This project, which broke ground in 2008, had an initial investment of VND 7,642 billion and comprised 1,116 villas centrally located in the new Duong Noi urban area. Despite most of the villas being completed with full infrastructure, landscaping, roads, and lighting, the neighborhood remains devoid of residents.
The developer completed the exterior construction and handed over the villas to customers at the end of 2018. However, hundreds of villas remain abandoned as of this writing.
According to sources, the adjacent villas here are advertised for sale at prices starting from VND 10 billion.
The villas are always “locked up tight.” Many lack security doors.
Due to prolonged abandonment, the scenery of these billion-dollar villas has become desolate, with weeds growing rampant within the premises.
The entrances of many villas are overgrown with grass, littered with trash, and covered in moss.
The facilities have deteriorated over time and look old and forlorn despite never being used.
After heavy rains, some villa basements become large pools of water, with trash washing in and causing environmental pollution and a putrid stench.
Many villas display “For Rent” signs, but they have remained vacant for years.
The water pipes and taps, installed and awaiting their owners, have deteriorated and degraded due to prolonged exposure to the elements.
Some unoccupied and unrented villas are temporarily fenced with corrugated iron sheets, surrounded by overgrown grass.
The entrance to the villa compound is separated by a thin rope to prevent vehicles from parking.
The path behind the compound has become a dumping ground for trash and is used for personal purposes.
A makeshift playground has been set up but is rarely used.
The surroundings are overgrown with weeds.
While many villas are abandoned, there is a severe shortage of affordable housing for low-income earners. According to experts, this situation is not unique to Hanoi but is prevalent in many other provinces across the country, where villas and adjacent properties remain vacant even though they have owners. This paradox and severe waste have far-reaching economic, social, and security implications. Addressing this issue is not a quick fix, and it poses a challenging problem for the authorities.
