In response to increasing population, Ho Chi Minh City authorities havespared no effort in lightening the public mood with improved livingstandards and urban scenery.

As more and moreresidents settle in the southern hub, particularly workers and students,there has been a surging demand for affordable accommodation.

Between 2011 and 2014, 6,000 apartments from 20 social housingprojects across the city became available. In 2015, another 3,500apartments will enter the market.

HCM City hasprovided 12,800 low-priced rental houses for workers inside industrialparks since 2011 and targets to offer another 25,000 this year.

Meanwhile, local resettlement programmes have been actively launchedto help resettled households for the sake of infrastructure constructionto normalise as soon as possible.

As an integral part of the hub, modern homes like the Phu My Hung urban area are rapidly expanding.

By 2020, the city plans to upgrade 47 apartment blocks that currentlyaccommodate 5,200 families; build 50,000 dormitories, 100,000 rentalhouses for workers and 10,000 social housing projects; and resettle7,000 households.

The Tan Hoa-Lo Gom and Nhieu Loc-ThiNghe canals—once riddled with murky water, rampant garbage, and a foulodour—are now immaculate and green.

The long-pressingissue of slums encroaching on the sides of canals has been addressedeffectively with 11,000 of 15,000 households from the disadvantagedlocations relocated by the end of 2014.-VNA