Student accommodation problem

TP - With the number of students increasing day by day, no more dormitories are built. Students from other provinces have almost no chance of finding a place to stay in the dormitories.

Supply cannot meet demand.

Coming from a northern mountainous province to Hanoi to study, N.D.M wanted to stay in a dormitory to reduce living expenses and have peace of mind that he would have a place to stay during his studies. But when he enrolled, M learned that the University of Electricity this year did not have any place to stay in the dormitory because it was being renovated. NT H was admitted to one of the schools of Hanoi National University. He wanted to stay in a dormitory, but when he researched, H realized that there was no opportunity.

One of the dormitories of Hanoi National University. Photo: Nghiem Hue

The high demand for student dormitories comes from two reasons: the cost of living has increased, the price of boarding houses has increased, and many places do not meet fire prevention and fighting requirements. Currently living in the dormitory of the University of Foreign Languages ​​(Hanoi National University), Nguyen Thi Hien, a first-year student, said that compared to her friends who rent outside for 3-4 million VND/month, staying in the dormitory saves a significant amount. The room costs only a few hundred thousand VND/month, has air conditioning, is private, and is safe. Although the accommodation is a bit cramped, it is suitable for students.

Some universities have relatively complete facilities in the provinces but only send first-year students to study basic subjects, national defense education , and physical education. In the following years, students return to the main campus in Hanoi to study because they meet the needs of work and internships.

According to the reporter, the demand for dormitories of students from other provinces when coming to Hanoi to study is very large. Every year, the demand for dormitories of students of Hanoi University of Science and Technology is about 4,000-5,000 but the school can only meet about 1,000 places.

The dormitory system of Hanoi National University includes: Me Tri dormitory with nearly 1,826 accommodations for students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Natural Sciences, 2 specialized high schools. The dormitory of the University of Foreign Languages ​​has about 1,700 accommodations for students of the following schools: Foreign Languages, Economics , Technology, Law, Medicine, Foreign Language Specialized High School... My Dinh dormitory has 388 rooms with 2,328 accommodations for Vietnamese and foreign students studying at Hanoi National University and universities and colleges in Hanoi. Hoa Lac dormitory, Hanoi from the 2025 school year will meet more than 6,000 accommodations for boarding students.

The total number of dormitories of the National University is about 13,000 while the number of students admitted this year is more than 20,000. Hoa Lac dormitory has the most accommodation but is currently only for first-year students of some schools under the National University of Hanoi. Most students still study at facilities in the inner city of Hanoi. So accommodation for students is still tight.

Synchronous solutions and long-term planning

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phong Dien, Vice Director of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, shared that the school had actually worked with the Hanoi People's Committee on the plan to rent dormitories in the Phap Van - Tu Hiep area for students. However, the paradox is that the dormitories at Hanoi University of Science and Technology do not have enough space for students, but when the issue of staying in the Phap Van - Tu Hiep dormitories was raised, the number of candidates registered was only about 10 rooms. The reason is that this dormitory area does not have a service ecosystem to serve students.

The need for students to use convenient services is very practical. For example, food service must be close by, and the public bus system must be convenient. Just considering these two needs, the Phap Van - Tu Hiep dormitory cannot meet.

At the press conference to inform the results of the recent 18th Congress of the Hanoi Party Committee, term 2025-2030, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong said that in the documents of the 18th Congress of the Hanoi Party Committee, the city clearly identified that in the coming time, it will focus on developing satellite cities, especially the western region with the Hoa Lac satellite city associated with the Hoa Lac high-tech park and the concentrated university area in Hoa Lac.

To realize this orientation, a comprehensive and synchronous solution is needed. It is expected that at the end of this year, Hanoi will start construction of the Van Cao - Hoa Lac Metro urban railway line, creating a foundation for developing this area into a university and science and technology urban area, with the core being the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, Hanoi National University and about 300 hectares of land for a concentrated university area to relocate universities from the inner city to this area.

However, Mr. Nguyen Van Phong shared that many people and educational institutions have misunderstood and need to understand that it is not necessary to move all universities out of the inner city, but only the student training part. The schools will still be retained and continue to be centers for research, postgraduate training and international cooperation.

By 2030, the capital is expected to have about 650,000-700,000 students, accounting for 40% of the total number of students in the Red River Delta. Hanoi City plans to reduce the training scale in the inner city to a maximum of 200,000 students. Schools with an area of ​​less than 2 hectares are encouraged to move out.

Moving to the suburbs has many advantages such as facilities that meet the needs of teaching, studying, and accommodation for students, but the disadvantage is that it does not meet the needs of part-time jobs and the need to experience cultural, political, and economic activities in the inner city. This disadvantage is clearly showing the difficulties of some schools that have facilities in the suburbs but cannot bring students back for training.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/bai-toan-cho-o-cho-sinh-vien-post1792784.tpo