Minister of Construction Trần Hồng Minh.—VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

Trần Hồng Minh, Minister of Construction, speaks to the Vietnam News Agency about the breakthrough agenda of the First Congress of the ministry’s Party Committee, reflecting a clear vision and strong resolve in the mission to shape modern infrastructure, smart transport connectivity and expand development space, propelling the nation into a new era of rise.

The congress has raised unprecedented expectations for reform and breakthroughs. What are the key priorities and ambitions of the ministry in the upcoming term to turn pressure into performance?

During the 2020–25 term, the ministry’s Party Committee not only fulfilled its political tasks but also achieved significant breakthroughs across three strategic pillars of improving the legal and institutional framework, developing synchronised and modern infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of human resources. Organisational restructuring, expansion of responsibilities and increasingly complex sector management have laid a solid foundation for the 2025–30 term, which is marked by renewed momentum and rising expectations.

To ensure the resolutions translate into action, the ministry’s Party Committee must take the lead in delivering tangible outcomes. The ultimate aim must be economic efficiency as well as public and business satisfaction. The construction sector is expected to take the lead, contributing over 18 per cent of national GDP this year and more than 20 per cent in subsequent years. Additionally, it is estimated to contribute another 4–5 per cent indirectly through its impact on related industries such as machinery manufacturing and consumer goods.

In the 2025–30 term, the ministry's Party Committee must become a unified force in both thought and action, fulfilling its mission to develop infrastructure, enhance transport connectivity and expand development space in the country’s new era of development. I hope every official and member of the ministry’s Party Committee, regardless of their specific field, will feel part of the grand mission, playing a meaningful role in contributing to the sector and the nation. The study and implementation of Party resolutions, policies and directives in recent years have been carried out with the utmost seriousness. Going forward, we must internalise the Party's guidelines and policies. This is a mandatory requirement for all units.

In the coming term, the ministry will focus on three key breakthroughs. First is the comprehensive reform of development institutions to unlock and mobilise all available resources. This involves significantly reducing administrative procedures, maximising convenience for people and businesses, and accelerating decentralisation to local authorities. It also involves advancing innovation, science and technology, and digital transformation to drive development; promoting private-sector growth; and establishing growth metrics aligned with sustainable, modern development, balancing economic growth with environmental protection and social welfare.

Second, emphasis will be placed on developing high-quality human resources. This means attracting and nurturing talent, especially in fields like railways, high-speed rail, urban railways, digital technology and green technology. There will be major reforms in personnel management, with a focus on building capable, reputable leadership teams at all levels, particularly those at the helm, who are equipped to meet the demands of a new era of development.

Third, we will complete and fundamentally modernise infrastructure, focusing on multi-modal transport systems, national key infrastructure projects, green transport works, smart cities and digital infrastructure.

Each field must align with the strategic goals and define concrete tasks for its units. If every official, from the central ministry to individual departments, communicates effectively, the resolution will be fully internalised. From there, meaningful action programmes and specialised resolutions can be implemented accurately and efficiently. We must avoid the situation where resolutions are 'forgotten', misunderstood or never translated into action.

Looking ahead to 2025–30, the ministry’s Party Committee faces both new opportunities and considerable challenges, particularly in strengthening legal frameworks, developing modern infrastructure, and ensuring smart, sustainable and safe urban growth. In the context, the ministry’s Party Committee has adopted a clear directive as its guiding principle, 'Solidarity – Democracy – Discipline – Breakthrough – Development,' closely aligning Party-building work with professional tasks.

The committee has also outlined specific goals, including finalising legal frameworks, issuing cohesive legal documents to strengthen state management, and tackling institutional bottlenecks to help achieve double-digit GDP growth, with the construction sector contributing over 20 per cent of national output.

Major initiatives to be rolled out include those aligned with the national socio-economic development strategy (2021–30) and the Politburo’s conclusions on transport infrastructure.

These include reaching 5,000 km of expressways by 2030; expediting the Lào Cai–Hà Nội–Hải Phòng railway; launching the high-speed North–South rail; and investing in and upgrading strategic infrastructure such as Long Thành, Phú Quốc and Gia Bình international airports, and deep-sea ports in Lạch Huyện, Nam Đồ Sơn, Cái Mép – Thị Vải and Liên Chiểu. We also aim to deliver one million social housing units by 2030.

