In Ho Chi Minh City, a new trend in affordable housing has raised concerns over fire safety. Dozens of ‘sleeping boxes’ or ‘sleep pods’ have been set up in houses and shophouses, with each box just large enough for one person to lie down and store a few personal belongings.
These sleeping boxes are typically around 2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, and rent for between VND1.6 million ($61) and VND2.3 million ($88) a month. They are often stacked on top of each other, with separate areas for men and women, and shared bathrooms and kitchens.
Sleeping Box Rentals on the Rise
In Tan Son Nhi Ward, a shophouse has been fitted with around 58 sleeping boxes, with each floor having 15 to 20 boxes packed closely together. Similarly, in Tay Thanh Ward, a house has been converted into a sleep box rental with around 32 boxes throughout the house.
In Vuon Lai Ward, another house has been converted into a sleep box rental with around 18 sleeping boxes, each renting for VND1.8 million ($69) a month. The boxes are often small, enclosed, and packed closely together, raising concerns over fire safety and evacuation.
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A fire prevention and rescue officer in Ho Chi Minh City warned that the sleeping box model has not yet been classified as a separate type of accommodation, and there are no specific regulations governing it. This lack of regulation has raised concerns over potential violations, including inadequate escape routes and unsafe electrical systems.
Fire Safety Concerns
The city has recorded several deadly fires in recent months, including a hotel fire in Tan Son Nhi Ward that killed two people, and a fire at a vegetable shop in Dong Hung Thuan Ward that killed a husband and wife and injured their child. The growing number of sleeping boxes has raised additional concerns over fire safety.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the city recorded 228 fires in the first six months of 2026, leaving 14 people dead and 27 injured. The committee has ordered local authorities to strengthen inspections and monitoring, and to promptly identify and handle properties that fail to meet fire safety and evacuation requirements.
One of the main concerns is the limited ability to evacuate when dozens of people are living in the same house and a fire breaks out. The presence of motorbike parking, kitchens, electrical equipment, and personal belongings in or near densely occupied living areas makes strict fire-safety requirements even more important.
Maximizing Space
A common feature of these properties is the effort to maximize space, leaving each sleeping area quite small while accommodating a relatively large number of people under one roof. In some cases, every inch of wall space around the sleeping boxes is put to use, with tenants even installing electrical outlets and light bulbs inside the boxes.
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In Thu Duc Ward, a house has been converted into a sleep box rental with around 38 sleeping spaces, each renting for around VND2.3 million ($88) a month. The boxes are stacked on top of each other, with shared bathrooms and kitchens, and a motorbike parking area on the ground floor.
Regulation and Safety
Tenants must consider the risks and benefits of sleeping box rentals on their own. While the affordable prices and convenient locations may be attractive, the potential risks to safety and well-being cannot be ignored.
The city’s authorities are taking steps to address the issue. They are working to strengthen inspections and monitoring of these properties to ensure they meet fire safety and evacuation requirements.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has ordered local authorities to strengthen inspections and monitoring and promptly identify, prevent and handle, or recommend action against, properties that fail to meet fire safety and evacuation requirements.