Vietnam Ministry of Construction urges local authorities to curb price manipulation and publish accurate construction‑材料

The Ministry of Construction has issued a directive to provincial and municipal People’s Committees requesting stricter management of construction‑material pricing and the timely release of both material prices and the construction price index. While most provinces have complied, several still lag, with some only publishing the index as late as the fourth quarter of 2025. The ministry highlighted that prices for key inputs such as steel, cement, sand, stone and asphalt often do not reflect current market movements, and it called for immediate action against hoarding and price‑rigging practices.

The directive also notes a recent decline in fuel prices, especially diesel, and advises local authorities to intensify market monitoring, surveys and price adjustments accordingly. Implementation is to follow existing regulations, including Decree 206/2026/ND‑CP and Circulars 36/2026 and 37/2026, which take effect on 1 July 2026, to ensure transparent cost estimation and investment budgeting for major construction projects.