Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the 5th meeting of the Central Steering Committee for the Eradication of Makeshift and Dilapidated Houses. (Photo: Lai Hoa/VOV)

In March last year, more than 300,000 households nationwide were living in makeshift or dilapidated houses, and many families had no home at all. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh repeatedly said that in 2025, the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and National Reunification, and the 80th anniversary of National Day, under no circumstances should a citizen be homeless or living in substandard housing.

Impressive numbers

The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religion reported that as of July 8, 18 of 34 provinces and cities had completely eradicated their makeshift and dilapidated housing. Hue city is scheduled to announce its completion on Friday. The national database on Thursday showed that 265,000 makeshift and dilapidated houses have been eliminated nationwide. This is more than 84% of the target.

Funding for the program has come from the state budget and private resources. 780 million USD has been mobilized and 113,000 people have contributed manpower to building new houses.

At a meeting on July 9 in Hanoi, the Central Steering Committee for the Eradication of Makeshift and Dilapidated Houses set a nationwide completion timeline. By July 27, housing support for all families of war invalids, martyrs, and national contributors must be completed. By August 31, all remaining makeshift and dilapidated houses across the country must be eliminated, just ahead of the 80th National Day celebration.

This is a nationally mandated priority of social security policy. Originally set for completion by 2030, the program's deadline was moved up to 2025 to reflect the government’s growing determination.

Quang Binh province launches the drive to eradicate 100 dilapidated houses. (Photo: Thanh Hieu/ VOV's correspondent in the coastal region)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: “Our directive to shorten the time frame is meaningful. When we celebrate the 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on September 2, we don’t want anyone to be still living in makeshift or dilapidated houses. It’s a humane policy of the Party and State, and General Secretary Tô Lâm has been resolute about it. Completely eradicating makeshift and dilapidated houses by August 31 has required a tremendous effort by the entire Party, the people, and the army.”

To speed up progress, the Prime Minister and other government officials have visited disadvantaged localities to direct the work. The PM had repeatedly told localities that this program is a “command from the heart”, and a “measure of responsibility and morality” in national governance.

The Party and State of Vietnam have repeatedly said that they have no other goal than to defend national independence and sovereignty and bring happiness and prosperity to the people.

Resolution 42 adopted by the Party Central Committee in 2023 on improving social policy and meeting the requirements of national construction and defense in the new period set a goal that, by 2030, Vietnam will "completely eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses for poor and near-poor households, and those affected by natural disasters and climate change." The Prime Minister has repeatedly said that no citizen should be homeless or living in substandard housing.

Eradicating makeshift and dilapidated houses realizes the Party and State policy of making sure that “the people are the root”, creating a prosperous and happy life for people, putting economic and social development on a par with equality, progress, and social welfare, and ensuring that social progress and justice are not sacrificed to economic growth.

On September 2, 2025, as Vietnam celebrates the 80th anniversary of National Day, hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged citizens will be living in new, solid homes, built through national unity and a shared determination to leave no one behind.