Editor’s Note:
Vietnam’s social housing market is plagued by severe issues: from brokers hoarding spots and inflating application fees to homes being resold at premiums of hundreds of millions VND, contradicting the goal of supporting low-income earners. In response, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Construction have directed local authorities to intensify inspections and strictly penalize all forms of profiteering.
VietNamNet presents this series to offer a multifaceted perspective and propose urgent solutions to ensure the social housing market operates true to its purpose and objectives.
No Applications Through Brokers or Intermediaries
At the third meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Housing Policy and Real Estate Market on November 11, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to enhance transparency, prevent corruption, and curb hoarding, price manipulation, speculation, and profiteering in the approval, sale, and rental of social housing.
Hanoi’s market has recently seen a resurgence in social housing activity, with numerous new projects launching at prices ranging from VND 18.4 to 29.4 million per square meter.
Speaking with VietNamNet, Mr. Luyen Van Phuong, Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Construction, stated that efforts to ensure transparency and combat policy exploitation have been systematically implemented since the beginning of the year. The department has issued guidelines for selling, renting, and lease-to-own social housing, ensuring compliance with regulations and guiding citizens to submit applications legally.
An automated queue system has been introduced for social housing applications in Hanoi. Residents now receive numbers in an orderly fashion, eliminating previous chaos. Photo: Hong Khanh |
Authorities remind households and individuals seeking to purchase or lease social housing to complete applications as per the template in Circular 05/2024 of the Ministry of Construction.
Importantly, applications must be submitted directly to developers, not through brokers or real estate intermediaries. “We’ve published all official submission addresses on the Hanoi Department of Construction’s e-portal and project developers’ websites. Residents must avoid submitting through unauthorized individuals or entities,” Mr. Phuong stressed.
The Department of Construction has also requested Hanoi’s Public Security Department to direct local police to monitor and penalize brokers exploiting loopholes in social housing applications.
Anticipated Application Overload by Late 2025: Residents Urged to Act Proactively
To improve accessibility and prevent exploitation, the Department of Construction has published detailed information on each social housing project, including location, prices, rental rates, and submission deadlines and locations.
Mr. Phuong noted that upon receiving developer requests, the department promptly reviews and publishes updates on its e-portal for residents to prepare applications.
Hundreds queue to submit social housing applications in Hanoi. Photo: Hong Khanh
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Authorities reiterate warnings against submitting applications through intermediaries, making deposits, or paying unauthorized individuals or organizations. All entities are prohibited from exploiting social housing policies or resident needs to collect unlawful fees.
“The Department of Construction strictly prohibits exploiting policies and resident needs for illegal gains. We’ve asked local authorities to enhance oversight of social housing transactions to prevent profiteering,” Mr. Phuong said.
According to the Deputy Director, several Hanoi social housing projects will begin accepting applications later this year. Given high demand, potential overloads are expected, so residents are advised to monitor the department’s website to avoid missing submission windows.
“Residents should only contact developers and submit applications at published locations to prevent exploitation and ensure transparent approval processes,” Mr. Phuong advised.
Hong Khanh
– 05:30 22/11/2025
HoREA Proposes Delaying the Establishment of the Real Estate Transaction Center
Amid concerns over escalating state staffing and budget burdens, as well as potential functional overlaps with existing agencies, HoREA recommends deferring the establishment of the Real Estate Transaction Center.
Steep Fines of Up to 1 Billion VND for Administrative Violations in This Sector
At the 10th Session, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, authorized by the Prime Minister, presented the Proposal for the Artificial Intelligence Law Project.
Social Housing Turns into a ‘Profit Mine’: Uncovering the Gray Area of Legal Loopholes
The vast disparity between social housing and commercial housing has fueled rampant speculation in the social housing market, transforming a vital welfare policy into a commodified asset for speculative investment.
Cracking Down on Social Housing Exploitation: What Penalties Are Needed to Deter Abuse?
The Ministry of Construction has proposed increasing fines to 80-120 million VND for misusing social housing. Experts argue that while stricter penalties are necessary to deter policy exploitation and ensure these homes reach those in genuine need, the current fines remain insufficiently deterrent. They advocate for additional post-audit measures to strengthen enforcement.
Ho Chi Minh City Urges Real Estate Firms to Avoid Authorizing Deposit and Purchase Contracts
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction mandates that real estate developers must publicly disclose project information and prohibits the delegation of authority to individuals or organizations to sign deposit, purchase, or transfer contracts.
