6 steps for renting a flat in Ho Chi Minh City
Renting a flat in Ho Chi Minh City can be a daunting task. Now you’ve caught up on what life in Ho Chi Minh is like, and where the best places to live are,… The next step is to take the plunge and find yourself a flat. Follow these 6 steps and you’ll be out of your old and into your new place in no time – (almost) stress-free!
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1. When Should I Start Looking?
If you’re coming from abroad, it’s a good idea to look a little earlier in advance (one month in advance). However, most landlords look for people that can move in immediately or within 2 weeks – that’s why things go so quickly.
Usually, the landlords will not hold apartment for more than 1 month even with a security deposit, you can start arrange viewing appointment one month in advance before your moving date. Don’t try to request viewing a property that you plan to move 6 months later. Looking around, searching for information, ask agents but don’t ask to arrange appointment.
2. Decide on your budget
Compared to other cities in Vienam, flats in Ho Chi Minh are expensive. They can vary a lot, however, depending on your requirements. Perhaps the biggest decision you’ll need to make is – do you want your own flat, or are you happy sharing with friends/strangers?
If you want your own place in an older Saigon compound in the city, prices start at around 12.000.000 VND (500USD) – but anything from 16.000.000 (700USD+) is much more realistic. Price also largely depends on how long you wish to stay.
Landlords may be more obliged to give the rent cheaper if it’s for a year or more. Generally, landlords will do 6/12 month rentals – however, there is an abundance of other shorter term rentals.
Please Note: It should also be noted that landlords usually require 2 month deposit before you move in, as well as the 6 months rent. This is important to note, since it can be a fair load of money you have to spend as soon as you get to Ho Chi Minh city.
The most common form of payment is monthly. In essence this means when you move you’ll have to shell out three months rent immediately. If this is an issue, speak to your company, they maybe able to assist you in some circumstances. Although it’s a big early outgoing, it means for the next three months, you don’t have to worry about any rental costs.
3. Where Should I Live?
Ho Chi Minh is massive and made up of a number of different districts, each providing their own advantages and disadvantages. There are a few main expat areas that most foreigners tend to live in due to good location and available bars and restaurants around.
These include the district 1, District 3 district 2 (Thao Dien), and District 7. For a more in-depth insight on where to live in Ho Chi Minh check out part of the blog post:
- https://housingsgn.com/state/district-1/
- https://housingsgn.com/state/district-2/
- https://housingsgn.com/state/district-3/
- https://housingsgn.com/state/district-4/
4. Flat size/Requirements
This largely depends on your budget in truth. Do you need a flat fully furnished? Do you need or want western amenities? Do you need a lift to climb those 5 flights of stairs or are you happy with an older Saigon style flat where you climb to the top?
Do you want a flat complex with garden or a busy life? These are all questions you should consider and ask yourself. The answers to these questions will define what you can afford and what area you should move into. The best thing to do is to take a look online.
HousingSgn.com is a great website to use with a whole host of flats all across Ho Chi Minh. You can filter by location, budget and a number of other criteria.
5. Find an agent/Check out forums etc
When renting a flat in Ho Chi Minh, the most common way to find a flat is to go through an agent. This particularly applies if you’re already in the city/country.
The easiest way to find an communicate with agents is through WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger . You can find English speaking agents, as well as flats themselves. This is an invaluable resource, not just for finding flats or agents – but also for general Ho Chi Minh life! This resource is especially useful if you’re only looking for one room, or a couple of rooms in a shared flat.
What if I don’t want to pay an Agent fee? Yeah, good news. You don’t have to pay any agent fee when renting an apartment in Ho Chi Minh. Landlord will cover it all.
6. Move in!
Once you’ve gone through all of these steps on renting a flat in Ho Chi Minh city, you should be ready to move into your new place and start your life in Ho Chi Minh! Good luck!
