Dong Nai: A standout example in addressing housing security issue

Following the provincial merger in 2025, Dong Nai’s social housing targets more than doubled, placing significant pressure on implementation. Nevertheless, through proactive planning and a methodical approach, the province exceeded its assigned target by 112%. Building on this momentum, in the early months of 2026, Dong Nai has taken the lead nationwide in the number of newly launched social housing units.

Leaders of the Provincial Party Committee and the People’s Committee press the button to commence construction of a social housing project in Phuoc An commune. Photo: Hoang Loc

The results highlight the province’s flexibility in adapting to new development demands, as well as the effectiveness of its synchronized implementation model, consistently executed from policy direction to on-the-ground action.

“Telling figures”

The year 2025 marked a strong turning point of the social housing development program nationwide, as a series of special mechanisms and policies were introduced and brought into practice. Notably, Resolution No. 201/2025/QH15 issued by the National Assembly in May 2025 and Decree No. 192/2025/ND-CP promulgated by the Government in July 2025 created an important legal corridor, removing long-standing bottlenecks.

According to Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh at the Government’s February 2026 meeting, the country launched construction on 90 projects with more than 95,000 units in 2025, while completing 102,000 units, reaching 102% of the annual plan. Cumulatively, by the year end, 698 projects were under construction with over 657,000 apartments, equivalent to about 62% of the program’s target. At this pace, the goal of one million social housing units could be achieved by 2028, two years ahead of schedule.

Amid this broader landscape, Dong Nai has emerged as a standout performer. In 2025, the province completed more than 4,600 units against a target of 4,200, achieving 112%, its most impressive result in the past decade.

Ho Van Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, noted that the outcome clearly demonstrates the strong determination of the entire political system in translating major policies of the Party and State into reality, particularly in ensuring social welfare for workers and low-income groups.

By late March 2026, the Dong Nai People’s Committee issued Decision No. 973/QD-UBND, adjusting the Housing Development Program for 2021–2030 period and raising the social housing target from 65,000 to over 67,000 units to meet rising demand and support the goal of becoming a centrally governed city.

Beyond expanding supply, social housing development has also contributed to rebalancing the real estate market, adding segments aligned with the purchasing power of the majority. As a result, supply–demand mismatches are gradually addressed, easing pressure on high-end commercial housing while promoting a more transparent and sustainable market.

This growth momentum has continued into 2026. Within just the first two months, the province launched construction of more than 4,400 units, the highest figure nationwide. These include two projects in Phuoc An commune, an area with a high concentration of industrial parks; one project in Long Hung ward, which is being developed as a strategic urban zone; and another in Tam Hiep ward. These projects play a key role in realizing the target of over 8,000 units in 2026 and the broader goals set through 2030

According to plan, from now until the end of 2026, the province will commence 23 projects totaling more than 21,800 units, significantly accelerating supply to meet growing demand as major projects such as airports and new industrial zones require a large workforce.

Kim Oanh Group has been an active contributor to these achievements. Dang Thi Kim Oanh, Chairwoman and CEO of the group, said that in Dong Nai alone, the company broke ground on three social housing projects in 2025, totaling over 5,500 units in key industrial areas such as Nhon Trach and Trang Bom communes. In 2026, the group has proposed three additional projects with more than 5,000 units. All are designed to meet green standards, emphasizing energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. From now until 2028, the group plans to develop around 40,000 social housing units to Singapore standards, primarily in Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Van Tuan, a worker at Thong Quan Viet Duc JSC in Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, Tran Bien Ward, shared that after years of working far from his hometown in Thai Nguyen, he was finally able to purchase a social housing unit in late 2025. When his family learned that they were eligible and approved to purchase a house, they were overjoyed. “After years of renting, owning a home felt like a dream come true,” he said.

Dong Nai’s approach

Behind these impressive outcomes lies a systematic approach that underscores the province’s governance capacity.

Dong Nai has identified social housing development as a central political task, guided by a clear roadmap, defined targets and specific priorities. From Resolution No. 07-NQ/TU issued in 2022 for the 2021–2025 period to Resolution No. 01-NQ/TU in 2025 for 2025–2030 period, and Decision No. 973/QD-UBND in 2026, the province has progressively raised its targets from 10,000 to 65,000 and now over 67,000 units. Its phased adjustment reflects a forward-looking mindset that anticipates demand rather than merely responding to it.

Construction of a social housing project in Long Hung ward. The project is scheduled for completion by mid-2027. Photo: Hoang Loc

The province has established a steering committee for social housing development, clearly assigning responsibilities to each provincial department, sector and locality, while linking leadership accountability to progress and outcomes under the principle of “six clarities”: clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear accountability, clear authority, clear timelines and clear results. This has proven essential in ensuring swift and effective implementation of policies.

In addition, Dong Nai has prepared more than 1,000 hectares of land for social housing, the largest allocation in the country. A consistent guiding principle is that social housing must be developed alongside transport infrastructure, healthcare, education and essential services to ensure quality of life for residents.

Administrative reform has also been vigorously pursued. Since 2025, processing times have been reduced by around 50%, while social housing projects have been placed in a “green lane” for priority treatment to fast-track appraisal, licensing, fire safety approval and eligibility certification. This has significantly lowered costs and risks for investors, while shortening project timelines.

In 2025, Dong Nai completed more than 4,600 social housing units, achieving 112% of the target assigned by the Prime Minister — the highest level in a decade. In the first two months of 2026, the province started construction on over 4,400 units, the highest nationwide.

According to Director of the Department of Construction Nguyen Anh Tuan, a key lesson is the coordinated engagement of the entire political system. Social housing development is not merely a state management task but a shared social responsibility of businesses and the community, with the State playing a decisive role in planning and land allocation.

Equally important is the government’s active support in resolving legal bottlenecks for enterprises, helping accelerate project progress. A case in point is a 1,500-unit social housing project in Phuoc Tan ward, developed by An Hung Phat Infrastructure Development JSC. Nguyen Minh Hai, the company’s director, noted that after land and environmental issues were resolved, the investor completed phase one by the end of 2025 and immediately launched phase two, while phase three is now undergoing procedural steps prior to implementation.

In practice, Dong Nai’s success does not stem from a single solution, but from a comprehensive combination of planning, institutional frameworks, execution and close coordination with businesses. It is this integrated approach that has enabled the province to make a breakthrough, becoming a standout example in tackling housing security issue, one of the most pressing challenges in today’s industrial and urban development.

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