Ho Chi Minh City's migrant workers trapped in housing crisis as costs soar
Migrant workers in Ho Chi Minh City face severe housing challenges as living costs rise. Many struggle to afford decent accommodation while covering basic needs and their children’s education. The city’s high demand for social housing has pushed authorities and developers to accelerate new projects. Thái Thị Nhung and her husband earn a combined VNĐ15 million ($580) each month. Their income barely covers daily expenses and school fees for their children. Like many others, they live in an 18-sq.m room in Tân Thuận Ward, with no plans to buy a home.
Across the city, hundreds of thousands of workers in export processing zones and industrial parks share similar struggles. Many reside in cramped, poorly equipped dormitories, unable to access better housing. With over seven million workers in HCM City, the pressure on social housing has never been greater. Currently, nine worker housing facilities provide 1,619 units for more than 8,900 people. Four additional complexes with over 2,800 units are under construction. To address the shortage, the city aims to build 100,000 social housing units within the next five years. The first project, set to begin in June 2023, will offer 1,785 apartments in Tân Vĩnh Lộc Commune for over 4,400 workers. Private developers are also stepping in. Hoa Sen Group plans at least 20,000 units in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, while LNT 7979 Service Development JSC considers constructing 30,000 more.
The city’s housing crisis remains a top concern for migrant workers. New projects aim to ease the strain, but demand continues to outstrip supply. Without further expansion, many families will keep living in overcrowded conditions for years to come.
Read also:
- India's Agriculture Minister Reviews Sector Progress Amid Heavy Rains, Crop Areas Up
- Sleep Maxxing Trends and Tips: New Zealanders Seek Better Rest
- Over 1.7M in Baden-Württemberg at Poverty Risk, Emmendingen's Housing Crisis Urgent
- Life Expectancy Soars, But Youth Suicide and Substance Abuse Pose Concern
