Expat renting guide

Renting an apartment, answered honestly.

Everything expats actually worry about when renting, listing scams, deposits, the real all-⁠in cost, electricity overcharging, bilingual leases, pets, police registration and short-term stays. No spin. This is how Nest protects you on every one.

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Listings & trust

The big portals in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are full of listings that are outdated, use stolen photos, or are pure bait to get you to call. With Nest, every listing is physically inspected by our team and date-stamped, and we remove a home the day it's rented. The apartment you see is the apartment you'll view, no bait-and-switch to something pricier or worse.
Many “agents” in Vietnam have no office, no registered company and no accountability, some collect viewing fees or deposits and vanish. Nest is a registered business with a physical office in Hanoi, named advisors and a track record, serving renters in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. You always know who you’re dealing with, before and after you sign.
No. The landlord pays our commission, never you. You pay your rent and bills and nothing extra for us finding, viewing and signing your home. There are no tenant agency fees or viewing fees.

Deposits & money

The most common complaint from renters in Vietnam is landlords inventing “damage” at move-out to keep your deposit. Nest creates a timestamped, photo move-in condition report co-signed by both parties, defines refund conditions in the contract, and acts as a neutral mediator if there’s a dispute. You have evidence, not just your word.
No, never pay a holding deposit, especially in cash, before you've viewed the home and verified the owner. A frequent scam is a fake “landlord” taking a reservation deposit and disappearing. Nest verifies the ownership certificate (sổ đỏ) and confirms the landlord is the legal owner before any money moves, and we only ever use documented bank transfers.

Costs & bills

The advertised rent is rarely what you pay. In Hanoi, management fees, electricity, water, internet and parking come on top of the base rent, so the all-⁠in monthly cost is higher than the advertised price. Our cost of living guide itemises it. The mix differs in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, which is why every Nest listing, in every city, shows a True Monthly Cost breakdown (rent + management + estimated utilities + parking) so there are no surprises.
Vietnam's state utility (EVN) charges a progressive rate, but some landlords charge above the EVN rate, so ask for the meter readings and the rate in writing. AC-heavy summer months catch newcomers out. Nest displays the electricity rate on the listing and writes a utility-transparency clause into the standard lease, so you pay the real rate.
A serviced apartment bundles electricity, water, wifi and weekly cleaning into one inclusive price, ideal if you want zero setup or a flexible stay. On Nest, serviced listings show “Inclusive” on every bill line so you can compare true cost against an unfurnished long-term lease.

Contracts & law

Nest uses a standard bilingual lease, in Vietnamese and your language, and an advisor walks you through every clause before you sign, flagging the five highest-risk ones (early-termination penalties, deposit conditions, maintenance, utility-rate lock, rent-increase triggers).
Foreigners must be registered with the ward police at the address they live at. This is called tạm trú. The person who manages the home, usually your landlord, is legally responsible for declaring your stay for you. It is done online or on a paper form; on paper, it must reach the ward police within 12 hours of your arrival (24 hours in remote areas). Many landlords skip it unless asked, which can hold up your visa extensions and your Temporary Residence Card. Nest includes tạm trú registration in move-in support and follows up after move-in to confirm it’s filed. The law: Article 33 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (47/2014/QH13, in force 1 January 2015; Article 33 as amended by 23/2023/QH15, in force 15 August 2023, and by 118/2025/QH15, in force 1 July 2026). Checked 6 October 2026. Read the official text

Living in Vietnam

In Hanoi, most newcomers default to Tây Hồ (West Lake), the expat heartland with the best cafés, international shops and pet infrastructure, but Ba Đình, Cầu Giấy and the Old Quarter each suit different lifestyles and budgets. In Ho Chi Minh City, Thảo Điền and An Phú in the former District 2 area are the expat favourites, with District 1 and District 7 (Phú Mỹ Hưng) close behind. In Da Nang, many expats live near Mỹ Khê beach in Mỹ An and An Thượng. Use our neighbourhoods guide and the what’s-around-you map to match a district to your commute and lifestyle.
Pet-friendly homes are genuinely harder to find, and hiding a pet risks eviction. Nest tags every listing with an explicit pet policy and keeps a curated pet-friendly shortlist. In Hanoi, Tây Hồ has the best vets and walking routes. Filter for “Pet friendly” in search.
Vietnamese cities are genuinely loud, traffic, karaoke and early-morning construction catch people out, and glossy new apartments can have thin walls. Nest descriptions are honest about road noise vs alley-set quiet, water pressure and build quality, and your advisor points out the trade-offs at viewing rather than after you’ve signed.

