The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has ordered the developer and the management board of the 36-story Lapen Center apartment building to conduct an inspection of the entire building and propose comprehensive measures to address the damage. Photo: A.B.
The Tam Thang Ward People’s Committee announced on Tuesday that local authorities are continuing to work with relevant agencies to handle the situation at the apartment building, known as PVC-IC Diamond.
Following the discovery of additional cracks, authorities required the building management board to install warning barriers and signs, assign personnel to monitor affected areas, and prevent residents from entering locations deemed unsafe.
Multiple cracks had previously been found inside an apartment on the 16th floor.
Damage was observed on the loggia wall, and laundry and drying area walls, while long cracks were visible on the exterior walls next to the glass door.
New cracks have also been reported in apartments 12B and 15 on the same floor.
Additional wall cracks extending from upper sections downward were found near elevator lobbies on the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th floors.
The department noted that after significant cracking first appeared in July last year, stakeholders commissioned an independent assessment of the building.
A report, issued on February 10 by Bach Khoa Ho Chi Minh City Science Technology Joint Stock Company, concluded that the structure remained capable of bearing design loads and maintained its overall structural integrity.
However, the subsequent appearance of new cracks on the 16th floor and other floors in the building has prompted authorities to seek a more extensive review.
To ensure the safety of both residents and the structure, the department has requested Tam Thang Ward to maintain current preventive measures and continue deploying personnel to restrict access to hazardous zones, particularly areas beneath damaged walls.
Petroleum Industrial and Civil Construction Joint Stock Company (PVC-IC), the investor of the building, and the building management board have been directed to join hands to conduct a full structural inspection and submit the results to the department by June 30.
Pending completion of the inspection and repair work, the department has also instructed the investor to hire qualified specialists to conduct regular monitoring of settlement and structural tilt in order to detect any potential risks at an early stage and implement timely responses.
Repeated cracking at apartment building
Situated at 33A on Street 30-4, Lapen Center was developed by PVC-IC and entered service in 2019.
The apartment building consists of 34 above-ground floors, two basement levels, and more than 480 apartments.
The lower five floors are designated for commercial use.
Concerns first surfaced in July 2025 when residents discovered a large crack in apartment 16.08 on the 16th floor.
The crack measured some five centimeters wide and four meters long, with sections of the exterior wall breaking away and falling.
Another apartment on the same floor also showed similar damage.
Before repairs to the earlier defects had been completed, residents reported another significant crack in May.
The new damage appeared on the exterior wall of apartment 16.17 on the 16th floor.
