Less than one month after the directive of General Secretary and President To Lam, Dong Nai City officially broke ground on the country's very first social housing (NOXH) project for lease on June 12. This rapid deployment demonstrates the fierce determination to materialize the Central Government's major policies.

More importantly, this project has tapped into one of the most pressing needs of thousands of workers and residents in a major industrial and urban center – having a stable place to live that fits their financial capability.

Tapping into Real Needs

For many years, Dong Nai has always been among the leading localities nationwide in industrial development. Dozens of industrial zones (IZs) with hundreds of thousands of workers have played a critical role in driving economic growth and urbanization. However, behind those growth figures lies a significant pressure on social welfare, particularly housing.

According to construction sector statistics in 2025, the demand for social housing in Dong Nai City stands at around 150,000 to 160,000 units. Of this number, approximately 70% comes from workers and laborers working in industrial zones. In the area surrounding Long Binh Ward alone, within a radius of 5 to 7 km, there are 6 industrial zones employing over 250,000 workers, a vast number of whom need housing.

In reality, most workers have long been living in private boarding houses with cramped spaces and limited living conditions. Many worker families struggle constantly to balance the costs of rent, raising children, and making ends meet. Consequently, owning a house remains a far-fetched goal for many.

The Long Binh Social Housing Project for Lease, aimed at creating a stable, safe living space with reasonable costs, has struck right at the actual needs of both laborers and investment enterprises.

Ms. Nguyen Thị Hoa, Chairwoman of the Grassroots Trade Union of Quadrille Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Amata IZ), expressed: Currently, many workers still have to rent accommodation under restricted living conditions and at high costs. The local government's investment in a social housing project for lease right near the workplace with reasonable rental rates will help them relieve spending pressure and secure a stable residence, thereby allowing them to feel secure and stick with the business long-term. "This is a deeply humane policy that precisely meets the actual needs of workers, contributing to improving quality of life and ensuring social welfare," Ms. Hoa said.

Invested with state budget capital, the project does not aim for profit but focuses on meeting the housing needs of citizens and workers. Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuân, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai City Construction Investment Project Management Board (representing the investor), stated: The Long Binh Social Housing Project for Lease is planned to optimize usable area, offering a diverse range of apartments from 37 to 70 m² to meet the needs of various target groups. Utilizing public investment capital, along with standardized designs and effective construction solutions, helps reduce investment and operation costs, creating a foundation to establish rental prices that match the financial capabilities of laborers.

According to the investor, rental prices will be calculated in compliance with current regulations, ensuring harmony between the goal of supporting low-income earners and the efficiency of state capital use. "Thanks to clean land funds, public investment capital, and preferential mechanisms, the projected rental rates are expected to be significantly lower than the market average for commercial rental housing in the area," Mr. Tuan shared.

Deploying at "Lightning Speed" to Provide Homes Early

Long Binh Social Housing for Lease is a project broken ground at a "lightning-fast" pace, taking less than a month since the conclusion of General Secretary and President To Lam on developing this housing model. This is also the first rental-model social housing project in the country. This highlights the urgency, efforts, and determination of Dong Nai City in actualizing the Central Government's new policy.

Moving beyond that, according to the initial plan, Phase 1 of the project was to be deployed over a period of 4 years from the time capital was allocated. However, given the urgent housing demand, the social welfare significance of the project, and the anticipation of numerous workers and citizens, the City Party Committee directed that the implementation progress be shortened to just 1 year, equivalent to 1/4 of the original timeline. Furthermore, the entire project with a scale of 10,000 apartments must be finalized within 2 years to satisfy the housing needs of workers and low-income individuals.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee Nguyen Van Ut stated: "This is not merely a residential construction project but a work of profound social significance. We expect the project to establish a civilized, modern living environment fully integrated with essential amenities, contributing to elevating the quality of life for citizens and materializing the goal of settling down to thrive."

The Chairman of the City People's Committee requested departments, sectors, and localities to continue close coordination to promptly resolve any arising difficulties and obstacles, while strengthening inspection and supervision throughout the implementation process. Construction units must maximize their resources, organize construction scientifically, ensure project quality and execution progress, and strictly comply with regulations on occupational safety, environmental protection, and technical standards.

Phase 1 of the Long Binh Social Housing Project for Lease at Amata IZ (Long Binh Ward) has a scale of 1,000 apartments. It broke ground on June 12 and is expected to be completed after 1 year. The entire project scale is 10,000 apartments, expected to be completed after 2 years.