Hoa Lac faces housing shortage as 17,000 VNU students relocate

For the 2026-2027 academic year, approximately 17,166 students from 11 member universities of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) are relocating to the Hoa Lac campus. This large-scale shift aims to develop Hoa Lac into a modern university urban area focused on research and innovation.

The influx has created a significant surge in demand for local accommodation. Current dormitory capacity meets only about one-third of the total student housing needs, forcing a large portion of the student population to seek external rentals. Many mini-apartment complexes and boarding houses in the Hoa Lac area, particularly near the University of Engineering and Technology, the University of Education, and the University of Law, have already reached full capacity.

In response, universities are collaborating with local authorities and landlords to create a “rental bank” to provide students with information on safe and suitable housing. Rental prices in the area are reported to range between 2.5 and 4 million VND per month.