HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City is stepping up efforts to simplify administrative procedures and clear hurdles in developing social housing, including new rules to speed up the issuance of construction permits to make things easier for business and investment.
On July 1, HCM City was merged with its neighbouring Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces to form the new HCM City.
At the third meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Housing Policy and the Real Estate Market in November , Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said that since 2021, the city has completed 18 social housing projects, providing 7,742 units. These include 4,370 units in the former HCM City (seven projects), 2,927 units in the former Binh Duong province (eight projects), and 445 units in the former Ba Ria–Vung Tau province (three projects).
In 2025 alone, four projects with 2,639 units were completed; 14 others with 15,412 units are under construction; and 17 projects with 13,959 units have had their investment policies approved.
Additionally, following administrative boundary adjustments and the allocation of 20% of land reserves in commercial housing and urban development projects for social housing, the city has secured more than 1,400 hectares of land for this purpose. This will help ensure the completion of the city’s 2026 target of over 25,200 social housing units and support continued development in subsequent years.
The city is not only helping residents purchase homes but also promoting the rental and rent-to-buy housing market. It has approved a scheme to support citizens in renovating and building rental homes that meet fire safety and minimum space requirements. This is expected to ease housing pressure in areas with large concentrations of workers near industrial zones.
The city has proposed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh consider allowing the use of land designated for commercial and service facilities in industrial parks to develop social housing for labourers, instead of worker dormitories.
Speaking at the hybrid conference, which connected to 34 cities and provinces, PM Chinh, who is also head of the Central Steering Committee on Housing Policy and the Real Estate Market, stressed the need to continue addressing procedural and regulatory bottlenecks to promote transparent and sustainable development of social housing and the real estate market in both the short and long terms. He said this would contribute to macroeconomic stability, inflation control, growth promotion and the maintenance of major economic balances, serving as a key driver of sustainable development.
The Government leader asked ministries, sectors, localities, enterprises, investors and related stakeholders to proactively and effectively carry out tasks related to social housing development in accordance with the law, promptly identify and address difficulties within their authority, and report any issues beyond their remit to higher levels.
He also encouraged enterprises with land reserves to work with localities to invest in social housing. In the long term, relevant agencies must develop housing schemes suited to citizens’ financial capacities and study international experience to diversify funding sources for social housing and housing in general, through purchase, rental and rent-to-buy models.
HCM City is on the right track in developing social housing, but sustained efforts from all stakeholders remain essential. Removing administrative barriers, ensuring construction quality and maintaining reasonable prices will be key to achieving sustainable development goals. With determination and close coordination, the city could become a model for other urban centres in addressing social housing challenges./.
