From Party’s will to people’s heart: Vietnam completes removal of substandard houses

For the first time in history, no Vietnamese citizen will have to live in unsafe, makeshift shelters, a target originally set for 2030 in Resolution No. 42 of the 13th Party Central Committee, but accomplished five years and four months ahead of schedule.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the online conference in Hanoi on August 26. (Photo: VNA)
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the online conference in Hanoi on August 26. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has announced the completion of the nationwide campaign to do away with temporary and dilapidated housing, describing it as a special national project embodying the Party’s will and people’s hearts.

The Government leader, who also chairs the Central Emulation and Commendation Council and heads the Central Steering Committee for the Eradication of Temporary and Dilapidated Houses, called it a remarkable achievement in sustainable poverty alleviation, laying the foundation for equity, social progress and sustainability, while presiding a national conference in Hanoi on August 26.

The milestone coincides with the nation’s 80th National Day celebrations. For the first time in history, no Vietnamese citizen will have to live in unsafe, makeshift shelters, a target originally set for 2030 in Resolution No. 42 of the 13th Party Central Committee, but accomplished five years and four months ahead of schedule.

PM Chinh attributed the result to the leadership of the Party and the engagement of the whole political system, sectors, agencies, localities, and people. Notably, housing for all war veterans and martyrs' families was completed by July 24, 2025.

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Delegates at the conference to review the removal of substandard houses. (Photo: VNA)

With the consistent philosophy of placing people at the centre and taking them as the subject, goal, driving force, and the most important resource for development, as well as the principle of “leaving no one behind”, the Party and State have paid due attention to taking care of the people’s spiritual and material lives, including supporting the poor, policy beneficiaries, and vulnerable groups with stable and safe housing, he underscored.

Praising the efforts by all sectors, Party committees, local authorities, business community, people, and armed forces to complete the work, PM Chinh called for a thorough review to finalise social assistance schemes for households unable to escape poverty while expanding credit programmes to support impoverished rural families in upgrading their housing. He also stressed the need to ensure safe housing for those living in areas vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change.

The Ministry of Finance, he said, must work closely with other ministries, sectors, and localities to prioritise capital for social welfare and mobilise additional resources for training, healthcare, and job creation in disadvantaged communities.

He also called on the Vietnam Fatherland Front, social organisations, and the armed forces to continue supporting disadvantaged communities, particularly those in remote and border areas to consolidate social security and national defence.

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Third-class Labour Orders are presented to collectives with outstanding contributions to the campaign. (Photo: VNA)

At the conference, 19 collectives received the third-class Labour Order from the Party and State, and another 19 were awarded Certificates of Merit from the PM for outstanding contributions to the campaign.

Since the launch of the campaign on October 5, 2024, over 334,000 houses have been built or repaired (255,310 new homes and 78,924 renovations), backed by more than 24.76 trillion VND (942.6 million USD) in funding and 2.7 million volunteer workdays. Ministries, sectors, local authorities, enterprises and social organisations all played pivotal roles. The Ministry of National Defence mobilised nearly 1 trillion VND and hundreds of thousands of workdays, the Ministry of Public Security over 790 billion VND and building materials, and the banking sector 1.8 trillion VND. The Vietnam Fatherland Front raised more than 125 billion VND through its “For the Poor” fund.

Multiple creative grassroots models were implemented, from volunteer youth motorbike teams in Ha Giang to “land for love” initiatives in Bac Giang, neighbourhood solidarity in Tuyen Quang, and accompanying the poor in Vinh Long./.

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