How has the ministry determined its position, role and the realisation of the Resolutions 57, 59, 66, 68 of the Politburo according to each specific field of the industry?

The four Politburo resolutions form the strategic pillars guiding the construction sector’s development from 2025 to 2030 and towards 2045.

Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation serves as a compass for modernising the sector. The ministry is focused on developing high-level human resources in rail transport, digital technology and green innovation. Personnel reforms are also being implemented to build a distinguished leadership capable of guiding the sector through the nation's transformation.

Smart cities and intelligent transport systems will be prioritised. All ministry operations are being digitised for better governance and service delivery. Innovations such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), AI, robotics and automation will be employed in infrastructure management. Low-emission transport and green energy use will be developed.

We are also investing in high-speed and urban rail technology, and researching advanced and recycled materials to support resource efficiency and environmental protection. By 2030, we aim to reduce logistics costs to 15 per cent of GDP and build a smart, transparent, multi-modal transport ecosystem.

Under Resolution 59 on international integration, the ministry is promoting infrastructure connectivity projects across ASEAN, the Mekong sub-region and APEC. This includes participating in regional initiatives and leveraging global cooperation to access technology and investment for sustainable infrastructure development.

Resolution 66 on legal reform enables the ministry to develop a constructive, practical legislative programme. Institutional reforms and streamlining legal frameworks will foster a more conducive environment for investment, housing development, smart urban planning and infrastructure projects.

Finally, Resolution 68 identifies private-sector development as not only a political requirement but a vital strategy for modernising construction and ensuring sustainable growth. The ministry is committed to supporting private enterprises, especially those investing in social housing, smart cities, and transport infrastructure.

We are also actively proposing mechanisms to unlock investment, prioritising resources for key infrastructure like expressways, airports, high-speed rail, smart cities and underground urban space. Flexible use of public investment, loans and land-based financing will be key. Administrative procedures, land use and planning will be streamlined to ensure balanced risk-sharing in public–private partnerships. Businesses will be supported in accessing land, credit and planning information to facilitate private investment. Green construction projects, low-emission transport, and resource-efficient building materials will be prioritised. International initiatives and free trade agreements will be leveraged to attract high-tech, green investment for infrastructure and urban development in line with a green economy and sustainability agenda.

Housing, especially for low-income groups, remains a major public concern. Though raised repeatedly at previous congresses, results have not always met expectations. What are the ministry's key solutions in the upcoming term?

Since the merger in March between the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Construction, we have advised the Party and State on accelerating social housing. In past terms, social housing initiatives often took years to materialise, with modest results.

However, following the adoption of Resolution 66 and policy reforms, clear progress has been made. The National Assembly has approved critical measures, enabling localities to implement housing plans with concrete goals of 100,000 units by 2025 and 1 million by 2030. The ministry continues to drive the efforts, ensuring alignment with the Party's policy, National Assembly Resolution 201/2025/QH15 on pilot mechanisms for social housing, and Decree 192/2025/NĐ-CP.

With current momentum, the goal appears achievable. Over 130,000 units could be completed this year alone. Many provinces are launching projects, particularly mid-rise buildings of nine to under 15 floors. As of now, around 635,000 social housing units are complete, with 26,000 nearing handover by October. Another 135,000 units have broken ground and are under construction. If execution continues at this pace, the 1 million-unit goal could be achieved by 2028, two years ahead of schedule.

The ministry is also prioritising housing support for those who rendered meritorious service to the country. A significant number of these homes still require repair or construction.

Another major focus is improving dilapidated housing in remote, underdeveloped regions. With local authorities working alongside police and military forces, the programme is being rolled out swiftly. As directed by the Prime Minister, all such housing must be completed by August 31, well ahead of the previous year-end deadline. Thus, the ministry is actively implementing three key housing policies of social housing, housing for people with meritorious service and housing for disadvantaged communities with a clear roadmap and decisive action.— VNS