Leases & relocation

Private leases run from a month up to a year, and the deposit is often one month’s rent. A long lease doesn’t suit digital nomads or anyone trialling the city. Nest offers short-term and serviced options from one month, and we often recommend a 1-month serviced apartment first, then a longer search once you know the city. Toggle Short-term at the top of search.
Yes, that’s the whole point, whether you are moving to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. Beyond the home, our relocation concierge coordinates movers, pet relocation, drivers, shipping, interior design, school placement and visa paperwork through trusted partners. We hand-hold the practical steps, SIM, bank, registration, motorbike, vet, so you arrive to a life that’s ready, even if you’re starting from scratch.

Still have a question about renting?

Message a real Nest advisor who lives here, in English or Tiếng Việt. We answer honestly, whether or not you rent through us.

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Reviews

What people say after they move in

Google4.621 reviews on Google Maps

Rating and review count last read from Google Maps on 28 Aug 2026.

10/10, they helped us find a wonderful home that fits exactly what we were looking for, I had some specific requirements and they were willing to accommodate all of it and also helped me find a place close to my budget, I would 100% recommended them. Morgan is the one who helped me. If you are house/apartment hunting in Hanoi I would definitely consider NEST.

Lily Leong, read this review on Google MapsApril 2026

Nest has been such a massive help! They helped me and my partner find the most perfect apartment- I'm super picky and we went through loads of viewings but they were so patient and supportive. They helped us find a place that is pet friendly and has a great landlord. So grateful ful for the team at nest they made my Hanoi house hunting journey so much easier.

Kaycee Potter, read this review on Google MapsNovember 2025

Great service from Mitch. He quickly put together a list of properties that matched my needs, arranged viewings and had all the paperwork wrapped up in no time. Excellent support, very flexible with his time and a pleasure to deal with. Thanks Mitch!

Simon Drew, read this review on Google Maps

Nest helped me completely remodel my home and the entire process was so easy! From starting with design recommendations all the way to the delivery and installation of each item they were so helpful. The pieces were well made, and exactly as described- 10/10 will use them again

Anokhi Chatterjee, read this review on Google MapsNovember 2025

We are so lucky to have Claire secure our new apartment for us. After having issues with our old apartment she was so quick and getting us sorted with a new home. Highly recommend using Nest to find your next rental in Hanoi 😊

Celine Diffin, read this review on Google Maps

Claire and Morgan were so patient and helpful in supporting us to navigate the process to secure a rental apartment in Hanoi. Morgan answered our MANY questions and made us feel comfortable in a very new situation. We LOVE the apartment they found us and look forward to settling in to our new home. Thanks again ❤️

Jodie Hornsby, read this review on Google Maps

I finally found my dream apartment with NEST after meeting with so many different realtors. Trust me so many realtors!! My agent was so patient throughout the whole process and always made sure to accommodate my needs. Since I have two big dogs it's hard to find the right apartment but NEST made it happen! My landlord is amazing too . I even got my dream couch and some amazing decorations from them . Everything turned out perfect.

Brinley Kenny, read this review on Google Maps

When abroad, searching for your "home" is not the easiest task! I was lucky to have met Claire from Nest with whom I had a great experience and highly recommend working with her. She was attentive, professional and simply on point in finding the perfect home for me. She understood what I was looking for and listened carefully what was important which made the whole process smooth and stress-free. She was responsive and would genuinely go the extra mile as she cares. Thank you for helping me find my home!

Leila B, read this review on Google Maps

What a service. We had a lot of difficulty finding the perfect house for us, and then came across Nest Living. I just gave them what I wanted, and they found a house so damn quickly that matched our description. I literally didn't even have to look at the second and third options. They are super professionals and will help you with the move as well. Highly recommend them.

Nadeem Rafique, read this review on Google Maps
Read all 21 reviews on Google Maps

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