In early 2023, that dream came true for Quàng Thị Ay, a resident of Co Pục hamlet in Hua Thanh commune. As a poor household relying solely on a 1,000-square-meter rice field, her life was already difficult, made worse by the burden of caring alone for her sick younger brother and his wife, both nearly 50 and unable to look after themselves.

Moved by her situation, in October 2022, Quàng Thị Ay received a loan of VND 40 million from the Điện Biên district branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), through the housing support program under Decree No.28. With additional support, a solid new tin-roofed home was built in just over a month, replacing her leaky bamboo shack. It now provides a safe shelter and a more secure life for her and her siblings.

The loan program for building and renovating houses under Decree No.28 has opened new doors for ethnic minority communities in Điện Biên district. Crumbling homes are being replaced with solid, permanent structures, helping lift living standards and providing families a chance to “settle down”.

Under Decree 28, eligible borrowers include poor ethnic minority households, as well as poor Kinh households who legally reside in extremely disadvantaged communes and hamlets in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. With an interest rate of just 3% per year, a maximum loan of VND 40 million per household, a 15-year repayment term, and a five-year grace period before paying any principal, the program offers substantial support for the poor to stabilize their lives and improve production. It also contributes to the ongoing campaign across the province to eliminate makeshift and unsafe housing.

“I was overjoyed when VBSP offered me a VND 40 million loan with a 15-year term and low interest”, said Lò Thị Khói, a resident of Pe Luông hamlet in Thanh Luông commune. “My old house was in terrible condition, but now it’s clean, solid, and safe. Most importantly, not having to repay the principal for the first five years gives me time to save and build my livelihood. I plan to expand farming and take on part-time jobs to earn more income for my children’s education and to repay the bank.”

As soon as Decree No.28 came into effect, the Điện Biên district branch of VBSP proactively advised the district-level People’s Committee to direct commune-level authorities to review and compile lists of eligible households. Public awareness campaigns were also launched to ensure local residents understood the policy and could access the loans smoothly and efficiently.

As of May 2025, the VBSP branch in Điện Biên district had disbursed more than VND 21.1 billion in housing loans to 529 households.

Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, Director of the Điện Biên district branch of VBSP, said: “After Decree 28 was issued, we worked with local authorities to identify eligible borrowers. Once funding was allocated, we distributed it to the communes to ensure timely and accurate support. Our goal is to make sure this housing loan program is implemented effectively and benefits the right people.”

After more than three years of implementation, Decree No.28, together with support from all levels of government, has enabled many poor and ethnic minority families in Điện Biên district to build or renovate their homes and settle into better lives. Looking ahead, there is hope that even more households will access this vital financial support, helping reduce poverty sustainably and drive socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.