The Binh Khanh Relocation Area in Thu Duc City, the biggest of its kind in HCMC, was built in 2015 and remains mostly empty.
The 5,300-apartment complex was built for residents of Thu Thiem peninsula whose lands were acquired by the city to develop the Thu Thiem New Urban Area into an international financial hub.
The city government auctioned the relocation project with a reserve price of VND9 trillion ($354 million) in 2017 and VND9.9 trillion in 2021 but there were no takers.
The city Department of Construction said the relocated residents were given three options: money, apartment or land.
Since most people chose money, the relocation complex is unoccupied, it said.
The Vietnam Association of Realtors said some of the relocation projects are in remote locations and lack key features to attract residents such as schools, hospitals and markets.
Low-quality construction and design also make the apartments undesirable, it said.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the Binh Khanh Relocation Area was used as a temporary hospital and a lot of equipment remains here to this day.
The second biggest unoccupied relocation area is Vinh Loc B, where 1,465 apartments, or three fourths of the total, are locked.
Construction began 15 years ago and the buildings have deteriorated.
In Hanoi there are 170 relocation complexes with 14,200 apartments, some empty for years.
In the photo above are three buildings in Long Bien District completed in 2006 with 150 apartments, which have never been occupied.
These apartments were built by Hanco3 as the company bought land from residents to expand a road. But due to a disagreement with the company, the relocated residents never came to take possession of their new homes.
Hanco3 in 2017 offered to demolish the three blocks to build a new relocation area, but this was not approved.
The buildings have been deteriorating for almost 20 years. Local residents use the lands to grow vegetables and park their cars.
Another relocation project with 12 buildings in Long Bien District is also deserted.
It was built for residents in the old quarter, who were asked to move away from the downtown area to reduce population density.
Security guards protect the buildings and all entrances to the basements are blocked.
Hundreds of apartments in a project in Hoang Mai District are unoccupied and weeds grow freely on the grounds.
Locals use the complex to dump discarded stuff.
In Cau Giay District, a construction of relocation project ended in 2013 but it was never completed.
It has four buildings, each with 15 floors.
