An apartment building project for resettlement has been left uninhabited for nearly two years in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, leaving many of its facilities aging.

Located on Ho Quy Ly Street in the provincial city of Vung Tau, the Thang Tam resettlement project carried a price tag of almost VND600 billion (US$24.6 million), including over VND400 billion ($16.4 million) for construction, with the city’s administration being the investor.

Work on the project reached completion in late December 2021.

The Ministry of Construction appraised the project and allowed it to be put into service in March last year.

Since then, the project’s contractor repeatedly requested the investor accept the project handover, but the building complex, which is fenced and has security guards, has been unoccupied until now.

A number of small facilities in the building complex are aging, as they have not been in use and not undergone maintenance over the past two years.

Many door handles are tarnished, most balcony railings are rusty and emergency lights are out of order.

Recently, the project contractor has had to clean, repaint, and repair an elevator which was left unused for too long.

Most balcony railings at the complex are rusty. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

The main contractor said it wished to hand over the building complex to the investor, as the complex will continue aging quickly if it remains uninhabited. 

Aging facilities will not only leave a negative impact on the main and sub-contractors, but also on future residents of the complex, the main contractor added.

Moss is found in an artificial lake of the Thang Tam apartment complex. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

On behalf of the investor, the management board for project investment and development No.1 in Vung Tau said on Monday that it plans to take the handover of the project from the contractor this month and the apartments are expected to be occupied by the end of this year.

Vung Tau City currently lacks over 6,000 apartments for resettlement, while this 500-apartment complex has remained deserted over the past two years.

“Due to the slow handover, we’re facing difficulties in paying employees and construction materials, as well as covering maintenance costs,” a main contractor representative elaborated.

The 21-story Thang Tam apartment complex covers an area of 3,500 square meters, with a total floor area of over 66,500 square meters. It is adjacent to Bai Sau Beach in Vung Tau, a popular beach destination in southern Vietnam.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!