Hanoi, June 16 -- More than 206,000 makeshift and dilapidated houses across Vietnam have been removed as of mid-June, according to the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

By June 14, a total of 155,501 houses had been completed, while over 51,000 were under construction. Recent additions of Hai Duong and Ca Mau provinces to the list brought the number of localities free of substandard houses to 23 out of 63 nationwide.

The support includes nearly 28,300 houses for national contributors, over 52,400 under two national target programmes, and more than 126,000 under the specialised campaign to eliminate makeshift houses.

In early June, the Prime Minister issued an urgent directive urging ministries and localities to accelerate effor...