A number of dorms at universities in Ho Chi Minh City have set up programmes to offer free or low-cost dormitory rooms for eligible students.

Students from poor families such as Nguyen Minh Nghia from the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap are given first priority.

“My brother and I study at university, but my family is too poor to afford the costs for our tuition and accommodation,” Nghia said.

Nghia, a second-year student at the HCM City University of Architecture, studies at a branch campus in the outlying district of Thu Duc near Binh Duong province.

During his freshman year, he stayed at one of the 44 dorms belonging to the Vietnam National University-HCM City at a discounted rate. He took a bus every day to his university.

Co May Dormitory on the campus of Nong Lam University in Thu Duc District this year will provide free accommodations for 100 poor students with high scores on the National High School Graduation Examination. (Photo: VNA)

Nghia is now living at Co May Dormitory, founded by the late Pham Van Ben, a humanitarian and businessman whose mission was to help the disadvantaged attend university.

The dormitory is located on the campus of Nong Lam University in Thu Duc district. This year, free accommodations will be given to 100 new students at universities in HCM City.

To qualify, the students must have a high score on the National High School Graduation Examination and show that their family is unable to pay.

The 44 dormitories belonging to the Vietnam National University-HCM City have a total of 52,000 spaces in a variety of rooms. They also have yards for playing sports and green outdoor areas, as well as canteens and outside food areas.

The Management Centre for Dormitories said the monthly price for a room containing eight students in the 2017-2018 academic year is VND 130,000 (USD 5.7) per student.

Students who share rooms with five others pay VND 175,000 (USD 7.7) a month each. Four students sharing an air-conditioned room pay VND 540,000 (USD 23.76) monthly, and VND 325,000 (USD 14.3) for an un-air-conditioned room.

Besides these dorms, the HCM City University of Technology and Education has two dorms that can accommodate 2,800 students in districts 9 and Thu Duc.

Priority is given to children of families covered by State policies, or to those whose families are poor, or to female students. The prices are VND 230,000 (USD 10.12) to VND 340,000 (USD 14.96) monthly per student.

The University of Transport and Communication’s branch in District 9 has a dormitory that provides accommodations for 1,024 students.

Students at universities in the city’s inner districts can apply for one of the 1,000 spaces at 135A Tran Hung Dao Dormitory in District 1 for VND 150,000 (USD 6.6) per month

Priority is given to children of families covered by State policies. For students who are not given priority, the cost is VND 200,000 (USD 8.8) per month.

Co May Dormitory on the campus of Nong Lam University in Thu Duc District. (Photo: vnexpress.net)

Other dorms that follow the low-cost policy are in District 5. A seven-storey dormitory at 43-45 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street houses 800 students, while HCM City University of Technology has a modern dorm with more than 2,500 rooms in District 10.

Do Thi Minh of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, whose son attends the HCM City University of Technology and Education, said the dorm was a safer option than a rented room./.

VNF/VNA