First micro-apartments welcomed in HCMC

These are furnished 19-meter-square apartments which are leased at around 1.5 million VND (equivalent to 67 US dollars) per month.  Low-income workers welcome this model, yet, whether it should be expanded remains controversial.  

Located in An Lac commune, Binh Tan district, HCMC, the micro-apartment complex embraces 125 well-furnished units with an area of 19 square metres each. They are protected by security guards and a surveillance camera system. With Ngoc, who was seeking a house to rent, the leasing price at 67 US dollars per month is attractive. Like Ngoc, many are waiting with the hopes of renting a unit.  

"The rent price is attractive indeed. Normally, finding a dwelling with such a price is really hard." - Le Thi Ngoc, Resident, Le Thanh Micro-apartment Complex, Binh Tan Dist., HCM City.

According to Nghĩa, director of Le Thanh Commercial - Construction Company, these apartments are priced at half the usual rent, while offering better service. He also affirms that this is not a subsidised housing project that receives any preferential policies. The idea was executed with the hope of helping low-income workers.

"I used to run several hostels. Meanwhile, I saw situations like 4 workers living in an 8-square-metre room. After 10 years as a hostel owner, I came up with the micro-apartment as a solution. Since the worker receives an average salary of 180-225 USD/month, a rent price at 67 USD/month is reasonable for them." - Le Huu Nghia, Director, Le Thanh Commercial - Construction Co. Ltd.

"The micro-apartment complex offers better security than hostels. We hope this model will develop." - Le Hoang Cau, Chairman, Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association.

Yet, according to Ho Chi Minh Construction Department, the micro-apartment model only suits certain places at certain times.

This model's development needs to maintain the urban landscape and match transport infrastructure and other public utilities.