Dozens of 'sleeping boxes' under one roof

In early September, as new university and college students began the new school year, demand for affordable housing surged. Social media was flooded with listings for 'sleeping boxes,' 'sleep pods' and dorm-style beds for rent.

At a shophouse in an apartment complex on Kenh 19-5 Street in Tan Son Nhi Ward, a space of just a few dozen square meters spread across a ground floor and two upper floors has been fitted with about 58 sleeping boxes. 

Each floor has around 15 to 20 boxes packed closely together and stacked on top of one another. Separate areas are provided for men and women, with units available for rent by the month or by the hour.

A young man said each sleeping box is about 2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, and comes with a mattress, pillow and light. 

Rent is VND1.9 million (US$72) a month, including electricity and water. Tenants share the bathroom and kitchen.

With just enough room for one person to lie down and store a few personal belongings, the sleeping boxes are advertised as an affordable housing option for students and young workers.

At a house in an alley off Tay Thanh Street in Tay Thanh Ward, each room has about eight sleeping boxes, with around 32 boxes throughout the house.

Each box rents for VND1.6 million ($61) a month. Tenants with motorbikes pay an additional VND100,000 ($4) a month. 

Motorbikes are parked on the ground floor, directly below the sleeping boxes. The bathroom and dining area are shared. The rooms receive little natural light and need to have the lights on even during the day.

Similarly, in Vuon Lai Ward, a house in an alley off Su Van Hanh Street has also been converted into a sleep box rental. 

The ground floor is used for motorbike parking, while the two upper floors contain about 18 sleeping boxes. 

Each box is about 2.2 meters long and 1 meter wide and rents for VND1.8 million ($69) a month. Tenants with motorbikes pay an additional VND200,000 ($8) a month.

$69 a month for 2.4 square meters

At a house deep inside an alley off Le Van Sy Street in Nhieu Loc Ward, one ground floor and one upper floor have been divided into four rooms containing about 25 sleeping boxes. 

Each box is about 2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide and rents for VND1.8 million ($69) a month, with no additional fees.

A man showing prospective tenants around said the air conditioning runs 24/7. The kitchen is on the ground floor, while the rooftop has a laundry area and drying space. Tenants can enter and leave freely using fingerprint locks.

The sleeping box model is not the only option. Dorm-style bunk beds are also becoming a popular choice.

In Thanh My Tay Ward, a house in an alley off Nguyen Huu Canh Street has one ground floor and three upper floors, with about 38 sleeping spaces. 

Each space is large enough for one person to lie down and store a few personal belongings, and rents for about VND2.3 million ($88) a month.

A similar sleeping box rental model can also be found on Dang Van Bi Street in Thu Duc Ward.

A common feature of these properties is the effort to maximize space, leaving each sleeping area quite small while accommodating a relatively large number of people under one roof.

More concerning is the limited ability to evacuate when dozens of people are living in the same house and a fire breaks out. 

The presence of motorbike parking, kitchens, electrical equipment and personal belongings in or near densely occupied living areas makes strict fire-safety requirements even more important.