The Ecohome social housing complex, where many were once ensnared by brokers to become homeowners. (Photo: Pham Duy)
Countless low-income workers, lured by sweet promises, have faced family turmoil, lost honor, and damaged reputations among relatives. Worse still, many families have reached irreconcilable conflicts, burdened by bank debts with no end in sight.
The ‘Diplomatic Quota’ Trap
After selling their ancestral land for over 1 billion VND, Do Thi Hien and her husband from Dong Anh, Hanoi, aimed to buy a social housing unit for stability, tired of renting. In late 2018, they learned about the Ecohome 3 social housing project in Bac Tu Liem and visited the site.
Feeling overwhelmed by the complex procedures, they met broker Hoa, who claimed connections with Bac 9 Real Estate Investment Company, the project developer. Hoa promised diplomatic quotas, bypassing the lottery, for a deposit of 200 million VND for a 2-bedroom unit or 300 million VND for a 3-bedroom unit.
The Ecohome complex where Do Thi Hien was duped into depositing 200 million VND for a 2-bedroom unit. (Photo: Pham Duy)
To build trust, Hoa showed deposit documents from 20 clients and agreements with “diplomatic quota owners.” Hien verified a client’s details by calling them, further convinced by the promise of compensation if the deal failed.
After verifying Hoa’s identity, Hien deposited 200 million VND. However, by mid-2019, despite the developer announcing the lottery, Hoa remained silent. Hien’s repeated calls were met with excuses, and by late 2019, Hoa claimed to be a victim of fraud herself.
Many have opted to handle procedures directly to secure social housing without brokers. (Photo: Pham Duy)
Desperate, Hien demanded her money back but only received 180 million VND, with Hoa keeping 20 million VND for “processing fees.” Hien’s ordeal led her to file a police report in late 2020, a lesson in trusting too easily.
Pham Van Khoa from Tuyen Quang faced a similar fate. Introduced by an acquaintance, he paid 1 million VND for documents and procedures to enter the Ecohome lottery. The broker pressured him to pay 210 million VND for a 2-bedroom unit, promising a sure win.
After paying 300 million VND, Khoa received no updates for a year. By September 2020, the broker refunded the money, deducting 2 million VND, leaving Khoa disillusioned and family life strained.
Many now handle procedures directly to secure social housing without brokers. (Photo: Pham Duy)
Frustrated, Khoa became a broker himself, successfully securing a unit at Ecohome and helping a friend, earning a 55-inch TV. He now sells social housing units, admitting the “diplomatic quota” is a scam, with buyers often reselling for profit.
Legal Perspective
Lawyer Truong Quoc Hoe emphasizes that social housing is strictly regulated under the 2014 Housing Law, with no shortcuts. Buyers must meet specific criteria, and transactions must be transparent. Brokers claiming “diplomatic quotas” are fraudulent, and victims should seek legal recourse.
Residents of Ecohome recount broker scams. (Photo: Pham Duy)
The Vinh Hung 4-6-8 social housing project resumes. (Photo: Pham Duy)
Hoe warns against trusting brokers’ promises, urging buyers to deal directly with developers or verified real estate platforms, relying on legal documents rather than verbal assurances.
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