VOA慢速英语2019 越南高价房面临负担能力危机（在线收听）

Vietnam's Expensive Housing Risks Affordability Crisis

In some Vietnamese cities, it is not hard to find apartments that cost millions of dollars. But on the same streets, small, poor houses made of metal sheets can be seen.

在越南的一些城市，不难找到价值数百万美元的公寓。但在同样的街道上也不乏用金属板建造的简陋的小房屋。

The low end and the high end of the country’s property market are well established. But, what about all the other people in between the two extremes?

该国房地产市场的低端和高端市场都已成熟。但是，处于两个极端中间的其他人怎么办？

Need for affordable housing

经济适用房需求

The growing middle class and working class in Vietnam have an increasing demand for new housing. If this demand is not met, the country could experience the kinds of affordability crises seen in countries like Brazil or Ireland.

越南不断增长的中产阶级和工人阶级对新住房的需求越来越大。如果这种需求得不到满足，这个国家可能会经历像巴西或爱尔兰那样的负担能力危机。 

Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated is a real estate services company in Vietnam. Its data show that there is more housing in the luxury, premium and middle-end price level available on the Ho Chi Minh City market this year. And there is not as much housing that is affordable.

仲量联行有限公司是一家在越南的房地产服务公司。它的数据显示，今年胡志明市市场上有豪华、高端和中档价位的住房更多。而且没有那么多的经济适用房。

Some real estate developers are starting to pay attention to this demand. Phu My Hung Development Corporation seeks to sell homes to middle class buyers. It is raising about $75 million to develop a town in a rural area about 60 kilometers away from the capital, Hanoi.

一些房地产开发商开始关注这一需求。富美雄发展公司（Phu My Hung Development Corporation）的目标客户是中产阶级。它正在筹集大约7500万美元，在距首都河内60公里的农村地区开发城镇。

Gary Tseng is the chief executive of the Phu My Hung Development Corporation. He said the investment will help the business develop new townships using a sustainable growth model—meaning environmentally friendly.

曾加里(Gary Tseng)是富美雄发展公司的首席执行官。他说，这项投资将帮助企业利用可持续发展模式（环保）开发新城镇。

The real estate developer takes its name from an area of southern Ho Chi Minh City known for organized city planning. Tseng said the Phu My Hung area is a model of “a sustainable city with efficient water, power, and transit” that “can and should be” copied.

这家房地产开发商的名字来自胡志明市南部地区，该地区以有组织的城市规划而闻名。曾加里说，富美雄地区是“一个可持续发展的城市，有高效的水力、电力和交通”，而且“可以而且应该”被复制。

More apartments in the luxury, premium and middle-end price levels have come on the market this year in Ho Chi Minh City, but not as many at the affordable level.

今年，胡志明市的市场上出现了更多的豪华、中高端价位的公寓，但经济适用房的数量却没有那么多。

Townships like Phu My Hung are built up from nothing. This is unlike places such as the United States, where many older houses regularly are bought and sold. In Vietnam, the real estate market often involves people buying land and then building their own houses on it.

像富美洪这样的城镇是一无所有的。这一点与美国这样的地方不同，美国经常买卖许多老旧房屋。在越南，房地产市场通常涉及人们购买土地，然后在土地上建造自己的房屋。

Government plans for growth

政府的发展计划

In recent years, the government has approved $1.3 billion for what it calls social housing projects. However, that amount has not been enough to meet the demand for affordable housing.

近年来，政府已经批准了13亿美元的社会住房项目。然而，这一数额还不足以满足对经济适用房的需求。

Vietnam’s fast economic growth has meant that cities are expanding with little or no planning. This is especially true in the two biggest cities -- the capital of Hanoi in the north and the business center of Ho Chi Minh City in the south. This could mean that many people living in those cities might not be able to afford to buy a home.

越南快速的经济增长意味着城市扩张几乎没有规划。尤其是在两个最大的城市——北部的首都河内和南部的商业中心胡志明市——更是如此。这可能意味着许多生活在这些城市的人可能买不起房子。

Words in This Story

affordability – n. to be able to pay for something

real estate –n. property which includes land or buildings

luxury – n. a condition or situation of great comfort, ease, and wealth, often used before another noun

premium – adj. high or higher than normal

middle-end –adj. neither too high or too low

township – n. a unit of local government in the U.S.

efficient – adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy

transit – n. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy