Cemetery space scarce in HCMC

Several people have recently found it more difficult and costly to find a final resting place for their relatives in Ho Chi Minh City, where State cemeteries have run out of land.

Progressive population growth has led to the high increase in demand for cemetery room in Ho Chi Minh City, making this field a profitable business for the private sector.

Tuoi Tre reporters recently went to Go Dua, one of the largest cemeteries of the city, in Thu Duc District.

Pham Van Bay, head of the cemetery’s management board, said that burial land of the State has run out. Private cemeteries still have plenty of room, but the price is rather high.

Bay reveals that there are 12 private graveyards with an area of 23 hectares each around Go Dua Cemetery.

Phuoc, the owner of a private cemetery, said that in 1990 when Go Dua ran out of good room, several families in bereavement asked to buy burial plots from households in the adjacent areas.

Since then, several local residents have divided their land into small lots for sale and earned much profit. Some people from other localities even came to buy agricultural land and then asked for permission from local authorities to sell graves.

Tuoi Tre reporters asked for the price at some private cemeteries and were told a six square meter lot costs VND45-60 million (US$2,155-2,873).

Similar business is also prevalent in Cu Chi District. Nguyen Lan, head of a private cemetery near Phu Hoa Dong Cemetery, took Tuoi Tre reporters to visit grave areas, which stretch more than one hectare each.

He said that people from the city center had come to buy land and built these grave areas for their family members.

Lan sells a plot measured at 1.5mX4m at VND20 million ($958) and will provide a small discount for those buying several plots at the same time. Besides him three other people are also selling burial plots in the surrounding area.

Around the 45 hectare Binh Hung Hoa Cemetery in Binh Tan District, there are 40 private cemeteries where a plot costs VND30-70 million ($1,437-3,352).

Binh Hung Hoa Cemetery in Ho Chi Minh City'sBinh Tan District must finish its relocation work by 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

Since 2008, the city has worked on a plan to clear away this cemetery to make room for the construction of trade centers and parks; as a result these private cemeteries have had to stop burying.

Profitable business

According to the regulations of Cay Trac Cemetery in Cu Chi District, only permanent residents in Phu Hoa Dong and Pham Van Coi Communes are permitted to be buried there. However, people from other localities can also easily get a place there via brokers.

The official land price list in Can Gio Cemetery where many have bought tens of land plots for reselling for profits. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

A Tuoi Tre reporter met broker Giang in a scorching noon, pretending to find a burial lot to reinter his grandmother.

“Just give me ID cards of you, your father and of the dead person, and I will manage to register you as temporary residents in the commune.

‘Before the exhumation day, I will take you to the commune to ask for a burial lot for your relative. The licensing fee will be VND1 million ($48),” Giang said.

Showing a lot located in the middle of two new graves, Giang said that “Your grandmother will lay here. Tomorrow, give me your ID and VND5-6 million first. After your grandmother’s coffin is lowered into the grave, you will pay me another VND10 million.”

Chinh, who introduced himself as manager of the Gia Do Cemetery in Binh Khanh Commune of Can Gio District, says several people wanted to reinter their relatives’ coffins there, but could not as they are not permanent residents in the district.

However, Chinh said that he could help for VND10 million a grave.

He said several people bought graves a couple of years ago at VND2 million each and are now willing to resell them. While showing spacious strips of land in the cemetery, he said that all of them are already owned.

“Many people have bought burial land to resell and own tens of lots each in this cemetery. For instance Tan, a rich man from Binh Tan District, who purchased 60 lots here several years ago but has not used any of them,” Chinh shared.

Local residents also said that several people are trading burial land by buying graves and saying they are for their relatives, but are in fact for sale.