Real estate market: Aligning supply with demand

As one of the country’s major industrial centers, Dong Nai Province continues to attract large numbers of workers who come to live and work there.

As a result, demand for housing has risen sharply, especially in areas with many industrial parks and industrial clusters. For many years, the province has planned for and attracted investment in real estate projects to provide housing for workers. However, supply and demand in the property market in Dong Nai, as well as in many provinces and cities nationwide, have yet to align. This challenge is because businesses have mainly invested in the high-end housing segment, while the mid-range and affordable segments remain limited. Meanwhile, the market in Dong Nai is driven largely by demand for affordable and mid-range housing.

At present, more than 440 real estate projects are underway across the province, including commercial, urban, and social housing projects. Once completed, they will provide more than 550,000 housing units. Social housing alone accounts for more than 67,000 units, which remains modest compared with actual demand. Under the plan, Dong Nai will have more than 80 industrial parks and dozens of industrial clusters. From now until 2030, as more than 20 industrial parks are invested in and put into operation, many more workers will come to the province in search of employment. Therefore, demand for renting and buying mid-range and affordable housing in major urban areas and industrial parks will continue to rise sharply.

In late March 2026, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 973/QD-UBND approving adjustments to the Dong Nai provincial housing development program for the 2021-2030 period. The target is to complete more than 480,000 commercial housing units and more than 67,000 social housing units by 2030. The capital required for investment in these housing projects is nearly 822.5 trillion VND. This initiative is a major plan that reflects the locality's determination to develop housing. However, the issue lies not only in the numerical target but also in how to achieve that target in a balanced and effective way.

In reality, if left entirely to market forces, capital will continue to flow into higher-profit segments. Therefore, clearer regulation from the State is needed. One important solution is to require a certain proportion of affordable housing and social housing in urban development projects, especially in areas with large numbers of workers. This prerequisite is not only a planning requirement but also an investment social responsibility.

At the same time, sufficiently strong incentives are needed to offset the lower profit margins of this segment. These may include exemptions or reductions in land-use fees, tax incentives, and interest rate support for both project developers and homebuyers. Policies for the mid-range and affordable housing segment of the real estate market must be stable and clear so that businesses can participate with confidence. If policies lack consistency or procedures are overly lengthy, achieving the desired effectiveness will be difficult.

In addition, affordable housing projects should prioritize practical design and connectivity to transport infrastructure and essential services. As Dong Nai Province moves toward becoming a centrally governed city, this will provide a foundation for developing stable residential communities and enhancing overall urban quality.

With its strong fundamentals, Dong Nai holds significant advantages for real estate development. However, without timely adjustments to align supply with demand, the market risks becoming increasingly imbalanced, directly affecting the locality's sustainable development strategy.

By Khanh Minh – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho