Chairing a working session with the Government Party Committee on the implementation of the party Secretariat’s Directive No. 34 on social housing and rental housing development, General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed that housing should no longer be viewed merely as a welfare policy, but as an integral part of national development strategy linked to urbanisation, social stability and the healthy development of the real estate market.

He emphasised that housing policy should transition from reactive support measures to a comprehensive long-term framework in which the State plays a guiding and regulatory role through planning, land policy, finance, taxation, credit mechanisms and legal reforms.

According to the top leader, housing must become a stable component of both urban and rural development structures, contributing not only to improved living standards but also to labour productivity, social security and sustainable economic growth.

He also stressed that housing development should be treated as a shared responsibility of the entire political system rather than solely the responsibility of the construction sector. Policies, he said, must genuinely support low-income groups, workers and vulnerable populations in a sustainable and practical manner.

Social housing expansion gains momentum

Reports presented at the meeting showed that after the issuance of Directive 34, the Government and relevant ministries have introduced a range of legal and policy measures aimed at accelerating social housing development, including resolutions, decrees and specific guidance mechanisms.

Under Vietnam’s plan to build one million social housing units, the country currently has 781 running projects with a total scale of more than 720,000 apartments.

More than 103,000 units were completed last year, exceeding the annual target, while tens of thousands of additional units are expected to break ground this year, reflecting continued momentum in the sector.

Meanwhile, reports from 23 out of 34 localities indicated demand for more than 71,000 rental housing units during the 2026–2030 period, highlighting growing demand for affordable and flexible housing models for workers, students and low-income earners in major urban and industrial areas.

General Secretary and State President To Lam called for a comprehensive restructuring of housing policy in tandem with infrastructure planning, including transportation, education, healthcare and public services. He particularly underscored the need to prioritise land allocation for social housing and rental housing projects in industrial parks, economic zones and newly developed urban areas.

Housing planning, he added, must align closely with labour market demand, especially in regions with large concentrations of workers and migrant laborers, ensuring housing remains accessible relative to actual income levels.

“Housing is for living, not speculation”

One of the key priorities highlighted at the meeting was administrative reform in housing development.

The top leader urged authorities to simplify procedures under a “single focal point, single process” model to shorten approval timelines for investment, land allocation and construction permits, while strengthening accountability among agencies and officials handling project documentation.

He also called for more flexible credit policies with clearer implementation mechanisms to improve access to capital for both businesses and homebuyers.

Local authorities were instructed to proactively review land funds and prepare “clean land” for social housing projects, especially in growth-driving regions.

At the same time, the leader emphasised the importance of developing the rental housing market as a long-term pillar of Vietnam’s housing strategy, while encouraging private enterprises and social organisations to participate in affordable housing investment and operations.

He stressed that the State must continue playing a regulatory role to prevent speculation and ensure the real estate market develops in a transparent, fair and sustainable manner.

“Housing is for living, not for speculation or asset accumulation,” he said, underscoring that ensuring citizens’ access to stable and safe housing should remain the central objective of Vietnam’s long-term urban development strategy.

Government leader calls for ensuring housing access for middle-income earners

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the sixth meeting of the Central Steering Committee on housing policy and the real estate market at the Government Headquarters in Hanoi on February 26, discussing mechanisms and policies for the housing segment for middle-income earners.