A strategic step toward future city

Dong Nai is standing at the threshold of becoming a centrally governed city, a historic milestone carrying strategic significance, set to reshape its development space and elevate its position. Along this new trajectory, upgrading infrastructure and improving quality of life are no longer optional, but inevitable requirements and essential benchmarks of local governance capacity.

Residents sign preferential loan agreements with the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies – Dong Nai branch to purchase homes. Photo: Hoang Loc.

Ensuring housing for all is both an immediate necessity and a long-term foundation to facilitate a sustainable urban future. The Provincial People’s Committee’s decision in late March 2026 to adjust the Housing Development Program for the 2021–2030 period reflects a clear commitment to placing people at the center of development.

Exceeding Government and Provincial targets

At the beginning of 2026, the Government issued Resolution No. 7/NQ-CP, assigning social housing development targets for the 2026–2030 period to localities nationwide, aiming to complete at least one million housing units. Under this plan, Dong Nai was tasked with delivering nearly 64,700 units, slightly below the minimum target of 65,000 units set in the Resolution adopted by the first provincial Party Congress.

However, in early March 2026, the Provincial People’s Committee approved Decision No. 973/QD-UBND, revising the housing development program with a new target of 67,000 units. This adjustment demonstrates not only a determination to meet requirements but also a forward-looking approach, creating additional capacity for the province’s anticipated transition into Dong Nai City.

Under the revised orientation, social housing development must ensure connectivity and alignment with technical and social infrastructure, while focusing on quality, affordability, and accessibility. Notably, the plan increases the housing target by about 2,000 units, expands land allocation from approximately 700 hectares to over 800 hectares, and raises total investment demand by more than VND2 trillion. These figures reflect not merely scale, but also the province’s political resolve to turn policy into tangible outcomes.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, noted that administrative restructuring, along with shifts in population distribution and housing demand, requires timely adjustments in both targets and implementation measures. Such changes, he emphasized, are necessary to adapt to evolving realities and proactively prepare for the next phase of development.

Echoing this view, Ton Ngoc Hanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Council, stated at a session in late February 2026 that social housing plays a pivotal role in urban development. It contributes to social stability, facilitates rational population redistribution, and lays the groundwork for long-term growth. The issuance of a thematic resolution in this field by the provincial People’s Council, she added, aims to strengthen the legal framework for implementation.

From the business perspective, Vu Hong Minh, Chairman and General Director of the Water Electrical Mechanical Installation Joint Stock Company said that in 2025, the company was assigned two projects in Dong Nai with a combined scale of nearly 3,300 units. Construction began in early 2026. Beyond addressing urgent housing needs, these projects are expected to increase supply, stabilize the market, and contribute to local economic growth.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Sy Cuong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies – Dong Nai branch reported that total lending for social housing, covering purchase, lease-purchase, construction, and renovation, has exceeded VND1 trillion. Of this, nearly VND374 billion comes from central funding, with the remainder allocated by the province. The bank currently has more than VND400 billion available, sufficient to meet the needs of around 500 borrowers. Moving forward, it will continue to advise the province on mobilizing entrusted capital to ensure broader access to housing loans.

Nguyen Thi Long, a worker from Dong Thap currently residing in Bien Hoa ward, said that in order for workers to truly access social housing, multiple solutions need to be carried out, particularly increasing supply and raising income levels. “There must be more projects so that workers have more options to choose from. At the same time, the workers’ current income levels remain limited, making it difficult to accumulate enough to buy a home without supportive policies,” she noted, adding that she expects regional minimum wages in Dong Nai to improve once the province becomes a centrally governed city.

As of the end of March 2026, Dong Nai had assigned investors to 47 projects totaling nearly 49,000 units, with the remaining projects expected to complete procedures and commence implementation during 2026–2027 period, ensuring overall progress.

Housing security – the foundation of sustainable urban areas

In the 2026–2030 period, Dong Nai identifies social housing development as closely linked to the restructuring of urban space following administrative merger. Priority will be given to key growth areas, including the Long Thanh International Airport zone, riverside economic corridors, and central urban areas, locations with high housing demand and strong development potential.

Nguyen Phi Long, General Director of Khang Nam Real Estate and Environment Construction Group Joint Stock Company, an investor in a nearly 1,000-unit housing project in Trang Bom commune, emphasized that beyond incentives, businesses require a transparent investment environment, clear procedures, and shorter processing times. When processes are standardized, land funds are available, and credit policies remain stable, project implementation becomes significantly more efficient.

Looking ahead, Dong Nai will continue prioritizing land allocation, particularly the 20% land fund within commercial housing projects designated for social housing. Meanwhile, the province plans to refine incentive mechanisms related to taxation, land, and credit, while investing in synchronized infrastructure to attract private investors.

The Department of Construction continues to review new regulations to simplify procedures and shorten processing times, thereby reducing costs and risks for businesses. In parallel, it is also drafting a standardized process for implementing social housing projects to enhance transparency.

Ho Van Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, stated that the province is implementing a comprehensive set of measures, focusing on requiring departments and agencies to proactively review and address bottlenecks under the principle of “clear tasks, clear responsibilities, and clear timelines” to ensure projects are carried out efficiently.

Regarding financing, Nguyen Kim Long, Member of the provincial Party Standing Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, said the province has assigned the Dong Nai Development Investment Fund to establish and manage the Provincial Housing Development Fund. However, to ensure the effectiveness of this integrated model, Dong Nai has proposed that the central government soon finalize financial mechanisms to guarantee transparency and alignment with practical requirements.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh, during two working visits to Dong Nai, stressed that social housing development is not merely about increasing the number of units, but about creating living spaces that match the pace of development and ensuring social stability. In high-demand localities such as Dong Nai, effective implementation of social welfare policies will help mitigate risks that could hinder socio-economic growth, while promoting a modern and civilized urbanization process.

It can be seen that by addressing bottlenecks and fostering a more favorable investment environment, Dong Nai is gradually transforming housing security pressures into a driving force for building new living spaces.

As of the end of February 2026, nationwide, 737 social housing projects were underway, with a total scale of over 701,000 units, achieving more than 70% of the target set under the one-million- unit scheme by 2030.

By H. Loc – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha