A circular issued by the ministry, to take effect July 5, requires small apartments to have at least one bedroom and bathroom. It also stipulates that the number of apartments with areas of 25 to 45 square meters must not exceed a quarter of the total units in a project.

The circular requires officetels to have minimum working space of nine square meters and prohibits kitchens.

These requirements are the same as those contained in a circular issued in 2019 by the ministry.

The unchanged minimum area requirements for residential apartments show that the ministry has chosen to ignore the controversy surrounding them.

HCMC authorities have said that such a policy will cause rapid urbanization, increase population, and apply even greater pressure on already overburdened infrastructure.

But the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association has voiced support for the new regulation, saying it is a potential solution to the city’s shortage of affordable apartments.

Prior to the circular issued in 2019, the minimum size apartment size allowed was 45 square meters.