Resolving Obstacles in Social Housing and Apartment Management within the Province

On the afternoon of April 6, Mr. Vu Viet Van — Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee — chaired a meeting to review reports from the Department of Construction regarding the management of social housing, apartment buildings, and clean water pricing by local water supply companies.

Vice Chairman Vu Viet Van delivers the concluding remarks at the conference.

According to the Department of Construction, the province currently has 88 apartment buildings and old collective housing complexes. To date, only 17 structures have undergone quality inspections: 12 are classified as Grade C or D (unsafe, requiring renovation or reconstruction), and 5 are Grade A or B (requiring periodic maintenance). There remain 71 structures that have yet to be inspected.

Notably, 11 unsafe structures are currently under directed handling by the Provincial People’s Committee, including six blocks at the Hoa Phong apartment complex (Viet Tri City), the 8T building (Xuan Hoa Ward), two complexes of the Phuc Yen Printing JSC, and buildings A8 and A9 in the old Hoa Binh area. Many of these apartments were built in the 1970s and 1980s and have been in use for over 40 years without adequate maintenance.

In the old Vinh Phuc area, 100% of old apartment complexes lack the regulated maintenance procedures and plans. Many structures show signs of cracking, subsidence, and structural damage, posing potential safety risks to residents.

Faced with this reality, the Department of Construction proposed completing inspections for all old apartments by 2026 to serve as a basis for classification and handling. For Grade C and D structures, planning and reconstruction plans must be urgently established; Grade A and B structures must undergo periodic maintenance. The province is also considering capital allocation and investor selection for renovation projects, alongside intensifying the emergency relocation of residents from dangerous buildings.

Regarding the investment policy appraisal for the Thuy Van High-rise Independent Social Housing project (Nong Trang Ward), the project spans approximately 3.76 hectares with a total estimated investment of over 3,006 billion VND. It consists of three 21-story towers (including basements), featuring 1,570 social housing units and 460 commercial units, accommodating about 8,100 residents.

Construction is expected to commence in Q3/2026, with the structural frame completed by late 2028 and total completion by Q2/2029. Appraisal results show the project aligns with the provincial housing development program; the investor demonstrates strong financial capacity with nearly 800 billion VND in equity and over 2,200 billion VND in bank credit commitments.

At the conference, the Department of Construction also reported on the draft of Plan No. 21 (dated January 16, 2026) of the Provincial Party Standing Committee. This plan aims to implement Directive No. 34 (dated May 24, 2024) of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party’s leadership in social housing development in the new context. Additionally, the department presented the clean water pricing plans of water supply companies across the province.

Concluding these contents, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Vu Viet Van requested the Department of Construction to update the social housing project planning list to the current date, prioritizing projects with ready transport infrastructure. He assigned clear responsibilities to local authorities in site clearance to ensure the established progress.

Regarding old apartment buildings in the area, the Vice Chairman requested functional units to specifically classify and urgently complete the quality inspection of all old apartments within 2026. This will ensure an accurate assessment of their actual status, serving as a basis for proposing feasible and appropriate solutions.

For the Thuy Van social housing project, relevant units are tasked with expediting procedures to ensure the groundbreaking follows the schedule. Special attention must be paid to construction quality and the synchronization of technical and social infrastructure to meet the actual housing needs of citizens.

Regarding clean water prices, Vice Chairman Vu Viet Van emphasized that the formulation and adjustment of water prices must ensure a harmony of interests between the State, businesses, and the public, aligning with people’s affordability, especially in rural areas.

Furthermore, he encouraged businesses to improve service quality, reduce water loss, and optimize production costs. The determination of cost and profit factors must be transparent, well-founded, and strictly compliant with the current price brackets and regulations.

Le Minh