Along with the Trade Union housing area that has been operating in Dong Van (Ninh Binh), these projects add a source of housing for low-income workers in the context that most workers still have to live in cramped boarding houses with limited living conditions.
As the new year approaches, Trade Union social housing projects are expected to contribute to stabilizing workers' lives, helping workers feel secure in their work and be attached to businesses and localities for a long time.
Workers and the dream of settlement
At the end of September 2025, amidst the rapid production of industrial parks in the North, in Bac Ninh, a land plot located near the road leading to the industrial park in Viet Yen ward suddenly became more crowded than usual.
Under the drizzling rain in the autumn sky, the Trade Union social housing project for workers in Bac Ninh province, invested by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, officially started construction.
The project has 477 closed rental apartments along with elevators and basic equipment and furniture: beds, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets... and a 3-story parking lot with a total floor area of 3,024m2.
Not a grand groundbreaking ceremony. Many workers wore their company uniforms. They quietly watched the excavator level the ground, occasionally turning to exchange with each other very soft words: "The house will probably be here later", "Being near the industrial park like this is too convenient". For many people, it was a rare time they stood in front of a project built for themselves, not to admire, but to hope.
Mr. Luong Van Khu (28 years old), a worker at Quang Chau Industrial Park, Bac Ninh province - said that he is looking forward to the project being put into operation soon to be registered for lease.
Not only me but also many other workers also want to rent social housing apartments with preferential prices and guaranteed quality, with many playgrounds and amenities," Mr. Khu said.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong (33 years old), a worker at Van Trung industrial park (Bac Ninh province) said that she has followed the report on the Trade Union social housing project in Ninh Binh province published in Lao Dong Newspaper and found it very suitable for the needs of many workers like her.
My husband and I hope to have a Trade Union social housing project in Bac Ninh and it has now become a reality.
My husband and I are workers, our monthly income is about 14 million VND. Every month, we also have to pay for rent, raise 2 young children and elderly parents in the countryside. Therefore, we are not strong enough to buy a social housing apartment," Ms. Hong said.
In Dong Thap, a Trade Union social housing project invested by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has also been started from the end of July 2025.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Nhut, a worker at Song Tien Garment Joint Stock Company (Dong Thap province) said that when she heard information about the trade union social housing project, Ms. Nhut and her colleagues could not hide their joy and excitement with the dream of settling down and starting a career.
The female worker shared that due to her special circumstances, since joining the company, she has made great efforts to complete the assigned tasks. Fortunately, she is in the company's building, however, the dream of having a personal home has never faded in her mind.
With living expenses and expensive prices like now, we only have enough to manage our daily lives. We ourselves have savings, but buying a house is very far away. Now hearing that the trade union organization has built social housing for trade unions, we are very happy" - Ms. Nhut said.
Ms. Nhut also expressed that when spreading this joy to colleagues, everyone was excited. Because, for many years, for workers far from home, economic conditions are difficult, they have to accept the scene of renting cramped and deprived rooms.
Rent and expenses are a big burden. Many brothers and sisters have to live temporarily in damp rented rooms, far from work, leading to many health and mental consequences, hoping the project will be completed and put into operation soon" - Ms. Nhut said.
It is known that the Trade Union social housing project in Dong Thap has a total area of about 3ha in Trung An ward, with main items including: 4 8-story residential blocks with a total floor area of 38,460m2.
The project has 526 closed rental apartments with basic equipment and furniture: elevators, beds, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets... and 2 2-story parking garages with a total floor area of 1,200m2.
Expanding the Trade Union housing fund, aiming for 10,000 apartments for workers
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Trinh Quang Minh - Deputy Head of the Trade Union Project Management Board, Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (Vietnam General Confederation of Labor) - said that from the beginning of 2025 to now, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has started 3 projects in Dong Thap, Vinh Long and Bac Ninh provinces.
In addition, it is expected that in 2026, the Trade Union Project Management Board will start a series of Trade Union social housing projects in 8 provinces and cities.
Mr. Minh emphasized that Trade Union social housing projects for workers not only solve the urgent housing needs but also demonstrate the responsibility of the Trade Union organization in caring for the lives of union members and workers. When put into use, these projects will help workers have safe and comfortable accommodation, improve their lives, feel secure in their work and contribute to promoting socio-economic development of the locality.
Mr. Thach Van Chung - Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial Labor Federation said that the Trade Union social housing model will help workers feel secure and attached to the locality, while increasing competitiveness and attracting investment from the province.
Not only stopping at ongoing projects, 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 Vietnam General Confederation of Labour determined that it must be truly preferential, without setting a profit target in leasing housing to workers by the Trade Union organization. The capital recovery period, the State stipulates that it may be 20 years, but the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour plans to recover capital within 50 years and have policies to support union members and workers.
In particular, the Trade Union organization is very interested in the issue of worker housing, which includes: Planning, quality, living environment - how to make worker housing truly become 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.
