Contributing to the success of this initiative, authorities at all levels, sectors, and localities have proactively and flexibly devised implementation plans, accelerating progress to help poor households and those facing housing difficulties gradually stabilize their lives.

In reality, poor households currently struggle to contribute financially to housing construction, relying heavily on the State’s support. However, the funding provided for building new homes or repairing existing ones falls short of demand. Additionally, the scarcity and high cost of building materials pose significant obstacles to the campaign to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses. In response, agencies implementing the housing support project for poor and near-poor households (referred to as the project) have adopted flexible solutions in selecting and utilizing building materials to optimize costs and adapt to local conditions.

Approximately one month ago, the provincial Youth Union and the Department of Construction signed a cooperation agreement to transfer technology and support the production of unfired soil-cement bricks to aid in eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses across the province by 2025. This technology transfer program focuses on surveying and listing households in need of safe housing support, supplying building materials (such as unfired soil-cement bricks), and organizing training and technology transfer to enable local residents and youth to produce bricks themselves, ensuring a local supply.

The technology for producing unfired soil-cement bricks, transferred by the Institute of Building Materials under Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, offers a sustainable solution for housing construction in mountainous regions. To ensure the program’s effectiveness, the Department of Construction is tasked with detailed planning, providing guidance on safe construction techniques, and overseeing construction quality to meet standards. Meanwhile, the provincial Youth Union mobilizes volunteer youths to assist in building homes for disadvantaged households and enhances outreach efforts to garner support from organizations and businesses both within and outside the province, bolstering resources for the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses.

Mr. Đặng Thành Huy, Secretary of the provincial Youth Union, stated: “Unfired brick technology reduces costs by 30-40% compared to traditional fired bricks while also protecting the environment. We will mobilize volunteer youths to help residents produce bricks and construct homes, easing the financial and labor burdens on poor households. We hope that close collaboration between all parties will not only improve housing quality but also significantly enhance living conditions for residents, especially those in challenging circumstances.”

According to the Department of Construction, the use of unfired soil-cement brick production technology allows locals to utilize on-site soil and cement, addressing the challenge of transporting materials. Leveraging these advantages, the department has researched and ordered three types of machines (a soil crusher, a mixer, and a brick press) to pilot this model in the province. Designed to be compact, easy to transport, and operable with single-phase electricity, this machinery can be readily deployed to highland areas for housing construction.

Additionally, the department’s youth union members have collaborated with Na Sang and Huổi Lèng communes (Mường Chà district) to survey needs, assist residents in building homes, and identify suitable soil locations for producing unfired bricks as part of the pilot initiative. Following this, the Department of Construction will continue supporting localities with solutions involving unfired bricks and eco-friendly materials to build homes for poor households by 2025.

A key factor in the success of the housing support project for poor and near-poor households in Điện Biên has been the flexible use of building materials tailored to local conditions and residents’ actual needs. Localities have adeptly utilized available resources such as wood, bamboo, and rattan, which not only reduce transportation costs but also result in homes that align with the cultural practices and lifestyles of local people. Alongside traditional materials, implementing units are researching and adopting new technologies and materials for housing construction, applying innovative technical solutions suited to local contexts to enhance the project’s efficiency and sustainability.

Despite these efforts, achieving the goal of eliminating thousands of temporary and dilapidated houses remains challenging for Điện Biên. Complex terrain, harsh weather conditions, and limited resources present significant hurdles. To meet the 2025 target of eradicating such houses under the project, the province must continue promoting material flexibility, increasing resource mobilization from the community, social organizations, and armed forces to assist with material transport and construction, thereby reducing implementation costs.

Through the creativity and dedication of all levels, sectors, and localities, accelerating the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses will provide poor and housing-challenged households with better confidence and motivation to escape poverty, stabilize their lives, and contribute to the province’s sustainable development.