HCMC — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered local authorities to tighten oversight of social housing purchase approvals and take action against illegal brokerage services following signs of misuse in several major cities.
Directive No. 34 requires provinces and cities to strengthen transparency in screening, purchasing and leasing social housing. It also mandates the revocation of units sold to people who do not meet eligibility requirements.
According to the Government, projects in Hanoi City, Danang City and HCMC have recently faced overcrowding during purchase registration periods, illegal brokers offering priority access, multiple purchase and lease requests by the same individuals, incomplete public information, rising sale prices and weak post-allocation checks.
The prime minister said these issues could undermine public confidence and distort the goals of the country’s social housing policy.
Local authorities must publish project information, including progress, the number of units, provisional sale prices and application timelines, on the websites of construction departments and commune-level governments, as well as in local media.
Agencies are required to verify eligibility, prevent duplicate applications and release lists of qualified applicants on schedule. Final buyer and tenant lists must be disclosed after contracts are signed to support subsequent inspections.
Provinces must strictly handle illegal brokers and those offering to secure “priority slots,” and must check sale prices to prevent firms from taking advantage of policy incentives. Units obtained through false declarations or profiteering must be reclaimed.
The directive bans developers from collecting deposits that fall outside legal regulations. Developers must disclose full project details, manage applications transparently and use digital tools to avoid crowding. They must hold public lotteries when applications exceed available units and coordinate with authorities to address brokerage activities disguised as consulting or support services.
Residents are urged to study relevant regulations, submit applications directly to developers, avoid intermediaries and provide accurate information. Those who violate the rules may face penalties and lose their allocated units.
Vietnam aims to complete at least one million social housing units for low-income earners and industrial park workers by 2030. Around 100,000 units are planned for completion this year.
By late October 2025, 696 projects had been launched nationwide with about 640,000 units. Around 89,000 units are expected to be delivered this year, or 89% of the full-year target.
