Dong Nai City has become the first locality to break ground on a dedicated social rental housing project under the government's new housing initiative.
The Long Binh project, located near major industrial parks, will provide about 1,000 apartments in its first phase and has an investment of more than VND 1.36 trillion (USD 52 million).
Meanwhile, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and Ninh Binh have been instructed to launch at least one rental housing project this month while accelerating larger developments in the second half of the year.
Hanoi plans to begin construction of 6,000-7,000 rental housing units, including both dedicated rental projects and social housing developments with apartments reserved for rent.
HCM City aims to develop about 50,000 social rental housing units between 2026 and 2030 and is considering converting resettlement housing and underused public assets into rental accommodation.
Developers are also ramping up participation, with 13 companies registering plans to build more than 97,000 rental housing units in HCM City. CT Group and Bcons account for the largest commitments, with 20,000 and 10,000 units respectively.
Some projects are already underway. Bcons recently broke ground on a social housing project with about 800 apartments as part of a larger urban complex featuring schools, commercial facilities and community amenities.
Experts say the focus is increasingly shifting from quantity to quality, after some earlier projects struggled due to poor connectivity and limited public services.
Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the HCM City Real Estate Association (HoREA), said social housing should not only provide affordable accommodation but also ensure access to jobs, schools, healthcare and other essential services.
Following its recent administrative expansion, HCM City has been assigned a target of 199,400 social housing units by 2030, with former Binh Duong accounting for nearly 87,000 of them.
Many new projects are being developed as integrated communities with schools, parks, sports facilities and commercial services, reflecting a shift towards higher-quality living environments.
Officials say expanding social and rental housing will improve living conditions for workers and low-income households while supporting sustainable urban growth.
