Rooms that are "smaller than a toilet."
In a small alley off Nguyen Gia Tri Street, a tiny 4m² room costs 1.8 million VND per month to rent. Inside, it fits just a single mattress and a small wooden shelf for clothes.
Small, cramped rooms remain a popular choice for many students due to their low rent (Photo: ST, PT).
The small room forced Duong to curl up when sleeping, and even her friends who came to study with her had to leave after a short while because it felt stuffy. Her friends advised her to find another room to ensure her health, but she just shook her head.
"Having a place to rest after a long day is enough for me. Life in the city is very expensive, so saving money is my top priority," the female student confided.
Duong isn't alone; cheap, old, and cramped rental rooms remain the choice of many students in Ho Chi Minh City. They are aware of the anxieties associated with substandard accommodation, but they also have "few better options."
Thanh Phúc (from Hà Tĩnh province) also lived in a small room of only a few square meters on Nguyễn Văn Cừ street for 1.5 million VND per month. The room had no windows, was damp, had poor soundproofing, and shared a bathroom, making it quite inconvenient.
The only advantage is its proximity to universities such as the University of Natural Sciences , Saigon University, and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education.
"It's cheap and close to school, so I think it meets my needs; I couldn't ask for more. I come home from school, put on my headphones, and go to sleep," Phuc said.
Parents and students are busy searching for rental rooms (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).
In a cramped room of less than 8 square meters in a small alley near the Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking, the four walls are stained, and the corners still bear traces of rainwater that haven't yet dried.
"One day, when it rained heavily, water leaked right onto my study desk, and I had to grab my books and move to the corner of the bed to avoid it," shared Gia Han, a student living in this rented room.
The room was hot and old, but at 1.2 million dong a month, Han said she had little other choice.
"I know it's inconvenient, but at least I have enough money to cover my food and tuition. Sometimes, I joke with my friends that my room is even smaller than the bathroom at home, but it's still the only place I can stay right now," she said.
The narrow, deep entrance to a row of rental rooms on Nguyen Kiem Street (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).
The cramped "beehive-like" lodgings
Unlike traditional rented rooms, sleepboxes are becoming increasingly popular. With an area of 2-3 square meters, mostly made of plywood with a steel frame, each sleepbox is just the right size for one adult... lying with their legs stretched out.
Besides sleeping space, each box also has a small cupboard and a folding table, but the cramped space makes many people feel like they are "living in a suitcase".
The demand for sleeping pods is increasing, especially among busy young people who spend all day studying, working part-time, or going out to socialize, only returning to their rented rooms in the evening. Landlords capitalize on this by adding services such as laundry facilities, room cleaning, coffee, and drinks on-site.
In addition, the private dormitory model is also increasingly developing. Instead of renting an entire room, students pay for each bed in a room shared by 4-6 people. Inside, the rooms are equipped with mattresses, personal lockers, desks, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning.
Surveys at several locations, such as on Truong Cong Dinh Street, show rental rates around 1.7 million VND per bed, excluding electricity, water, and services. Rooms accommodate 4-6 people, have a shared kitchen, and are near markets and mini-supermarkets. On Cao Dat Street, rates are around 1.4 million VND per bed. Minimum contract is 1 year, rooms have 4 beds, are fully furnished, and offer flexible hours.
Ms. Thien Thanh, owner of the sleepbox system on Cao Dat Street, said: "Students only pay 1.4-2.5 million VND/month but get a private bed, locker, 24/7 camera surveillance, and regular cleaning. If you calculate the total cost, it's cheaper than renting outside."
Whether students choose small, inexpensive rented rooms or modern sleepboxes, they can hardly avoid inconveniences. In traditional dormitories, security is complicated due to the lack of surveillance cameras, while sleepboxes are cramped and lack privacy because they have to share space with many people.
Cheap sleeping pods are a popular choice among students to save money (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).
Costs are also a significant burden: electricity and water bills are often higher than regulated, and many places even charge extra for parking or other services. The cramped living space makes rented rooms feel stuffy and negatively impacts health. As for sleepboxes, sharing a room with many people can easily lead to conflicts and make it difficult to concentrate on studying.
For under 2 million VND, students in Ho Chi Minh City can still find accommodation, but this comes with trade-offs in terms of space, privacy, and minimal amenities. Rooms barely big enough for a bed and a study desk, or cramped, damp rows of rented rooms, have become the last resort for many young people from out of town.
Phuong Thao, Khanh Ly
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/phong-tro-sinh-vien-gia-2-trieu-dong-ngu-cung-khong-duoc-duoi-thang-chan-20250901065041151.htm
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