The 91B Apartment Complex in the midst of torrential rains in July emits a putrid stench, a combination of damp mold, green moss covering the roads, apartment foundations, and surrounding garbage dumps.
9 blocks of the 91B Apartment Complex in An Khanh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, have been in use since 2005, and despite approaching their 20th year, they have not undergone any significant repairs or maintenance.
The 91B Apartment Complex, home to approximately 450 households, was inaugurated in 2005. However, due to a lack of regular maintenance over the past 19 years, or more accurately, a negligible number of maintenance interventions, the complex has severely deteriorated. This issue has been highlighted by the media on numerous occasions, but the situation remains unchanged.
As Mr. Q.K.A. (born in 1952), a resident of the complex, struggles to contain the rainwater pouring into his kitchen window with a plastic basin, he shares his concerns. Mr. Q.K.A.’s family of four has been living in a 55-square-meter apartment since the early years of the complex. Over time, the walls have become covered in mold, and despite their long tenure, they have never had the opportunity to renovate their living space.
Mr. H.V.S, another resident facing similar circumstances, points to the multicolored tiles on his floor, which he had to replace himself due to the original ones cracking and posing a safety hazard. He expresses his concern about the severe deterioration of the complex and urges the authorities to consider repairing the living conditions for the residents of these 9 blocks.
In the third quarter of 2023, the Can Tho City Department of Construction acknowledged that the apartment complex had not undergone any major maintenance or repairs. As a result, the technical infrastructure, including electrical systems, water supply and drainage, and fire protection, frequently malfunctioned and required temporary fixes due to a lack of funds for proper maintenance.
The corridor between the two apartment buildings is filthy, covered in moss, and emits a foul odor.
According to estimates, renovating the 91B Apartment Complex to meet the necessary standards would require a substantial investment, potentially costing tens of billions of dong. As a result, Mr. Mai Nhu Toan, Director of the Can Tho City Department of Construction, proposed to the city’s People’s Committee that they focus solely on fire protection management at the complex and refrain from undertaking any major renovations or repairs. He also suggested considering auctioning off the land, which is located on Tran Hoang Na Street and boasts an advantageous position and a sizable area of over 2.6 hectares. By attracting investors with a strategic plan that combines commerce and services, the land’s value could be significantly enhanced, generating revenue that could be used to develop new social housing projects rather than renovating the aging 91B complex.
Mr. Toan further emphasized that by auctioning off the land, the city could potentially generate far more revenue than it would gain by investing in the renovation of the 91B Apartment Complex. This proposal, however, remains on paper, leaving residents with dreams of luxurious upgrades. A year after this statement was made, the 91B Apartment Complex remains untouched, with residents taking matters into their own hands and living with constant worries about electrical faults and water leaks.
As the apartments deteriorate, housing prices continue to rise alongside the increase in the basic salary. In a peculiar twist, the Can Tho City Department of Construction implemented the new pricing structure in February 2024, even though the basic salary increase did not take effect until July 2024. According to the apartment complex management, this price adjustment was approved by the Can Tho City People’s Committee based on a proposal submitted by the Department of Construction in January 2024. The new pricing structure is based on the size of the apartments, with an average increase of 100,000 to 250,000 dong per household, implemented five months before the basic salary adjustment.
Low-hanging electrical wires pose a safety hazard as they dangle close to the ground.
While salary increases and housing price hikes go hand in hand, repairs seem to be perpetually absent. Ms. H., a resident of Tower A2, echoes the sentiments of the majority of residents with a pressing question: “Where has the money intended for maintenance and repairs over the past 20 years gone? Why haven’t the authorities held any meetings to inform residents about policy changes and price adjustments?”
“The basic salary increase took effect in July, but the rent increase was implemented in February, which doesn’t make sense. If the rent is going to be raised, it should be used to improve and upgrade the living conditions for the residents. When asked for an explanation, they say it has been approved by the People’s Committee, which of course has the authority to do so. However, it is the residents who bear the burden of these decisions. The management has the power and the responsibility to manage the complex, but their attitude seems to be that if people can survive, then good for them, and if they can’t, then it’s their problem. We are living in the city center, yet we are paying a higher water rate than those in remote areas. They claim that there are constant losses, but why haven’t they identified the cause and addressed it? Instead, they keep blaming the losses and passing the burden on to the residents,” Ms. H. expressed her frustration.
The residents’ concerns fall on deaf ears as the authorities remain noncommittal, leaving many feeling like they are living in a “ghost apartment complex” with no accountability. They continue to live with uncertainty and pay their rent upon receiving notices or decisions from the apartment management, delivered by individuals who, according to a Can Tho City Department of Construction administrative staff member calling from the number 02923815399, are referred to as “collaborators.”
The question remains: Is it more reasonable to repair the apartments to provide peace of mind to the tenants or to await the People’s Committee’s approval of the auction of this prime land, potentially offering a luxurious upgrade to the residents (although the timeline for this is unknown)? This is a significant dilemma that demands a thoughtful solution.
Take a look at some images from the residential area with the most “no’s” in Can Tho:
Mold causes wall peeling, creating the illusion of cracks.
Ceiling peeling from the first to the fourth floor of the building, with pieces occasionally falling into the hallway.
In recent years, the Can Tho Department of Construction has received numerous repair requests from residents, but no action has been taken. Where have these signed petitions from the people gone?
Electrical wiring is installed in the dampest area of the apartment building.
Ceiling peeling in Tower A5 of the 91B Apartment Complex.
The management office for Tower A2 has been converted into a hair and nail salon.
Garbage overflows in the 91B Apartment Complex courtyard.
Glass panels are left scattered along the B28 road leading to Towers A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5, creating a safety hazard.
On July 1, 2024, a new notice was posted announcing an adjustment in rent effective July 1, 2024.
