Brian Jeffrey
Located in the bustling heart of Hanoi, the city boasts some impressively petite houses, some measuring just 4 square meters. Surprisingly, despite their minute size, owners are steadfast in their decision not to sell, even when offered a hefty sum of VND 4 billion. These structures are so slender that at first glance, they could easily be mistaken for a nondescript wall or an ordinary electrical pole.
An estate agent going by the initial ‘T.’ hailing from Hai Ba Trung District in Hanoi, currently has a 4-square-meter house on Le Thanh Nghi Street up for sale. The four-story edifice has been valued at a staggering VND 4 billion, equating to VND 1 billion per square meter. Despite the tempting offer, the resilient owner respectfully declined to part ways with their abode.
The proprietor divulged that she presently resides on the third floor and amusingly operates a modest iced tea shop at the front of the dwelling for enjoyment. In the past, the space was utilized for vending fast food, primarily sticky rice, sandwiches, and coffee to-go.
However, with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a notable decline in customer footfall, prompting her to opt for an early retirement and focus solely on vending iced tea.
The confines of the house are barely sufficient to house a staircase leading to the upper levels, leaving scant room for additional furniture. On the third floor, the space is notably confined, with a pathway just wide enough for single-person traversal.
The homeowner disclosed that she possesses two other adjacent properties, both sharing the same “super-slim” structure. One marginally larger residence is rented out for dining services at VND 10 million per month, while the compact counterpart serves as a phone repair shop, securing VND 8 million monthly.
Online real estate discussions witnessed a user named Lam Anh proposing that the neighboring property might consider acquiring the slim house to serve as its front facade, given the advantageous location and price point. Conversely, some members pointed out that despite its prominent location, the house’s business potential remains limited, evident from the owner’s preference for only vending iced tea, despite declining a VND 4 billion offer.
In a similar vein, another real estate agent in Dong Da District, Hanoi, is advertising a property with a mere 3-meter frontage and a depth of just 1 meter. Agent Yen described this peculiar corner property, currently tagged at VND 2 billion. Despite its meager depth, the broad street-facing frontage renders it ideal for a sidewalk cafe or takeout enterprise.
Notably, the property’s wall is adorned with a sign that reads “Alley 5 – Truong Chinh Street,” a visual quirk that might mislead observers into perceiving it as an alley wall from the rear view.
User Cuong Do offered thoughts on the listing, emphasizing the importance of evaluating functionality and residential or investment potential beyond prime location or city center adjacency. User Minh Nguyen highlighted the ethical and legal concerns associated with utilizing minimal spaces for makeshift housing or rental properties, particularly in terms of streetside business operations impacting urban aesthetics and pedestrian convenience.
