At the National Conference on Breakthroughs in Social Housing Development, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 11, Mrs. Dang Thi Kim Oanh, Chairwoman of Kim Oanh Group, shared her 17-year journey in real estate, particularly her dedication to social housing—a mission she calls “a journey for the happiness of workers.”
A Series of Social Housing Projects Launched
“A small home can empower workers to pursue their biggest dreams,” Mrs. Kim Oanh began, her words reflecting the philosophy that drives her company. For her, each home is more than an asset—it’s a foundation for millions of Vietnamese to build their future.
Over the past three years, Kim Oanh Group has completed four social housing and mid-range commercial housing projects, delivering over 4,000 units priced from just 700 million VND each, targeting genuine housing needs of workers and laborers.
In response to the government’s 1 Million Social Homes Initiative, the group is developing multiple projects in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, areas with the most urgent demand. “Building social housing isn’t about profit—it’s about sharing, contributing, and fulfilling our social responsibility, aligning with the Party and State’s vision,” Mrs. Kim Oanh emphasized.
One of Kim Oanh Group’s standout achievements is pioneering Singapore’s social housing standards in Vietnam, in partnership with Surbana Jurong, a global leader in urban planning and infrastructure.
A mixed-use commercial and social housing project currently under development by Kim Oanh Group
The first project in this series, K-Home New City (26.69 hectares) in former Binh Duong, includes 3,310 low-rise and high-rise social housing units, slated for handover starting November 2025. In August and September alone, the group broke ground on four projects in Dong Nai with 7,500 units and is preparing to launch an additional 7,000 units in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai.
To date, Kim Oanh Group is developing 18,500 social housing units, aiming to reach 50,000 by 2028. This underscores the private sector’s capacity to partner with the government in achieving sustainable housing for all.
Social Housing, Uncompromised Quality
Mrs. Kim Oanh highlighted that Kim Oanh’s projects stand out not just for their scale, but for their philosophy: “We build homes to live in, not just to sell.” All projects feature integrated amenities, including schools, pools, playgrounds, sports facilities, parks, supermarkets, and clinics. Each urban area is designed to offer residents a civilized, safe, and eco-friendly living environment.
The group also adheres to EDGE green building standards, reducing energy and water consumption by 20% and cutting carbon emissions. Smart apartment designs ensure natural ventilation, and eco-friendly materials are produced in-house to optimize costs without compromising quality.
The payment policy, which Mrs. Kim Oanh calls “the most humane in the market,” requires buyers to pay only 5–10% (35–70 million VND) upfront, followed by monthly installments of approximately 3 million VND until reaching 20%. The remainder can be financed through preferential bank loans. “We don’t just build homes—we create communities, living environments, and pride for thousands of workers,” she stated.
Unblocking the 1 Million Social Homes Initiative
At the conference, Mrs. Kim Oanh proposed practical solutions to accelerate the initiative. She noted that the 120 trillion VND credit package is disbursing slowly, delaying homeownership for many. “Our projects are nearly complete, yet only 200 billion VND has been disbursed. I urge the government to expedite access to capital for capable enterprises, so residents can move in sooner,” she said.
She also suggested streamlining loan processes, increasing unit sizes to 90–100 m² to accommodate multi-generational families, and allowing low-rise housing in suburban areas where high-rises are less preferred.
Additionally, she called for the government to allocate more cleared land to capable developers, who would commit to lowering prices, accelerating timelines, and delivering units ahead of schedule.
Kim Oanh Group is also open to partnering with individuals or companies holding land but lacking experience or capital, to jointly develop social housing following Singapore’s model.
Prime Minister: Social Housing Should Not Be in Remote or Inconvenient Locations, Nor Limited to High-Rise Buildings
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that social housing should not be limited to high-rise buildings but can also include low-rise structures. He stressed that these housing projects must not be located in remote, inaccessible areas or on marginal land, but rather in well-developed locations with adequate infrastructure.
Uniting Vision and Ambition: The Inaugural Post-Merger HCM City Party Congress
The 1st Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee (term 2025-2030) marks a pivotal new development stage as Ho Chi Minh City, alongside Binh Duong and Ba Ria – Vung Tau, unites to form an open urban region for the first time. This strategic move aims to establish the area as a leading financial and creative hub in the region.
Hot This Week: Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 Set for Technical Opening by Year-End
Proposals to increase the income threshold for social housing eligibility to 40 million VND/month for couples, Dong Nai’s commitment to commence and complete over 9,000 social housing units next year, the final 100-day push to open Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 by year-end, and updates on resolving bottlenecks for nearly 3,000 stalled projects are among the top headlines of the past week.
Elevate Social Housing Income Threshold for Couples to VND 40 Million/Month
The government has recently issued Decree 261, raising the income threshold for eligibility to purchase or rent social housing to 20 million VND/month for individuals, 40 million VND/month for married couples, and 30 million VND/month for single parents with children. This new regulation is expected to expand access to social housing for millions of middle-income workers in major urban areas.
Accelerating Affordable Housing Development: Businesses Gear Up for Social Housing Initiatives
Real estate businesses and associations unanimously agree that the government’s new policies on social housing development are a timely and strategic move. These measures effectively address market challenges, stimulate increased supply, and pave the way for reducing currently elevated housing prices.
