Positive signs
At the end of March 2025, worker couple Hoang Xuan Long and Duong Thi Kim Thu received ownership of an apartment in the BT3 social housing block under the Dai Thang Residential Area project in Pho Yen Ward, where they have settled down for long-term living.
Long shared: “This is truly a dream home for us. Having a stable residence gives us peace of mind and motivation to work and build a long-term life in Thai Nguyen.”
The Dai Thang Residential Area social housing project, developed by TNG Land JSC, has been implemented at a rapid pace. Ground was broken in April 2024 with a scale of 395 apartments, including both high-rise and terraced housing. The terraced blocks have already been completed and handed over to buyers, while the 18-storey tower is scheduled for completion in September 2025, at which point all apartments will be delivered to low-income households.
Notably, all 395 apartments in the Dai Thang project were registered for purchase in a short period after launch, at an average price of 14 million VND/m² (approximately 530 USD), demonstrating the huge demand for social housing in the province.
CEO of TNG Land Ha Van Giang noted: “Right after groundbreaking, we mobilised resources to ensure timely, professional, and high-quality construction. We paid close attention to design and landscaping so that residents would not feel they were living in ‘low-income housing’ but in comfortable, well-designed homes.”
Most industrial parks and clusters in Thai Nguyen are concentrated in the southern part of the province, where the worker population is highest. Accordingly, both the provincial government and private investors have been implementing a number of large-scale social housing projects in this area, amounting to thousands of units to serve workers, particularly those in industrial zones.
One notable example is the social housing project in Tich Luong Ward, developed by Binh Minh Phat Investment JSC. Covering more than 11.3 hectares, it will provide 689 apartments. Construction of the high-rise blocks is underway, with supporting facilities such as an administrative building, boundary walls, and technical infrastructure gradually being completed.
Another development in the same ward is the “Green House” social housing project, invested by Truong Thuan Phat Real Estate JSC. With a total capital of around 620 billion VND (23.5 million USD), it will supply 476 apartments, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Bach Quang ward social housing project, developed by VITC High-Tech Construction and Investment JSC, covers nearly 5.7 hectares with 469 units and total investment capital of 386 billion VND (14.6 million USD). Groundbreaking took place in August this year.
Vice Chairwoman of the Thai Nguyen People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Loan said: “The social housing projects under construction in the province are positive and encouraging signals. In the near future, thousands of workers and low-income families will have access to proper housing. This reflects the efforts of the Party Committee and authorities to ensure social welfare and create a more attractive investment environment.”
Tackling bottlenecks
Despite these encouraging developments, the social housing segment in Thai Nguyen still faces numerous difficulties and obstacles, requiring comprehensive and coordinated solutions.
In addition to administrative procedures, site clearance remains the most pressing bottleneck. The Tich Luong social housing project has yet to receive full site handover, while the Bach Quang project, although the land survey has been completed, still faces unresolved clearance issues.
Some projects have also been delayed due to slow connections to essential infrastructure such as electricity, water, and road systems. According to the provincial Department of Construction, the People’s Committee is now directing each project, department, and locality to resolve site clearance thoroughly, accelerate project adjustments, and speed up infrastructure connections.
At a recent conference on social housing development, Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Loan instructed departments, agencies, and localities to work closely with investors, set deadlines for resolving specific difficulties, and ensure projects are implemented on schedule. She also emphasised the need to create maximum conditions to attract investment in social housing, particularly within the mandatory 20% land fund allocated in commercial real estate projects. The province aims to develop more than 20,000 social housing units by 2030, contributing to social welfare stability.
