More than 10 delays in handover
At the end of February 2026, reflecting to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. H.T. N (from Bac Ninh) said that he bought a house at the Sao Hong social housing (NƠXH) project (Que Vo ward, Bac Ninh province) from 2020 but has not been handed over until now, although he has paid 95% of the apartment value, the amount of nearly 900 million VND.
According to the purchase and sale contract, the expected time for the investor to hand over apartments to customers is in the first quarter of 2021, but so far it has been 5 years with more than 10 delays in handover, many customers who are workers and low-income people have not received their houses.
The house has not been received, more than half of the money to buy the house is borrowed, currently having to pay monthly interest, while still having to live in cramped and stuffy rented rooms, causing difficulties for many workers and laborers who bought houses at the above project, such as the case of Mr. N.V.T (from Ninh Binh) working as a worker at Que Vo Industrial Park (Bac Ninh province). Living in a 12m2 rented room, the biggest desire of a man over 30 years old is to own a small apartment near his workplace to welcome his wife and young children from his hometown to live with him.
In September 2020, after getting to know each other, Mr. T decided to register to buy an apartment at the Sao Hong social housing project. Hundreds of millions of VND have been paid to the investor, of which more than half was borrowed, but so far 5 years have passed and the house has not been received, making the male worker always anxious, unable to feel secure in working and paying debts. "Many times my wife and children in my hometown call to ask when I will receive the house, when I will be able to return home, I just know how to smile" - Mr. T said indignantly.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, people who bought houses at the project said that they have repeatedly reported the incident to the investor and local functional agencies, but the project progress has not changed much, and so far it has been 5 years since the deadline, the investor has not yet announced the handover of houses to residents.
Losing faith in the investor, some people who bought houses at the project made a contract liquidation record. However, according to people's sharing, liquidating to get back money is also very complicated.
Recorded by Lao Dong Newspaper reporters in January 2026, inside the Sao Hong social housing project, many items are not completed, and construction is still messy. Meanwhile, some walls are degraded and peeling.
Project delayed due to investor capacity
According to the investigation of Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, the Sao Hong social housing project was approved for investment by Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee in 2015, invested by Sao Hong Investment Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company.
The project has a scale of 19,913m2, including 790 apartments (3 apartment buildings) and 32 commercial housing apartments (detached houses). Total investment capital is 275 billion VND.
The project is located near industrial parks, so right from the opening of sales, it has received the attention of many workers and low-income workers in the area.
Lao Dong Newspaper reporters contacted representatives of the investor of the Sao Hong social housing project to clarify the reasons for the slow handover of houses. Accordingly, the project investor said that there was a period when the project was temporarily suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic.
In addition, due to the credit restriction policy of banks on lending to the construction and real estate sectors, from the 2022 period, Sao Hong Company was stopped from disbursing funds, leading to no cash flow to implement the project.
The project was delayed with the plan, customers who had signed to buy apartments stopped paying, so the company had no revenue. The company has mobilized capital to implement the project, but due to the context of economic recession and credit restriction policies, capital mobilization is difficult.
It is known that the Bac Ninh Provincial Department of Construction has repeatedly urged and reminded the project investor to speed up the progress and hand over houses to people soon.
The Department of Construction of Bac Ninh province added that Article 45 of Decree No. 100/2024/ND-CP stipulates the responsibility of the social housing seller to strictly implement the terms agreed in the contract, including handing over the house on time. The seller's delay in handing over the house compared to the contract is a violation of contract obligations.
People have the right to request investors to fulfill contract obligations; Request compensation for damages (if any) due to violations of contract obligations. At the same time, file a lawsuit with a competent court to protect their legitimate rights and interests.
