Life in southern Vietnam's super-cheap apartments

By Quynh Tran   February 10, 2017 | 05:40 am PT
$4,400 will pay for a 30 square meter apartment in the southern province of Binh Duong.
life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments

In 2015, a series of cheap apartments were completed in Binh Duong Province, just north of Ho Chi Minh City. The apartments are now home for around 2,500 families, who have paid from $4,400-8,800 for houses of 30-60 square meters. Vietnam's average annual income was around $2,200 last year.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-1

Electronics worker Le Thi Thu said that her 30 square meter apartment is home to four members of her family. She bought the house on a 7-year installment plan and pays about $65 per month.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-2

Le Trong Nhat's apartment includes a common room, a restroom and a mezzanine. The whole family sleeps in the common room while the mezzanine is used as a study area for his two kids.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-3

“After working for 10 years, I can finally afford my own house,” Nhat said. “My house is just a bit larger than a rented room but I feel very comfortable living in this space.”

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-4

Located in Binh Duong's Thu Dau Mot Town, the apartment blocks have water, electricity and internet access.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-5

Prices depend on location. The upper apartments cost around $4,400 while those on the ground floor are about $22,000 per unit.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-6

Apart from basic facilities like coffee shops, food stalls and garages, the apartments have a small market...

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-7

...and a private kindergarten in the basement.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-8

Many elderly people have also left their homes to look after their grandchildren while their parents are working in nearby factories. 

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-9

Children play in the square every afternoon.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-10

Entertainment services for children flourish in the evening.

life-in-southern-vietnams-super-cheap-apartments-11

Authorities are aiming to build 64,000 cheap apartments so that by 2020, around 164,000 low-income workers in the province will have decent homes.

Photos by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Related news:

Under the bridge: Living on the margins of bustling Saigon

Big family shares tiny house in Ho Chi Minh City

 
 
go to top