Student dormitory room costs 2 million VND: "Can't even stretch your legs while sleeping"

(Dan Tri) - Although the room is cheap, it is too small, forcing Thuy Duong to curl up many nights to make enough space. Many other students accept "living day by day".

Rooms “smaller than a bathroom”

In a small alley on Nguyen Gia Tri Street, a rented room of only 4 square meters costs 1.8 million VND/month. Inside is just enough space for a single mattress and a small wooden shelf for clothes.

Small rented rooms are still the choice of many students because of their cheap rent (Photo: ST, PT).

The small room forced Duong to curl up when sleeping, and her friends who came to study with her only lasted a short time before having to leave because of the suffocation. 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 makes me happy. Living in the city costs a lot of money, so saving is my top priority," the female student confided.

Not only Duong, cheap, old, cramped rental rooms are still the choice of many students in Ho Chi Minh City. They all know that there will be many insecurities when staying in unsafe rental rooms, but it is also "difficult to find" better options.

Thanh Phuc (from Ha Tinh ) also lived in a room of only a few square meters on Nguyen Van Cu Street for 1.5 million VND/month. The room had no windows, was damp, had poor soundproofing, and had a shared bathroom, so it was quite inconvenient.

The only advantage is that it is close to universities such as University of Science , Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City Pedagogical University.

“The price is cheap and it’s close to school, so I think it suits my needs. I can’t ask for more. After school, I put on my headphones and go to sleep,” Phuc said.

Parents and students are busy looking for a room to rent (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).

In a rented room of less than 8 square meters in a small alley near Ho Chi Minh City Banking University, the four walls are stained, and the corner still has rainwater stains that have not yet dried.

“There was a day when it rained heavily and water leaked right at my desk. I had to carry my books to the corner of my bed to avoid it,” said Gia Han, a student living in this boarding house.

The room was hot and old, but for 1.2 million VND a month, Han said there was little other choice.

“I know it’s inconvenient, but at least I have enough money to pay for food and school. Sometimes, I joke with my friends that my room is smaller than the bathroom at home, but it’s still the only place I can stay at the moment,” she said.

The narrow, deep entrance of a row of boarding houses on Nguyen Kiem Street (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).

The narrow "honeycomb" cells

Unlike traditional rental rooms, the sleepbox model is gradually becoming popular. With an area of ​​2-3m², mainly made of plywood with an iron frame, each sleeping box is just the right size for an adult... lying with legs stretched out.

In addition to a sleeping area, each box also has a small cabinet and folding table, but the tight space makes many people feel like they are "living in a suitcase".

The demand for sleeping boxes is increasing, especially among busy young people who spend all day studying, working part-time or going out to have fun, only returning to their accommodation at night. Landlords have hit that psychology by adding services such as washing machines, housekeeping, coffee, drinks on site, etc.

The small space in the "honeycomb" model is just enough for one person to lie down (Photo: ST, PT).

In addition, the private dormitory model is also growing. Instead of renting a whole room, students pay for each bed in a room of 4-6 people. Inside, it is equipped with a mattress, personal locker, desk, wifi, and air conditioning.

Surveyed in some locations such as Truong Cong Dinh street, the rental price is about 1.7 million VND/bed, not including electricity, water, services. Room for 4-6 people, has a shared kitchen, near the market and mini supermarket. On Cao Dat street, the price is about 1.4 million VND/bed. Minimum contract of 1 year, room with 4 beds, fully furnished, 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 have private beds, lockers, 24/7 cameras, and regular cleaning. If you calculate the total cost, it is cheaper than renting outside.”

Whether choosing a small, cheap dormitory or a modern sleepbox, students cannot avoid inconveniences. In traditional dormitories, security is complicated because there are no surveillance cameras, while sleepboxes are stuffy and lack privacy because they have to share space with many people.

Cheap sleeping boxes are chosen by many students to save costs (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).

Costs are also a significant burden: electricity and water bills are often higher than the regulations, and many places even charge extra for parking or other services. The cramped living space makes the room stuffy, affecting health. As for sleepboxes, living together with many people can easily lead to conflicts and make it difficult to concentrate on studying.

For less than 2 million VND, students in Ho Chi Minh City can still find a place to stay, but that comes with a trade-off in terms of space, privacy, or minimal amenities. Rooms with just enough room for a bed and a desk, or cramped, damp dormitories, have become the reluctant choice of many young people far from home.

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