Hanoi is leading the country on the number of social buildings and houses for low-income people. As planned, by 2015, Hanoi will build 15,500 flats for low-income people (roughly 1.1-1.5 million square meters of floor space).

Hanoimoi newspaper reported that in fact the number of flats can be up to 25,000 by 2015.

In July and August, a series of housing projects for low-income people was inaugurated, including 10 projects with a 12 storey apartment buildings in Gia Lam district which provides 85,000 square meters of floor space for 1,000 flats, to satisfy the accommodation of 4,000 people.

Its investor, Vietnam Building Glass and Ceramics Corporation (Viglacera), will continue to build 124 flats with 11,000 square meters of floor space for low-income people in Tu Liem district with an investment of VND 121 billion.

Another big investor, the Vietnam Construction and Import - Export Corporation (Vinaconex), is also conducting a housing project in Ha Dong district. The 19 storey building with an investment of VND 948 billion will provide 1,512 flats.

The Hanoi Housing Development and Investment Corporation (Handico) has also inaugurated the building of 840 flats for low-income people in Long Bien district. The buildings are expected to be completed by 2012, satisfying the accommodations of over 3,200 people.

Hanoimoi newspaper quoted the Deputy Head of the Hanoi Department of Construction, Nguyen Quoc Tuan, saying that the city targets to build 15,500 flats for low-income people by 2015, or 1.1-1.5 million square meters of floor space with a total capital of VND 7-9 trillion, and over 28,750 flats or 1.6 million of square meters of floor space with an investment of over 8 billion for the demand of 50% of workers in industrial zones.

According to Mr. Tuan, the factual number of flats could be much greater.

He also said that apart from ongoing projects, the Department is guiding some others.

According to Hanoimoi newspaper, with projects using the State budget, in early October, 515 initial flats began being used in Gia Lam district. Over 2,000 are expected to live here. By the end of 2010, 24 units satisfying the accommodations of over 10,000 workers in the Thang Long industrial park will be exploited.

(CPV)