Struggling to find a place to live
As of April 2025, Can Tho City has nearly 45,000 workers working in Industrial Parks (IPs) in the area, an increase of about 2,800 workers over the same period. With an abundant labor force, the demand for housing has also increased, especially workers from other localities who flock to Can Tho to work as workers.
According to the survey, although the number of boarding houses near industrial parks is quite large, rooms with affordable prices and guaranteed living conditions are not really enough.
Ms. Nguyen Thao Nhu - a worker in Tra Noc Industrial Park, Can Tho City, it took her 2 weeks to find a suitable room after moving from Soc Trang. The female worker shared that in the early days, she spent time hanging around the rows of boarding houses near the industrial park with the hope of finding a place to live near the company, convenient to go to work. But wherever you go, the homeowner will report all the space, or if there is still room, the room is quite old.
"I had to stay with a colleague for 2 weeks before renting a room at my current apartment. This room costs 700,000 VND/month (excluding electricity and water). Although it is a bit far from the company, the price is suitable. If my job and income are stable, I will rent it for a long time because finding a house that suits me is really not easy," Ms. Nhu expressed.
Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Linh - a probationary worker at a company in Tra Noc Industrial Park, Can Tho City - also has a headache in finding a place to stay. With a trial salary calculated on the product, ranging from 4.5 - 5 million VND/month, Mr. Linh hopes to find a room with a rental price of 600,000 - 700,000 VND/month. However, nearly a month has passed, and the male worker has not yet found a suitable place to live, and has had to choose a solution to live with his colleagues.
"The rental price is suitable for income, but the living conditions are not guaranteed, the rooms are more spacious, so the rental price is too far from the industrial park or high. Therefore, I chose to live in a graft, at a cost of about 600,000 VND/month (including electricity and water). However, this is only temporary, I am still looking for my own place to live, ensuring living conditions to be comfortable with living, as well as convenient when relatives or friends come to visit, Mr. Linh shared.
High demand for room rental
With over 30 rooms for rent, Ms. Bui Thi Kim Dam - owner of a long-term boarding house near Tra Noc Industrial Park - said that the demand for housing for workers is always high. Every few days, workers come to ask to rent a room, even 2-3 people a day.
With prices ranging from 600,000 to more than 1 million VND/month, my rooms are full of tenants. Many workers come to ask for rent, even if the labor has not been officially accepted, I have to refuse and introduce it to neighboring rooms because there is no more space," said Ms. Dam.
According to Ms. Dam, the demand for housing for workers today is also more diverse than before. Workers living alone, with average income, often choose to rent rooms with cheap prices and enough space for living. For workers with higher incomes, especially workers hired by households, space and amenities are often prioritized.
"To help workers stick together in the context of increasing rental housing, in addition to not increasing room prices, I also set regulations to ensure security and order for the boarding house. My boarding house has established a model of "Self-managed boarding house for workers" promoted by the city's Trade Union at all levels" - Ms. Dam shared.
Recently, Can Tho City's trade unions at all levels have established more than 35 self-management groups with nearly 2,000 workers. Self-management groups have promoted practical results, contributing to ensuring security and order for boarding houses, helping workers feel secure in living and producing.
