As many apartment complexes in Ho Chi Minh City have run out of parking space for automobiles, residents are scratching their heads over finding a proper place to park their vehicles.

The rapid increase in automobiles across the southern metropolis has resulted in parking basements filled up at multiple apartment buildings.

Residents who have recently bought their cars are now unable to park the vehicles where they live and are forced to look for a parking spot elsewhere.

About 8.5 million motorcycles and 350,000 automobiles were recorded in the city in March, according to statistics from the Transport Development and Strategy Institute under the transport ministry.

Le Huu K., a resident at Him Lam Cho Lon Apartment Buildings in District 6, said he bought his flat in 2016.

The place was advertised as having modern amenities and sufficient parking space, K. stated.

He found that such advertising was just for show after purchasing his car earlier this year, as the two-story parking basement had already run out of space.

The management board attributed the issue to the rising number of car owners last year.

K. decided to sign up on a wait list, which already had more than 100 residents, many of whom have waited for over a year for an available slot.

He had no other choice but to use services at a nearby parking lot.

According to Le Thi Bich Ngoc, deputy director of Him Lam JSC, the developer, the apartment complex is designed with 320 parking spaces for cars.

About 1,500 people are living in the buildings, 540 of whom own a car, Ngoc continued.

The management board previously allowed residents to park their cars along the roads on the premises.

In order to ensure fire safety, however, they have been asked to park their vehicles at nearby facilities, Ngoc stated, adding that about four parking lots are situated within a 500-meter radius of the building.

A similar situation also happens at the EverRich Infinity Apartment Complex in District 5.

The monthly parking rate is currently VND2.2 million (US$94.6) per car, which is quite high compared to other places.

The complex has 188 parking spaces for cars, but there are about 250 car owners.

The management board has to hold a lucky draw every six months to determine who gets to use the spaces.

They are now mulling over selling the parking spaces to residents at VND500 million ($21,500) each, an idea bashed by the residents.

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