Voters from Thai Nguyen province submitted a petition to the Ministry of National Defense, requesting investment in social housing for military personnel to ensure their living standards and enable them to focus on their duties. The voters also urged the Ministry to continue building official housing for units under Military Region 1, particularly those without housing or with deteriorating facilities.

In response to the petition, the Ministry of National Defense stated that developing social housing, including for armed forces families, is a major policy of the Party and State, enshrined in housing law. This initiative is crucial for fostering long-term commitment among military officers, allowing them to focus on their work and fulfill their duties.

In October 2025, the Minister of National Defense approved a scheme for developing housing for armed forces families within the military. Under this scheme, the Ministry of National Defense aims to meet 70% of housing needs for its officers and staff by 2030, totaling approximately 59,000 units. The Ministry will directly invest in building about 39,000 units, while localities will support the implementation of approximately 20,000 units.

The Ministry of National Defense has requested the People's Committees of 26 provinces and cities to agree on land locations, areas, and project information for military housing, covering a total area of approximately 335 hectares. It is anticipated that in Q2/2026, several projects in Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, and Hanoi will commence, creating a housing fund of approximately 4,774 units.

Dinh Hoa social housing area, Dinh Hoa ward (former Binh Duong). *Photo: Quynh Tran*.

Within Military Region 1, the housing demand for officers under the Ministry of National Defense's management is approximately 6,000 units, comprising 5,045 social housing units and 909 official housing units. The Ministry of National Defense and the People's Committees of Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, and Lang Son provinces have agreed on five land locations, totaling approximately 12.5 hectares. The Ministry is currently selecting investors for three projects in Bac Ninh province, covering over 2.6 hectares, with an estimated construction of 1,024 units.

Currently, the Ministry of National Defense has assigned the General Department of Logistics and Technology to lead coordination with relevant agencies in defining land boundaries. The Department of Construction of Thai Nguyen province is preparing to establish, appraise, approve, and adjust housing development programs, plans, and related zoning.

Moving forward, the Ministry of National Defense will continue to request the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province to agree on land locations, areas, and project information to ensure that social housing needs for military forces in the area are met.

Currently, the entire military has 21,222 official housing units across 34 provinces and cities. In 2025, the Ministry submitted to the Prime Minister a plan for developing official housing within the Ministry of National Defense for the 2026-2030 period, encompassing 44 projects in 17 provinces and cities, totaling 6,777 units.

Upon completion of this plan, the number of official housing units across the military is projected to reach approximately 30,000, meeting about 80% of the official housing demand. These units will be allocated to agencies under Military Region 1 and affiliated units in the area.

Son Ha