Reducing procedures, speeding up progress
With the new mechanism, the Government proposes to allow the provincial People's Committee to approve the investment policy and directly assign the investor of a social housing project not to use public investment capital without having to bid to select an investor.
"According to current regulations, the time from policy approval to investor selection takes about 300 days. With the new proposal, this time is only limited to a maximum of 75 days, a reduction of about 70%" - Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh said.
A representative of a social housing investment enterprise in Bac Ninh affirmed that if the procedures are shortened, the project can be completely implemented and completed within 1 year. This significantly reduces financial costs, shortens the payback period, thereby reducing apartment prices.
In addition to investment procedures, this enterprise also recommended that the competent authority consider piloting the application of a fixed ceiling price for each locality, such as regulating a ceiling price of 15 million VND/m2. Thus, investors will proactively calculate without having to go through the separate selling price approval stage for each project.
As the governing body in the field of social housing for workers, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor highly appreciates the draft Resolution.
I believe that this Resolution will contribute to accelerating the implementation of social housing projects in general and social housing projects invested in and built by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, thereby contributing to better care for workers without housing - Mr. Le Van Nghia - Head of the Trade Union Institution Project Management Board - affirmed.
Currently, the Ha Nam Trade Union Institution Area model is a typical example, with 244 social housing apartments and utilities such as a cultural and sports area for workers.
At the end of July 2025, the social housing project in Tien Giang will start construction with a scale of 512 apartments, with a total investment of about 400 billion VND from the trade union's financial resources. In addition, the institutional areas in Ben Tre, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh are also being promoted, expected to start construction at the end of this year.
"If the draft Resolution on specific policies for social housing is approved, it will help social housing projects be implemented in a shorter time and at lower costs. Workers and laborers will benefit" - Mr. Le Van Nghia emphasized.
Pressure on ceilings, be cautious, avoid creating barriers
A notable point in the draft Resolution is the proposal to apply the ceiling for social housing. However, this idea is receiving mixed opinions from businesses and experts.
According to the report of the Ministry of Justice, adding the regulation on ceilings will ensure fairness, making it easier for people to access housing. However, in the context of some social housing projects in Hanoi having high preliminary prices (from 18 to 25 million VND/m2), the ceiling may make investors afraid.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam - General Director of G-Home Company - commented: "Coses price ceilings are not an impossible policy. Currently, social housing has been managed very strictly, especially controlling investors' profits at only 10%, which is currently being proposed to increase to 13%. If the price ceiling is applied, it will create more barriers, making the development of social housing more difficult".
Mr. Nam emphasized that the selling price of social housing has been strictly assessed by departments and branches. In addition, the construction costs of current projects include technical infrastructure, utilities, fire prevention and fighting standards, etc., so the price difference between projects is reasonable. Investors cannot arbitrarily increase prices because there is a strict post-inspection mechanism and if violations are detected, the difference will be forced to be refunded.
There needs to be a clear and transparent roadmap
From an expert's perspective, Mr. Nguyen The Diep - Member of the Vietnam Real Estate Association, Vice President of the Hanoi Real Estate Club - said that applying ceilings is necessary in the long term to ensure transparency and control selling prices. However, this policy needs to be implemented according to a clear roadmap to avoid causing negative effects.
"We need a clear and transparent roadmap. Before applying the ceiling, the State needs to propagate and guide to create consensus from businesses and people. When the market is stable, the supply is strong enough and support mechanisms are operated effectively, then price control will have a real effect" - Mr. Diep said.
In response to this concern, the Ministry of Construction also said that it has not included the regulation on applying ceilings in the draft. Instead, the Ministry will accept opinions on strengthening post-inspections and corporate responsibility for project progress and quality, preventing policy profiteering.
