Brian Jeffrey
Dao Minh Nguyet, a new student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, faced a rent increase from VND3 million to VND3.6 million due to the installation of a fire prevention system by the landlord.
Nguyet and other students are struggling to manage higher rents by cutting down on electricity usage, but the additional expenses are becoming a burden for their families.
Tran Vy, a senior student at the Academy for Journalism and Propaganda, is searching for a more affordable room after her roommate left, but finding one within her budget has been a challenging task.
Most available rooms are small, around 10 sq m, and come at a monthly rent of VND2.5 million or more, making it hard for students like Vy to find a suitable place.
Students in Cau Giay and Dong Da districts find it nearly impossible to secure rooms for VND2 million or less unless they move away from the city center.
The high costs extend to electricity bills with landlords charging rates higher than the standard, putting further financial strain on students.
Luong Son, a student at Hanoi University, is struggling to cover rent and utility bills even after taking up additional tutoring classes and cutting down on expenses.
Room rent hikes followed Hanoi Police inspections of guesthouses for fire safety compliance, causing landlords like Ha My Loan to increase rents by VND300,000-500,000 to cover expenses.
An owner in Dong Da district raised rents due to the overall rising costs and the necessity of installing fire safety equipment following recent fire incidents in the city.
