

Residents seek information at a housing project for low-income earners in Long Hung Ward.

According to resolutions, programs, and plans issued by the City Party Committee and the City People's Committee, between now and 2030, Dong Nai strives to complete approximately 65,000 social housing units and to develop about 47,000 resettlement plots and about 424,200 commercial housing units. At the same time, the city is focusing on developing housing for the armed forces and official housing while encouraging residents to build new homes or renovate existing ones. These targets show that housing has become an important component of the urban development process.

To Thi Thuy, General Director of Chuong Duong Homeland Joint Stock Company in Ho Chi Minh City, said, "In line with the policies of the central authorities and Dong Nai, the company is implementing a housing project for low-income earners in Long Hung Ward, with nearly 1,100 apartments. The project is expected to be topped out by the end of September 2026 and completed and handed over to residents by early 2027."

According to To Thi Thuy, during the implementation process, the company received support from the city regarding mechanisms and policies, ranging from streamlined investment procedures to capital support to help customers access housing in the project more easily. Based on this result, the company plans to break ground on another housing project for low-income earners in Long Binh Ward, with about 1,500 apartments, to meet the housing needs of workers and urban residents.

"The motivation for businesses to participate in developing housing projects in Dong Nai, in addition to its potential and advantages, also comes from the open investment environment, clear planning, convenient procedures, and controlled legal risks," said Thuy.

Dong Nai is facing a special opportunity for development. With a people-centered approach to development, building a livable city for both long-term residents and newcomers is becoming an important part of the urban development strategy. Housing stability, therefore, is not merely about having a house, but also about the stability of each family, workers' long-term commitment, and the appeal of the city. When residents feel secure about their housing, workers have a home, and businesses have a stable workforce, the city has a solid foundation for sustainable development.

By Ban Mai – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho