Ms. Bich Thu, a freelance worker from Bac Giang province working in Hanoi, shared her experience: “I came across information about upcoming social housing projects in Hanoi and decided to prepare the necessary documents. However, verifying my income at the local commune office was challenging as they claimed there was no basis to prove that my income was below VND 15 million per month since I lacked formal documentation.” Ms. Thu is one of hundreds of freelance workers in Hanoi facing difficulties in income verification.
Representatives from several wards and communes in Hanoi expressed their dilemma in verifying the income of freelance workers, stating that there is no basis for such confirmation. Simply signing off on these applications without proper verification would be inappropriate.
A leader from the People’s Committee of Khuong Dinh Ward, Hanoi, shared their concern: “Our ward receives hundreds of applications daily for certification and authentication, and only one leader is authorized to sign. If we also have to verify income, it will overload the system, and we won’t truly know the citizens’ actual income.”
Recently, the Ministry of Construction proposed that low-income earners in urban areas without employment contracts should seek confirmation from the local police instead of the People’s Committee at the ward or commune level, as currently stipulated in Decree 100/2015.
A social housing project in Dong Anh, Hanoi.
According to the proposal, low-income earners in urban areas without employment contracts must meet the income requirements and obtain confirmation from the local police where they are permanently or temporarily residing or currently living.
Within seven days of receiving the request, the local police will verify the individual’s income based on the national population database and provide confirmation.
The Ministry of Construction will amend and supplement the necessary documents to ensure alignment with this proposal.
Currently, the People’s Committee at the ward or commune level, where the individual is registered as a permanent or temporary resident, is responsible for confirming income eligibility.
The Ministry of Construction explained that the proposal aims to address the challenge of local authorities not having access to citizen data, which has been raised by several localities, including Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Danang, Can Tho, and Quang Ninh.
Previously, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed the Ministry of Public Security to innovate the population database by adding information to evaluate eligibility for purchasing or renting social housing, thereby reducing administrative procedures. This instruction was given during a national conference on social housing in March.
According to the Ministry of Construction’s report, there are currently 692 social housing projects underway nationwide, offering 633,559 units. Of these, 146 projects (103,717 units) have been completed, 144 projects (127,261 units) are under construction, and 402 projects (402,581 units) have been approved for investment.
Notably, in the first seven months of this year, nearly 37,000 units were completed, equivalent to 80% of last year’s achievement and seven times more than in 2022.
“Housing Fund Decree: Ministry of Construction’s Proposal for a National Housing Fund”
The Ministry of Construction is taking the lead in drafting a decree on the National Housing Fund and is seeking feedback from relevant ministries, sectors, and local authorities. The decree is expected to be submitted to the government for approval before September 15th.
A Proposal to Waive Land Use Fees for Purpose Changes Within the Allotted Quota
The proposed amendments to the Land Law suggest an exemption from land use fees for those converting land use purposes within the residential land use limit. However, for those exceeding this limit, a land use fee of 30-50% will be applicable.
“National Housing Fund: Renting Made Easy, Secure, and Guaranteed. No Sales or Reselling Allowed.”
“As stated by Deputy Finance Minister Do Thanh Trung, Resolution No. 201/2025/QH15 introduces a pilot program with specific mechanisms and policies for developing social housing. This resolution underscores the nature of this fund as a rental-only initiative, implying a one-way flow where tenants can move in but not exit through a sale. In other words, this fund is not intended for real estate trading; instead, it exclusively supports rental services, funded by the state budget and legitimate contributions from other sources.”
The Latest Directive: Establishing a Fund for Relocation Housing and Land
The Department of Construction has been tasked by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee to establish a fund for housing and land to serve resettlement purposes. This task is based on the needs for resettlement arrangement and the proposal to invest in the construction of resettlement areas by various units. A report on the implementation results must be submitted before October 15th.
Once a Billion-Dollar Profit-Maker, This Real Estate Giant Now Targets 40,000 Affordable Housing Units Despite Modest Earnings.
The struggling situation of Dia Oc Hoang Quan, a real estate company, is a cause for concern. With a dismal track record of failing to meet business targets for nine consecutive years, their annual profits barely scrape over $1 million. The years 2021 and 2023 were particularly grim, with meager profits of just $174,000 to $218,000. This underperformance paints a picture of a company in dire need of a strategic overhaul to reverse its fortunes.
