Binh Khanh resettlement area - abandoned and forgotten
Introduction:
The Binh Khanh resettlement area project was constructed starting in 2013, spanning 38.4 hectares. This project is part of the 12,500-apartment program serving the resettlement of the new Thu Thiem urban area (the largest resettlement area in Ho Chi Minh City). It was invested in to facilitate on-site resettlement for households in the central 5 wards of this urban area, divided into 3 zones: the 30.2-hectare Binh Khanh zone with 4,216 apartments, the 38.4-hectare Binh Khanh zone with 6,220 apartments, and the 17.3-hectare An Phu - Binh Khanh zone with 1,844 apartments.
This resettlement project was mandated by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to become a model project, meeting all standards for a new, modern living environment for residents, thereby setting a precedent for subsequent resettlement projects and building trust and reassurance for residents as they receive their new homes.
Location:
Accordingly, the project is situated at 27 Mai Chi Tho Street, An Phu Binh Khanh Ward, Thu Thiem New Urban Area, District 2. In addition to fronting Mai Chi Tho Street, the project also intersects with a portion of Luong Dinh Cua Street.
Given that the project's location was originally a resettlement area, the road infrastructure is very well-developed and is expected to become a densely populated area in the future.
Current Situation:
However, the resettlement area with 3,790 apartments, of which only a few buildings are currently occupied by residents (these are the residents who were the first to move in in 2015 when the project was basically completed), while the rest has been left vacant for over 10 years, causing the construction to deteriorate seriously.
The reason for this situation is that most of the residents eligible for compensation did not have enough money to buy, so they chose to receive money instead of housing. Others, due to long waits for housing, had to buy elsewhere and sell their housing quota to others. Additionally, other reasons include the location not being suitable for work, and the long-term vacancy of the construction leading to its deterioration.
Becoming a Field Hospital:
In July 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out severely, Ho Chi Minh City decided to requisition three resettlement areas as field hospitals. Among them, the Binh Khanh resettlement area was used as a treatment and isolation center for COVID-19 cases. Desolation and emptiness without residents are the common situation of the apartment complexes and resettlement areas that were once used as field hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients.
According to observations, in some places, traces of the treatment and care of COVID-19 patients still exist, such as documents, notebooks, and syringes. Notably, even hospital beds are still lying scattered in front of the lobby.
And after completing its mission, tens of thousands of apartments in these two resettlement areas continue to be left vacant, with buildings closed, causing the facilities to deteriorate.
This area can be quite dark and secluded, so if you plan to visit at night, a flashlight and a high level of awareness are essential. While you can still visit during the day, it might lose some of the mystery of the cache. The area is also heavily guarded to prevent crime. They're good people, but it's best not to let them know what you're doing. Good luck, geocachers!