Social housing will 'stimulate' the real estate market.

Social housing projects are accelerating.

According to Mr. Ha Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management (Ministry of Construction), the current policies and mechanisms for social housing and worker accommodation in industrial zones are relatively complete, synchronized, and open. In particular, Resolution No. 201/2025, which pilots some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of social housing , and the guiding decrees issued have resolved many bottlenecks in this segment. Thanks to this, the development of social housing in recent years has achieved very positive results.

Increased investment in social housing is expected to help revive the real estate market. PHOTO: Nhat Thinh

For example, regarding the social housing project of 1 million units, to date, the whole country has 875 projects under implementation with a scale of 771,971 units. Of these, 289 projects have been completed, with a scale of 197,319 units; 270 projects have commenced construction and are under implementation with a scale of 269,409 units; and 316 projects have received investment approval, with a scale of 305,243 units. Thus, the number of projects completed, commenced construction, or approved for investment by 2026 will reach 77% of the set target. Among these, 14 localities are likely to complete and exceed their assigned targets, and 27 localities have commenced construction and exceeded their targets.

"Therefore, the success of social housing development depends on its implementation in localities. That's why, from the beginning of the year until now, the Department has advised the Ministry's leadership to work with and urge 16 localities, and specifically from the beginning of the second quarter until now, 10 localities have implemented the targets assigned by the Government in Resolution No. 07/2026," Mr. Ha Quang Hung said.

Ms. Vo Nhat Lieu, General Director of Propiin Real Estate and Financial Technology Academy, noted that from 2025 to the present, social housing has received special attention from the central government to local authorities, leading to a strong surge compared to previous years. It can now be affirmed that social housing is the starting point of a new growth cycle for the economy.

"Currently, what the economy lacks is not money, but the flow of money. An economy doesn't function based on the amount of money it has, but on the speed of its circulation. When real estate transactions stop, money remains in the system but no longer generates production, jobs, and consumption. However, when a house is sold, it not only generates revenue for the business, but behind each successful transaction, an entire value chain is activated: contractors have jobs, workers have income, factories have orders, banks disburse funds, and people continue to consume. But for that flow to be restored, the prerequisite is confidence. Confidence is always the starting point of every recovery cycle," Ms. Vo Nhat Lieu explained.

Citing the success of the 30,000 billion VND social housing stimulus package in 2013, Ms. Vo Nhat Lieu recalled that the context then was similar to the present, and the 30,000 billion VND package revitalized the market. "To build trust, people need not just low interest rates, but certainty. Homebuyers with average incomes don't fear long-term loans; what they worry about is fluctuating interest rates. A stable credit policy for 25-30 years will create much greater confidence. Besides the economic factor, social housing is also a policy to retain the workforce. When the economy is difficult, people migrate, sometimes returning to their hometowns, causing the region to lose its abundant workforce, making businesses reluctant to invest," Ms. Lieu said.

"Among the solutions to stimulate demand, social housing should be considered the most important driving force. This segment has a huge demand, meets social welfare goals, and simultaneously creates real demand for the market. When social housing is strongly implemented, it will lead to the development of related industries." —Mr. Tran Quoc Dung, Vice President of the Vietnam Real Estate Association

"Creating a double boost"

According to Tran Quoc Dung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Association, the real estate market is lacking a strong driving force to generate liquidity, facing pressure from rising interest rates, declining purchasing power, and numerous commercial projects having to postpone their launch plans. In this context, social housing is expected not only to address the housing needs of low-income earners but also to become a segment that triggers a new recovery cycle for the market. In fact, any social housing project with a suitable location, reasonable price, and transparent procedures has consistently received far more applications than the number of units available. For example, a project in Ho Chi Minh City with over 750 units received more than 12,000 applications. This reflects a paradox: the market is experiencing a surplus of housing but is lacking the specific type of housing people need. Therefore, with real demand always present, social housing has become the segment with the most sustainable liquidity potential in the current period.

Mr. Tran Quoc Dung emphasized that the distinguishing feature of social housing is its significant ripple effect. It not only sells houses but also stimulates many economic sectors. Each project, once implemented, generates demand for construction materials, cement, steel, furniture, electrical equipment, consulting services, design, construction, and finance. This segment also has a faster absorption rate than commercial projects because the target customers are those with genuine housing needs, less affected by speculation. When capital flows into this segment, construction companies gain more work, material manufacturers receive more orders, banks expand credit, and workers have more job opportunities. In other words, investing in social housing not only creates apartments but also generates demand for the entire economic chain.

Therefore, social housing should not be viewed simply as a social welfare policy, but rather as a tool for economic development. When millions of workers have the opportunity to own stable housing, labor productivity will improve, businesses will retain their workforce, and cities will develop in a more sustainable direction.

In the context of the government's determination to boost double-digit growth, increase public investment, and remove obstacles in the real estate market, prioritizing the development of social housing could create a "double boost": simultaneously solving the housing problem for the people and unlocking capital for businesses, while activating many related sectors.

"Among the solutions to stimulate demand, social housing should be considered the most important driving force. This segment has a huge demand, meets social welfare goals, and simultaneously creates real demand for the market. When social housing is strongly implemented, it will lead to the development of other sectors. Real estate is not just a market but also a crucial resource for the economy. Unlocking the market today is not aimed at creating price surges, but at unlocking capital flows, stimulating investment, and creating momentum for sustainable economic growth in the coming period," said Mr. Tran Quoc Dung.

Ms. Vo Nhat Lieu , General Director of Propiin Real Estate and Financial Technology Academy

Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper