Effective Social Housing Development from Resolution to Action

Hai Phong is one of the leaders of social housing construction in Vietnam. The city is resolved to build 42,500 social housing units by 2030, exceeding the target of 33,500 units assigned by the Government. In addition, Hai Phong aims to ensure the usable scale, synchronous and comfortable living space and affordability of social housing development.

Strictly following the approved roadmap

In response to Decision No. 338/QD-TTg dated April 3, 2023 of the Prime Minister on ratification of an ambitious investment project that aims to build at least one million social housing apartments for low-income people and industrial park workers in 2021 - 2030, on November 13, 2023, Hai Phong City Party Committee issued Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU on Hai Phong social housing development to 2030.

 Dong Quoc Binh Apartment Project, situated on Lach Tray Street in Ngo Quyen District and invested in the build-transfer (BT) form, contributes significantly to urban beautification and provides a housing solution for households residing in obsolete, degraded apartment buildings

Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU adopts the goal of building 15,400 social housing units in Hai Phong City in the 2021 - 2025 period, 80% of which will be completed and brought onto the market and at least 18,100 units in 2026 - 2030. Thus, the city is determined to achieve and exceed the target of social housing construction assigned by the Government (33,500 social housing units by 2030).

On January 15, 2024, the Hai Phong City People's Committee issued Decision No. 117/QD-UBND on the action program for implementation of Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU.

To date, four projects in Hai Phong City sold a total of 1,600 units while seven ongoing projects will offer about 11,500 units. Eight other projects are seeking investors to start building 9,300 units while 11 projects are being prepared for necessary conditions for selecting investors, expected to launch 12,400 social housing units by 2030. In addition, social housing projects restored according to Resolution 04/2022/NQ-HDND of the Hai Phong City People's Council will have 8,004 units.

Thus, Hai Phong City is expected to see a total of 42,000 more social housing units in the 2021 - 2030 period, exceeding the Government's target. In 2024, the city will complete constructing 4,000 units, with about 2,400 units eligible for sale.

In 2021 - 2025, Hai Phong is expected to complete about 16,500 units; In which, we strive to complete the rough construction of about 13,200 units or 80% of the total, with 3,300 units eligibly opened for sale about 3,300 units. Hence, by 2025, Hai Phong will basically have 15,400 more social housing units.

In 2023 and early 2024, many social housing projects were kicked off, including a social housing project in Lac Vien Warehouse 3, Trang Due social housing project, Pegatron Vietnam worker housing project and Trang Cat social housing project. Social housing projects under construction are gradually helping the city solve the housing need for low-income earners, especially those living in old apartments in urban areas and workers in industrial parks in the city.

Open, transparent, concerted

Along with quantitative goals, the city strives to change the view of many people who believe that social housing is "a space for vulnerable people and low-income earners". Hai Phong asserts that it will make social housing a comfortable living space, furnished with amenities, full utilities and synchronous social infrastructure like clinics and schools. But, importantly, social housing must be affordable for a majority of people.

Mr. Do Huu Hung, Deputy Director of Hai Phong Construction Department, said information about social housing projects is accessible on the website (https://soxaydung.haiphong.gov.vn - "Social housing menu”), enabling people to capture project information as well as approved selling prices. This is an official information channel for them to grasp the legal status of social housing projects in Hai Phong City.

In addition, people can go directly to social housing projects under construction to access information and have a realistic view of them. These projects all have standing consulting teams responsible for providing guidance and answering questions, and announce project information in an open and transparent fashion to ensure that policy profiteering is nipped in the bud.

Furthermore, the Hai Phong Construction Department has also sent information about social housing projects to the city's Propaganda Department, the Mass Mobilization Board under the City Party Committee, the City Labor Federation, and the Hai Phong Economic Zones Authority for coordination in informing people and workers. At conferences and dialogues with workers and laborers, Hai Phong City leaders always affirmed the importance of social housing development, housing for low-income people and worker housing. This is a very urgent task for the city. 

“Accessing affordable social housing with favorable support mechanisms and policies is desired by people and workers. Therefore, all levels and sectors of Hai Phong City are actively working with project investors, agencies and banks to have agreements on the most favorable support mechanisms and policies as well as the most preferential loan levels for buyers of social housing," he emphasized.

Ngoc Tung (Vietnam Business Forum)