Parking shortages in apartment complexes in Nghe An.
The encroachment of vehicles onto and surrounding playgrounds and internal walkways is becoming a serious problem in many apartment buildings in Nghe An. This "suffocation" of communal living spaces not only detracts from the aesthetics but also leaves worrying consequences for traffic safety and fire prevention.
High-rise apartment buildings are facing a shortage of parking spaces.
In the Quang Trung area of Thanh Vinh ward, apartment buildings stand side-by-side alongside rows of townhouses. Upon visiting this urban area, we witnessed most cars parked right in the middle of the road, forming long lines stretching for kilometers. The once wide road now only has two narrow lanes on either side for other vehicles to pass through. Not only in the middle of the road, but also on the sidewalks, motorcycles are densely parked.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, a resident of the CT2A Quang Trung apartment building, said: "My apartment building has an underground parking garage, but the area is very small and mainly reserved for motorbikes. Those of us who own cars are forced to find our own parking spaces. Most people have to park along the main road, occupying both the sidewalk and the road itself. Cars left outside without supervision or protection are very dangerous, with a high risk of theft or damage."
Discussing this issue, Mr. Nguyen Si Dieu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Vinh Ward, said: Thanh Vinh Ward currently has the highest number of apartment buildings in Vinh City, with over 20 buildings. Several projects are still under construction and are scheduled to be completed in the near future. While the number of apartments is high and the population is large, the accompanying infrastructure and amenities, especially parking spaces, have not been adequately planned to keep pace with the rapid development of society. The ward is proposing to relevant departments the planning of additional public parking lots and the application of smart multi-story parking technology to optimize land use and restore the existing community living space for residents.
Observations at Gia Thinh Phat apartment building (Nguyen Du Street, Truong Vinh Ward), a 25-story building with over 300 households, show that the underground parking only accommodates about 200 cars. Due to the presence of many supermarkets in the area, the large number of cars entering and exiting for shopping further exacerbates the traffic congestion.
Similarly, at the 389 Dream Home apartment complex (Phan Boi Chau Street, Vinh Hung Ward), the situation is not much better. The project consists of two buildings up to 26 stories high, but the underground parking system is too small. Right from the road next to the apartment complex, cars are parked densely in two rows along the road, causing serious traffic congestion. Mr. Tran Van Thang, a resident of the building, said that finding a parking spot every afternoon is a "battle," and many people are forced to park on Phan Boi Chau Street.
The problem of densely parked vehicles not only restricts the movement of other vehicles but also deprives pedestrians of space for afternoon exercise, leading to numerous negative consequences for urban safety.
Furthermore, the rapid increase in private vehicles in recent years is putting significant pressure on the transportation infrastructure in the former Vinh City. Illegal parking on sidewalks and roads is quite common, not only obstructing traffic but also detracting from urban aesthetics and posing numerous safety risks to road users. Observations on Hong Bang Street in Thanh Vinh Ward show that despite the road being narrow, bordered by a residential area on one side, and having a rather small sidewalk remaining, many cars are still parked in long lines, occupying the traffic space. The encroachment on sidewalks for parking is also frequently seen on many central streets such as Le Hong Phong Street, Dinh Cong Trang Street, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Quang Trung Street, Nguyen Du Street, Nguyen Sy Sach Street, etc., causing public concern.
A comprehensive solution is needed.
According to Mr. Nguyen The Phiệt, Head of the Housing Management Department of the Nghe An Department of Construction: The province currently has 112 completed apartment buildings that have been put into use. These projects are mainly concentrated in the former Vinh City area, providing living space for over 25,000 apartment units.
From 2025 to the present, seven more projects are under development in the area, expected to supply the market with approximately 2,100 additional apartment units. Surveys conducted by authorities reveal that most current apartment buildings face a severe shortage of parking spaces. This forces residents to make maximum use of roads, sidewalks, and pavements for parking. The consequences include negative impacts on traffic order and safety, a loss of urban aesthetics, and a high risk of security and order issues in residential areas.
One of the core reasons for this situation is that the assessment and approval of planning and design for apartment projects are still primarily based on the minimum standards of current regulations, failing to keep pace with the actual needs of society.
According to the National Technical Standard on Apartment Buildings QCVN 04:2021/Ministry of Construction, the minimum parking space area is 25m².2for 4 apartments, but not smaller than 20m².2for every 100m2usable area of the apartment; at the same time, it must ensure a minimum of 6m².2 Parking space for motorbikes and bicycles is provided for each apartment.
Faced with evident shortcomings, and based on practical surveys, the Nghe An Department of Construction has advised and drafted a proposal for new regulations aimed at increasing parking space for high-rise residential projects.
For commercial apartment buildings, each apartment must have a minimum area of 32 square meters.2 Parking space, including internal traffic area within the garage or parking lot. This must ensure 1 car parking space and approximately 7m² of open space.2This proposal is for motorcycles and bicycles. This level stems from the fact that, on average, each household in current apartment buildings owns one car and two motorcycles. Adjusting the legal limits appropriately and promptly is a necessary step to address the root of the planning problem and avoid a recurrence of the serious urban infrastructure overload currently experienced.
A particularly important factor is that competent authorities need to review, study, and adjust existing standards accordingly. Parking planning in newly licensed projects must be scientifically sound, feasible, and integrated with the overall site plan and construction location to ensure a long-term vision. This will create a rational arrangement of public spaces, grounds, and parking lots, effectively meeting the practical needs of residents as well as the requirements of sustainable urban development.
Currently, some newly constructed apartment projects have proactively sought solutions to reduce parking pressure. A prime example is the Vinh Heritage (Mipec Trang An) project, a 40.47-hectare development on the extended Le Mao Street in Truong Vinh Ward, which is currently constructing three apartment buildings. A major highlight is the three-story above-ground parking system built directly beneath each building. This intelligent design fully meets the needs of residents, alleviates internal traffic congestion, and ensures absolute safety for vehicles against the risk of flooding.
