Many apartment buildings in Ho Chi Minh City do not meet the requirements for residential use.
Many apartment buildings in Ho Chi Minh City do not yet meet the requirements for operating short-term accommodation services, causing difficulties in housing management and tourism activities.
At a meeting on September 25th, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction stated that the majority of mixed-use apartment projects in the city do not meet the standards for operating short-term accommodation services.
Many conflicting opinions have been submitted to the authorities. On one side, the owners and management board want to maintain the purely residential function of the building, while the other group wants to develop the apartments for rent to tourists.
The infrastructure is not suitable for short-term services.
On-site inspections revealed that most mixed-use apartment buildings lack separate systems for electricity, water, elevators, fire safety, or waste disposal specifically for residential use. This is why these buildings do not meet the requirements of Circular 05/2024/TT-BXD on the management and use of apartment buildings.
The lack of specialized infrastructure poses a risk to the safety, security, and rights of residents, while also creating a legal vacuum in managing this rapidly developing type of service.
Efforts to adjust policy
To address the issue, the Department of Construction is coordinating with various relevant units to review and propose adjustments to Decision 26/2025/QD-UBND on the management and use of apartment buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. The goal is to create a clear legal framework that is consistent with urban development practices.
In addition, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Science and Technology have also developed a project titled "Management and Development of the Sharing Economy Model in the Tourism Accommodation Sector". This project aims to effectively exploit the potential for short-term rentals in apartment buildings while ensuring the safety of residents and maintaining stability in urban life.
