From the first Trade Union housing facility
We visited the Ha Nam Trade Union Facilities (Dong Van ward, Ninh Binh province) in the last days of 2025, under the dry sun of the last day of winter. At this time, Ms. Pham Thi Bich Hong (from Phu Tho) was busy cleaning the house, just preparing a weekend meal for the whole family. Meanwhile, 2 young children of this female worker were playing and cycling in the spacious campus of the building.
Sharing the story with us, she smiled and said that after spending 3 Tet seasons here, the family truly felt the meaning of the two words "an cu" (settled down).
Working at Dong Van industrial park for nearly 10 years, but before 2022, Ms. Hong's family had to manage with a cramped rented room, high rent, and far from schools, markets, and hospitals. "Since moving to this social housing area, my parents work nearby, my children go to school nearby, the rent is only 1.9 million VND/month and the amenities are enough: Warm-air fans, clean toilets, balconies, playgrounds, good security. Electricity and water prices are also low. After coming here, I don't want to move anywhere else" - the female worker said.
With the same 45m2 area as Ms. Hong's apartment, the rental price outside Dong Van ward area can be up to 3-5 million VND/month, not including electricity and water. For many workers' families, that difference is enough to accumulate for the future, for their children's education or simply to help them lighten their burden in making a living.
Next to Ms. Hong's apartment, Ms. Dang My Thu's family - a worker who has been attached to Dong Van industrial park for 5 years, is also cleaning the house after a busy week of work. Ms. Thu recounted that the procedures for registering for social housing are very quick and streamlined by the Trade Union, the company's Trade Union provides full support. Her three young children have space to run and jump, the kitchen is separated, the air is fresh, all of which makes her family feel like they have found a long-term stable place.
Not only in Ninh Binh, the demand for social housing for trade unions in large industrial localities is always very high. In Bac Ninh - where there are 33 industrial parks with more than 600,000 workers, statistics show that nearly 158,000 people are in housing needs, equivalent to about 54,000 apartments. By 2030, this number is expected to exceed 236,000 workers.
In the flow of people finishing work in the afternoon on a day at the end of the year, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong - a worker in Nenh ward (Bac Ninh) - said that she had followed a report about the Trade Union social housing area in Dong Van on Lao Dong Newspaper.
If Bac Ninh has such a model, I will register immediately. For workers like us, a closed apartment, reasonable price, and a safe living environment is a long-held dream" - the female worker shared.
Target of 10,000 Trade Union housing apartments
Ha Nam Trade Union Facilities went into operation from the end of 2021 with 244 apartments, along with multi-functional houses, playgrounds, and community living areas. The occupancy rate always reaches 100% - the clearest proof of the housing needs of workers. Mr. Le Van Nghia - Director of the Trade Union Project Management Board (Vietnam General Confederation of Labor) - said that most households here have 2-3 people, living stably, civilizedly, and harmoniously thanks to the same circumstances and rhythm of industrial labor.
Also from that reality, the VGCL determined to continue expanding the model.On September 25, in Viet Yen ward (Bac Ninh), the Trade Union social housing project including two 10-story building blocks, 477 rental apartments was started.
The apartments are designed to be closed, equipped with beds, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and elevators; three-story bus stations ensure the parking needs of thousands of workers.This is a project of significance to celebrate the Bac Ninh Provincial Party Congress, and at the same time contribute to solving the housing problem - an important factor to retain workers and increase investment attractiveness in Bac Ninh.
On September 30, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour continued to start construction of a project in Vinh Long province, with a scale of 4 blocks of 7-story apartment buildings, 2 garages, gardens, parking lots, sports areas, outdoor stages... Total investment of more than 554.5 billion VND from trade union financial resources.
Mr. Thach Van Chung - Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial Labor Federation said that the Trade Union social housing model will help workers feel secure in sticking with the locality, while increasing the province's competitiveness and attracting investment.
Not only stopping at the projects being implemented, according to Mr. Phan Van Anh - Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, from 2026 - 2030, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour will continue to implement 10 more Trade Union social housing projects in provinces and cities across the country. It is expected that by 2030, the Trade Union organization will have about 15 projects, about 10,000 apartments.
Regarding rental prices, the VGCL determines that it must be truly preferential, not set a profit target in leasing workers' houses of the Trade Union organization. The capital recovery period, the State stipulates may be 20 years, but the VGCL plans to recover capital within 50 years and have support policies for union members and workers.
In particular, the Trade Union organization is very concerned about the issue of workers' housing, which includes: Planning, quality, living environment - how to make workers' housing areas truly a livable place.
In the atmosphere of the new spring, those numbers are not simply a construction plan. That is the long-term commitment of the Trade Union organization in caring for the lives of union members and workers.
Peaceful springs
Year-end afternoon in the Ha Nam Trade Union Facilities, workers' uniforms drying on the railing swaying in the wind. In the common sports playground, the sound of children playing loudly. A male worker is leisurely with his daughter flying a kite, after a busy week. The bustling, familiar atmosphere is like a long-standing small hamlet - a rare thing in industrial parks that are familiar with a hurried pace of life.
Looking at the bright smiles after work, it is easy to understand why thousands of workers across the country are waiting for new Trade Union social housing areas to take shape soon. There, they can live near their workplace, near schools, near essential amenities. There, they not only rent a room, but also find a "support" to help be more stable amidst the fluctuations of industrial life.
Stepping into the new year, when projects in Bac Ninh and Vinh Long are being accelerated, a journey of the Trade Union organization continues: A journey to bring spring to every home of union members. Not with big promises, but with specific projects, with bright apartments every night, with practical care for the well-being of millions of workers.
Spring of heaven and earth is coming. And in the Trade Union Facilities, there is also another spring blooming: The spring of settlement, of faith, of warmth built with responsibility and humanity.
Those houses - simple but full, are the strongest affirmation of the role of the Vietnam Trade Union in the journey to accompany workers, so that each spring starts from peace.
