You cannot buy land. In certain buildings, you can buy a condo, as long as under 30% of the owners are foreigners. Any scheme that you might hatch to circumvent these rules has been tried already, and all assets lost. I don't currently have the time to entertain them.
For renting, the most common resource I use, is talking to the auntie in my area that knows who has empty places to rent. For her efforts, I pay her a small gratuity. This is by far the least frustrating option.
Besides that, I've used chotot. It was a 3-week operation. Half the people were middlemen and the place listed was never available (bait and swap). A quarter didn't know where the rental property was. An eighth saw a foreigner, realized they'd have to pay taxes, and noped right out. A sixteenth were already rented by the time I got there, or was rented weeks ago and the listing just wasn't updated. The remainder was a mix of squalor, danger, and actually nice places. I met my current landlord this way and it has been good.
So cast your net wide when using online services. Or hire some Vietnamese person to manage it for you. Make sure the landlord knows they will have to register you with the police. This is the law but some dodge it -- this will eventually create problems for you. I have had the police come to my door multiple times asking for this paperwork, so it was fortunate that I have it ready for them.
Finally, if you don't have at least a 1-year visa, it's unlikely any landlord will want to take you, at least not at a 'normal' price. They'll have to keep re-registering you with the police every time you bounce in and out of the country, and this costs them time and hassle. Also they are worried you'll skip out. Vietnamese landlords typically want long-term tenants (multiple years).
Two month deposit is standard. It should be returned to you when you leave. Some landlords will try and cheat you out of it, others legit need some of it to fix up the place a bit after you leave. If they try to rob you and it's a significant sum of money, it's one of the things you can sue for and easily win. Especially if you pay the deposit and rent by bank transfer so there's a clear paper trail.
Foreigners can only buy a subset of condos, they can’t buy landed homes.
Be aware that selling foreigner only housing is much harder than regular housing.
You cannot buy land. In certain buildings, you can buy a condo, as long as under 30% of the owners are foreigners. Any scheme that you might hatch to circumvent these rules has been tried already, and all assets lost. I don't currently have the time to entertain them. For renting, the most common resource I use, is talking to the auntie in my area that knows who has empty places to rent. For her efforts, I pay her a small gratuity. This is by far the least frustrating option. Besides that, I've used chotot. It was a 3-week operation. Half the people were middlemen and the place listed was never available (bait and swap). A quarter didn't know where the rental property was. An eighth saw a foreigner, realized they'd have to pay taxes, and noped right out. A sixteenth were already rented by the time I got there, or was rented weeks ago and the listing just wasn't updated. The remainder was a mix of squalor, danger, and actually nice places. I met my current landlord this way and it has been good. So cast your net wide when using online services. Or hire some Vietnamese person to manage it for you. Make sure the landlord knows they will have to register you with the police. This is the law but some dodge it -- this will eventually create problems for you. I have had the police come to my door multiple times asking for this paperwork, so it was fortunate that I have it ready for them. Finally, if you don't have at least a 1-year visa, it's unlikely any landlord will want to take you, at least not at a 'normal' price. They'll have to keep re-registering you with the police every time you bounce in and out of the country, and this costs them time and hassle. Also they are worried you'll skip out. Vietnamese landlords typically want long-term tenants (multiple years). Two month deposit is standard. It should be returned to you when you leave. Some landlords will try and cheat you out of it, others legit need some of it to fix up the place a bit after you leave. If they try to rob you and it's a significant sum of money, it's one of the things you can sue for and easily win. Especially if you pay the deposit and rent by bank transfer so there's a clear paper trail.
Amazing thanks for the insight and details this saves me a lot if time
Foreigners can only buy a subset of condos, they can’t buy landed homes. Be aware that selling foreigner only housing is much harder than regular housing.
It also carries a premium for whatever that's worth to you...