Many apartments catch up with trends
About a year ago, the story of electric vehicles being "rejected" in many apartment buildings once caused public uproar.
At the end of 2025, HH Linh Dam apartment building (Hanoi) announced that it would not accept electric vehicle parking in the basement. At the same time, CT1 Thach Ban apartment building suddenly stopped accepting electric vehicle parking.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Phuoc apartment building also issued a notice prohibiting both electric cars and electric motorbikes from entering the parking basement.
These decisions immediately faced reactions from residents. Many people believe that they own legal vehicles but are not allowed to bring their vehicles to their residences.
At that time, many legal experts also said that the management board's arbitrary ban on electric vehicles when there were no legal regulations was inappropriate, and at the same time went against the trend of green traffic development.
However, after just over a year, the picture has changed a lot. Without the rigid regulations of the law, many apartment buildings have self-arranged electric vehicle parking spaces.
A survey by reporters at some apartment buildings in Cau Giay and Yen Hoa wards (Hanoi) shows that most new buildings have arranged separate electric vehicle parking areas, with signs, sockets and power supply systems for charging.
In an urban area in Dong Ngac (Hanoi), where electric vehicles were previously restricted, the parking basement has now been planned with a dedicated area for electric vehicles with synchronously arranged charging points.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (38 years old, resident of Dong Ngac ward) said that having a separate charging area helps electric vehicle users feel much more secure.
“Previously, I always worried that one day the apartment building would ban electric vehicles like some places used to do. Now that there is a separate area, managed methodically, it is both convenient and safe. The important thing is that residents no longer have to find ways to bring batteries upstairs to charge” - Mr. Hung said.
According to many residents, arranging separate electric vehicle parking areas is not only suitable for the trend of green vehicle development but also meets the actual needs when the number of electric vehicles is increasing rapidly in urban areas.
Modern parking garage standards
Changes in apartment buildings show that the trend of electric vehicle basements is inevitable. Regarding legal regulations, from December 15th onwards, Circular No. 31/2026 of the Ministry of Construction officially takes effect to regulate this issue.
Accordingly, all apartment buildings must arrange separate electric car parking areas. The Circular also gives priority order for the location of charging stations. Accordingly, charging areas are encouraged to be placed outdoors or on the ground.
In case it is necessary to arrange it in the basement, it should only be placed in the semi-basement or basement 1, in a well ventilated place, with a plan to isolate and move vehicles when an incident occurs.
In addition, charging areas must be equipped with a camera surveillance system that transmits directly to the control room 24/7, an automatic fire alarm system, toxic gas detection sensors and are separated by fireproof walls or safe distance according to standards.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc - Director of the Automotive Engineering Training Program (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), the promulgation of specific standards is the right direction. According to this expert, the current risks mainly come from vehicles of unknown origin or poor quality chargers.
The most important thing is to control the quality of electric vehicles circulating on the market, and at the same time build a charging system that fully meets technical and fire prevention and fighting requirements" - Mr. Phuc assessed.
The Ministry of Construction's issuance of Circular 31/2026 is considered an important step forward in the process of completing infrastructure to serve green traffic.
When technical standards have been clearly established, residents' rights are guaranteed, and the management board has a legal basis to organize operation, the controversies that have occurred in many apartment buildings about banning or not banning electric vehicles are expected to gradually close.
