A few years ago, when looking to buy cemetery land as an act of filial piety for her parents, H.N. (Hanoi) was taken aback by the reactions of relatives in her hometown. Some said her family was “too rich and looking for things to spend on.” Others called her “eccentric,” overly worried about the future, and advised her to avoid taboos and not mention death while loved ones were still alive.

Despite that, N. decided to go ahead and purchase a 15 sqm burial plot at a memorial park more than an hour’s drive from Hanoi.

“I felt uneasy seeing my grandparents’ graves in the countryside in such a bad state, often flooded during the rainy season. I did not want my parents to face the same situation in the future, so I bought burial land in a spiritual complex near the capital, so they would have a decent resting place later on and so it would be more convenient for the children to visit and take care of,” N. said.

She added that buying burial land in advance for her parents was both a gift and a responsibility of being a child.

“Life and death are unavoidable. I want my parents to have a long-term resting place prepared, so they and the younger generations can all feel at ease,” she said.

T.N.H., director of a construction company in Hanoi, also decided to buy burial land and relocate his parents’ graves from their hometown to a cemetery park in Tuyen Quang.

H. said that because his family works far from home, his parents’ graves in the countryside were rarely cared for, with weeds overgrowing and occasional soil erosion or flooding after heavy rains. He discussed it with family members and waited until the reburial period to move his parents to a new resting place.

“Not only did we buy burial land for our parents, my wife and I also prepared burial plots for ourselves in the future,” he said.

According to the director, cemetery parks offer full services, from grave maintenance to incense offerings. On holidays, the first day of the lunar month, and full-moon days, staff come to clean, arrange the surroundings, prepare offerings, and light incense carefully.

“They also take photos to inform the family, so we can rest assured that our loved ones’ graves are being well taken care of,” H. said.

Beyond the convenience of services, he believes the money spent on burial land is a worthwhile investment.

“Every time I visit my parents’ graves, I no longer feel heavy or overwhelmed with sadness, but relaxed, almost like going on a short outing. That also gives me peace of mind knowing my parents have a complete resting place,” he said.

He said that it took him an entire year to find a burial plot that met all his criteria: convenient access, a good location, favorable feng shui and soil conditions, quality management and care services, and stable, long-term legal status.

The plot he purchased measures 20 sqm and has a favorable setting, with a mountain at the back and a stream-facing view. Its price is nearly VND500 million at present, including long-term maintenance service fees.

“Burial land in this spiritual complex comes at various price levels, ranging from about VND15–25 million per sqm, depending on location, size (single, double, or family graves), and service packages (free maintenance, stone headstones, greenery, and so on),” H. said.

The director said he is not superstitious but is cautious when choosing burial land, especially as someone working in business.

Nguyen Quoc Huy, general director of a real estate consulting and brokerage company in Hanoi, said demand for burial land at cemetery parks has increased in recent years.

Many customers view graves as filial gifts for grandparents, parents, and relatives, or even as investments.

“In the past, when analyzing the market, we focused on intellectual customers over 40. Now the customer base is getting younger, with demand from those under 30 rising quickly,” Huy said.

He said the biggest barrier for burial land buyers is not financial capacity but psychology.

Many people still hesitate about placing their relatives’ graves far from home or away from their hometown. Others buy burial plots secretly, not daring to tell their families for fear of taboos and bad luck. However, many customers change their views after visiting cemetery parks. 

Ha Giang