Vietnam real estate sector confronts slowing land sales and new housing policy moves

Data for the first half of 2026 shows a sharp slowdown in land‑plot transactions in Vietnam. Primary‑market supply of land parcels rose about 8% YoY, but demand remained low, with only roughly 4% of supply sold, a 16% drop from the previous year. Prices for new land stayed high due to input costs, while secondary‑market prices rose 4% driven by projects with completed legal approvals. Analysts note a selective recovery favoring well‑located, legally sound developments.

In Ho Chi Minh City, public‑investment disbursement remains low after project transfers, with only about 1.3% of the adjusted capital plan spent in some districts. Officials cite pending appraisal, design and land‑acquisition work as reasons for the lag, and have urged faster processing to meet the city’s target of 40% disbursement by the end of Q2 2026.

Hanoi has launched three rental‑housing projects totaling over 8,000 units and an investment of more than VND 30 trillion, marking a policy shift from home‑ownership to guaranteeing the right to housing. The developments target workers, students and low‑income groups and will be integrated with transport and public services.

The Saigon city administration has proposed converting vacant resettlement housing into social housing to better use unused public assets, noting thousands of empty units that cost the government tens of billions of dong annually for maintenance.

Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City government reports that only 32.7% of 220 older apartment blocks have completed safety inspections, falling short of its July 31 deadline, and has ordered accelerated checks and renovation planning.