Not having enough homes in big cities causes serious problems, and only the government can solve this. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The lack of affordable housing in big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi has become a serious problem, pushing families to live far from the centre or in small, poor-quality rooms. Some people think only the government can solve this problem. I partly agree: government action is very important, but private companies and communities must also help.

It is true that governments have special power to solve the root causes of housing shortages. They can plan land use, change zoning rules, and release public land for building homes. In Vietnam, for example, programmes such as low-interest loans for social housing help more people afford a home. Governments can also build big infrastructure projects, like new metro lines, which make it possible to build homes in areas that used to be too far from the city centre. Without this kind of government planning, private companies alone would probably keep building only in expensive central areas.

However, leaving everything to the government is not enough. Private companies are often faster than the government at building different types of housing, such as apartments for young workers. In my own experience working at a coffee chain in Ho Chi Minh City, I saw how public and private effort worked together to improve a neighbourhood. The government cleaned up the Nhieu Loc canal and built a walking path, and soon after, small private cafes and shops opened along it, including two that I now help manage. This shows that good housing and good neighbourhoods need both government and private input.

In conclusion, government action is essential for solving the structural causes of housing shortages, but it cannot succeed alone. Private companies and communities also need to play their part to create truly livable cities.

The shortage of affordable housing in cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi has become a serious and highly visible problem, pushing many families to the outskirts or into cramped, substandard accommodation. While some argue that only the government can resolve this issue, I partly agree: state intervention is essential, but it must be supported by private developers and local communities as well.

Governments are undoubtedly well positioned to address the structural roots of housing shortages. Their legislative power allows for comprehensive land-use planning, zoning reform and the release of public land for residential development. In Vietnam, policies such as subsidised loan packages for social housing and quotas requiring commercial projects to include units for low-income buyers demonstrate how state-led measures can widen access to housing. Governments can also coordinate large-scale infrastructure, such as new metro lines, that makes previously unviable outskirts suitable for development, something private developers alone are rarely able to achieve.

Nevertheless, placing the entire burden on the government overlooks the important contributions of private developers and local communities. Efficient construction methods and varied housing models, from serviced apartments to co-living spaces, often originate from the private sector, which can respond to demand faster than state agencies. In my experience working at a coffee chain in Ho Chi Minh City, I witnessed how combined public and private effort transformed a neighbourhood. The renovation of the Nhieu Loc canal into a landscaped walking path was a government-led project, yet it quickly attracted a wave of small, privately-run cafes along its banks, including two branches I now help manage, showing how public infrastructure and private initiative can work hand in hand.

In conclusion, while government intervention remains vital for tackling the structural roots of housing shortages, relying on the state alone is insufficient. A genuinely effective approach requires active participation from private industry and local communities to build diverse and truly livable cities.

The shortage of affordable housing in cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi has become one of the most visible symptoms of rapid urbanisation, pushing young families to the outskirts and trapping many workers in cramped, substandard rooms. While some argue that only the government can resolve this predicament, I believe that although state intervention is indispensable, it must be complemented by contributions from private developers and local communities to achieve a lasting solution.

Undeniably, governments are uniquely positioned to tackle the systemic roots of housing shortages. Their legislative power allows for comprehensive land-use planning, zoning reform, and the release of public land for residential development. In Vietnam, policies such as subsidised social housing loan packages and mandated quotas requiring commercial projects to set aside units for low-income buyers illustrate how state-led measures can widen access to housing across different income groups. Moreover, only the government can coordinate the large-scale infrastructure, such as new metro lines and ring roads, that makes previously unliveable outskirts viable places to build homes. Without such top-down initiatives, market forces alone tend to concentrate development in already expensive central districts, exacerbating inequality and speculative price bubbles.

However, placing the entire burden on the government overlooks the vital contributions of private developers and local communities. Efficient construction methods and diverse housing models, from serviced apartments to co-living spaces for young workers, largely originate from the private sector, which can respond to demand far faster than state agencies. In my experience as an operations supervisor for a coffee chain in Ho Chi Minh City, I have watched firsthand how combined public and private effort reshapes urban life beyond housing itself. The renovation of the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, once a notoriously polluted slum waterway, into a landscaped corridor with a jogging and cycling path was a government-led project, yet it quickly attracted a wave of small, privately-run cafes and shops along its banks, including two branches I now help manage. This partnership between public infrastructure and private initiative transformed a neglected district into a genuinely livable neighbourhood, showing that housing quality cannot be separated from the broader urban fabric that only communities and businesses can weave together.

In conclusion, while governmental intervention remains paramount for tackling the structural roots of urban housing shortages through policy, land reform, and infrastructure, an exclusive reliance on the state is insufficient. A genuinely effective and sustainable approach requires active participation from private industry and community groups to build diverse, resilient, and truly livable cities.