Faced with shortages and sharp increases in construction material prices in the southern provinces, the Ministry of Construction is implementing a comprehensive set of solutions to stabilize the market, ranging from improving institutional frameworks and controlling supply and demand to expediting mining permits, in order to ensure project progress and reduce cost burdens for people and businesses.
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Following feedback from voters in Ho Chi Minh City regarding the scarcity and rising prices of construction materials in the southern provinces, the Ministry of Construction issued Document No. 5027/BXD-KHCNMT&VLXD dated April 3, 2026, to the Ho Chi Minh City National Assembly Delegation, responding to the request on this issue.
According to feedback from voters, the limited supply of sand, stone, and fill soil, coupled with rising prices, is directly impacting the demand for housing, auxiliary facilities, and key projects. Voters have requested that the Ministry of Construction conduct a comprehensive review of the management, exploitation, and regulation of supply to balance the needs of the population and national projects.
Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Construction stated that it has advised the Prime Minister to issue many solutions to stabilize the market. A prime example is Official Dispatch No. 85/CĐ-TTg dated June 10, 2025, on strengthening management and stabilizing construction material prices, ensuring the progress of key construction projects.
Local guidelines for reviewing and publishing material prices, labor unit prices, machine and equipment rental rates, and construction price indices are continuously issued, such as Document No. 5050/BXD-KHCNMT&VLXD dated June 13, 2025 and Document No. 7335/BXD-KTQLXD dated July 24, 2025.
In addition, the Ministry of Construction also coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to develop and submit to the National Assembly for promulgation the Law on Geology and Minerals No. 54/2024/QH15, amended and supplemented by Law No. 147/2025/QH15, along with implementing decrees.
These mechanisms shorten licensing procedures, increase the mining capacity of Group III and IV construction materials, and decentralize the authority of provincial People’s Committee chairmen to grant mining licenses for construction purposes.
Currently, the Ministry is submitting to the Prime Minister a draft plan for implementing Directive No. 03-CT/TW dated February 3, 2026, to establish a specific mechanism for ensuring the supply of backfill materials for key infrastructure projects. Simultaneously, it is accelerating the licensing of exploration and exploitation and establishing a unified database system for construction materials and backfill minerals.
Market conditions in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces have shown a significant increase in construction material prices and unstable supply. Cement, steel, construction sand, and leveling stone have increased by 12-40% depending on the type, directly impacting the construction costs of residential houses and infrastructure projects.
Many businesses and households have had to adjust their plans and contracts, and even incur significant additional costs. The Ministry of Construction stated that stabilizing the building materials market not only ensures the progress of key national projects but also reduces cost pressure on people and businesses.
The directives focus on controlling supply and demand, publicly disclosing material prices, strengthening mining operations and licensing mines according to plan, and coordinating with local authorities to manage key projects to limit price fluctuations.
Construction material price increase situation in the South in Q1/2026
According to the Ministry of Construction (Document 5027/BXD-KHCNMT&VLXD dated April 3, 2026):
Cement prices fluctuated between 1.43 and 1.86 million VND/ton (an increase of 3-10%).
Steel coils are priced at 15,600-15,700 VND/kg (up 12-18%), and steel bars at 14,000-15,500 VND/kg (up 10-18%).
The sand and fill stone group experienced the most significant fluctuations, with construction sand at approximately 610,000 VND/m³ (up 40%) and construction stone at 640,000 VND/m³ (up 23%).
Hollow bricks have increased in price by 30-60%, depending on the type.
This increase reflects pressure from input costs, the recovery of construction demand after the Lunar New Year, and the shortage of supply in the southern provinces.
Electronic magazine of the Ministry of Construction | Thuy Vy | April 8, 2026
