Ho Chi Minh City Anticipates Transformative 100-200 Hectare Social Housing Mega-Projects

On January 16, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, in collaboration with the Department of Construction and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, organized a seminar titled: “Social Housing Development in Ho Chi Minh City: From Model to Action.”

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Pham Minh Man, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, stated that according to the government’s plan to invest in the construction of at least 1 million social housing units nationwide, and the target set by the Prime Minister, Ho Chi Minh City aims to develop nearly 200,000 social housing units.

Of these, during the 2026-2030 period, the city must strive to develop over 181,000 units; specifically, 28,500 units in 2026 alone.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is constructing 9 projects with a total of 8,400 units.

Additionally, the Department of Construction is advising the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to review the legal aspects of 47 projects for implementation. Among these, 18 projects with 14,600 units have feasible legal frameworks and can commence construction in the first quarter of 2026. Another 29 projects, with 16,100 units, are accelerating their legal processes.

According to Mr. Man, if these projects are successfully implemented, they will ensure the basic targets for 2026-2027 and subsequent years. With accelerated progress, it is expected that 18 projects can break ground before the 2026 Lunar New Year.

Furthermore, including independent social housing projects and the 20% land allocation for social housing in commercial housing projects, the city has approximately 197 projects covering 732 hectares, with a capacity of 230,000 units.

“If all these projects are implemented, the city will meet the target set by the Prime Minister by 2030. The city is focusing on legal reviews and the deployment of these projects,” said the Deputy Director of the Department of Construction.

By 2040, the total land area for social housing is projected to reach 2,000 hectares, ensuring a long-term land fund for social housing development. This includes 1,300 hectares in key dynamic zones.

The Department of Construction will collaborate with the Department of Planning and Architecture to detail the planning and specific locations within these dynamic zones, near the city’s ring roads, to mobilize resources and attract investment for social housing construction.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has a Housing Development Fund, which will provide support, increase capital, and expand functions and powers to develop housing in the future. For land in dynamic zones, capital can be allocated to the Housing Development Fund to implement projects.

Additionally, the city can attract investment for social housing projects ranging from 30 to 200 hectares.

“The Department is advising that, for example, a 200-hectare project could accommodate 100,000 social housing units. Thus, implementing just 1-2 projects in the upcoming phase would make achieving the 2030 social housing development target highly feasible,” Mr. Man added.