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Hanoi's long-delayed student dormitory project turned into social housing

After over a decade of abandonment, some blocks of the Phap Van-Tu Hiep Student Dormitory Project in Hanoi's Thanh Tri District will be turned into social housing for lease from 2026.

Hanoi's long-delayed student dormitory project turned into social housing - 1

The project consists of six 17-floor apartment blocks covering 40,000 square metres.

The project consists of six 17-floor apartment blocks covering 40,000 square metres, capable of housing 21,900 students.

Construction began in 2009, with an investment of VND1.90 trillion allocated from the state budget. In January 2015, three buildings (A1, A5, and A6) were opened, expecting to host up to 10,800 students. However, the dormitory failed to attract students who say it is in an isolated area far away from their educational institutions, with the nearest university being four kilometres away.

While the A1 building has been abandoned again after being used as a quarantine area for Covid-19 patients in 2021, the A5 and A6 buildings have seen few students use them.

Hanoi's long-delayed student dormitory project turned into social housing - 2

Minh Hong, a student from Bach Mai Medicine College, said that the rent was cheap, but the building lacked elevators and was inconvenient for travel.

Meanwhile, the three remaining blocks of A2, A3, and A4 have been abandoned after being half-built. Many parts of the three buildings have badly deteriorated due to being abandoned for a long time.

Hanoi's long-delayed student dormitory project turned into social housing - 3

Hanoi People's Committee has decided to spend over VND220 billion to turn the A2, A3, and A4 buildings into social housing for lease by 2026.

Duong Van Thuan, vice-chairman of the municipal people's committee, said the demand for social housing in Hanoi remains high. By 2030, the demand for social housing is estimated at 113,000 apartments.

Hanoi People's Committee said that the city would spend VND437 trillion on housing development in the 2021-2025 period, including VND5.8 trillion for social housing, resettlement housing projects, and apartment upgrades. The city targets an average housing floor area of 29.50 square metres per person.