Featured guide · Costs
The true cost of renting in Hanoi: what the rent doesn’t cover
Rent is only part of the bill in Hanoi. Management fee, electricity, water, internet and parking come on top. Each line, and how to see the all-in cost.
Renting guides for expats
Renting in Vietnam, explained.
Honest, expert guides to renting an apartment in Hanoi as an expat, the true cost of renting, avoiding scams, choosing a neighbourhood, leases, pets and the first 30 days. Written by the Nest team who do this every day. There are guides to living in Thảo Điền, Ho Chi Minh City and in Da Nang too.
CostsThe true cost of renting in Hanoi: what the rent doesn’t cover
Rent is only part of the bill in Hanoi. Management fee, electricity, water, internet and parking come on top. Each line, and how to see the all-in cost.
3 min readNest team
CostsElectricity in Hanoi rentals: EVN rates vs landlord markups
Why your first summer bill shocks you, and how to check whether your landlord is reselling power at a markup.
3 min readNest team
CostsServiced apartment vs long-term lease in Hanoi: which is cheaper?
Are serviced apartments cheaper long term in Hanoi? Short stays favour serviced, a year or more favours a lease. Here is how to work out which.
3 min readNest team
Scams & safety5 apartment scams in Hanoi and exactly how to spot them
Fake listings, bait-and-switch agents, disappearing-deposit landlords. The red flags, and the green-flag alternative every time.
3 min readNest team
Scams & safetyHow to get your deposit back when your Hanoi landlord says no
The move-in condition report, the photos to take, and the leverage that actually works at checkout.
3 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsTây Hồ vs Ba Đình vs Old Quarter: which Hanoi district is right for you?
The honest trade-offs. The expat bubble, the noise, the commute, matched to how you actually want to live.
3 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsLiving in Tây Hồ (West Lake): the honest expat guide
Why everyone moves to Tây Hồ, what nobody tells you about it, and where to look for an apartment by the lake.
3 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsHow to find a pet-friendly apartment in Hanoi (without lying to your landlord)
Where pets are genuinely welcome, the buildings to start with, and why Tây Hồ has the best pet infrastructure.
4 min readNest team
Leases & lawYour Hanoi lease is in Vietnamese. Here is what to check before you sign.
The five highest-risk clauses, and how to protect yourself when the lease is in Vietnamese.
4 min readNest team
Leases & lawTạm trú: temporary residence registration in Hanoi, explained
What it is, why your landlord probably has not done it, and how it affects your visa and TRC.
3 min readNest team
Moving inMoving to Hanoi checklist: your first 30 days, in order
SIM, bank, apartment, police registration, motorbike, vet, GP. The exact sequence that saves newcomers weeks.
14 min readNest team
Moving inShould you book a Hanoi apartment from home, or find it when you land?
The honest answer, the risk of signing unseen, and the short-stay-first workflow we recommend.
3 min readNest team
CostsThe cost of living in Hanoi for expats: what rent costs right now
What it costs to live in Hanoi as an expat, with rent by home size and district worked out from the homes Nest has listed right now.
3 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsLiving in Hanoi as an expat: where to live, what it costs and how to settle in
Where expats live in Hanoi, what a home costs to rent, and the order to do things in, from the lease to registering your address.
6 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsLiving in Thảo Điền, Ho Chi Minh City: a guide for expats who rent
The riverside area where many expats in Ho Chi Minh City rent: what it is like, the homes, and what to check before you sign.
2 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsLiving in Da Nang as an expat: Sơn Trà or Ngũ Hành Sơn?
Sơn Trà and Ngũ Hành Sơn, the two beach-side districts most expats in Da Nang rent in: how they differ, and what to check first.
3 min readNest team
Leases & lawHow to rent out your apartment in Hanoi as a foreign owner
For owners who live elsewhere: pricing the home, finding a tenant, the paperwork, and what an agent does for the fee.
3 min readNest team
Moving inShort-term rentals in Hanoi: serviced apartments, nightly stays and short leases
Which suits a stay of weeks or months, and what to check before you book a serviced apartment, a nightly stay or a short lease.
2 min readNest team
Moving inWhere to find an apartment in Hanoi, and how to tell which listings are real
The places Hanoi homes are listed, how to spot a listing that is bait, and what to check before you pay a deposit.
4 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsWhere to live in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): the main areas compared
The centre, Thảo Điền, Phú Mỹ Hưng and Bình Thạnh, the four areas expats choose between: what each is like, what it trades away, and who it suits.
5 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsLiving in An Thượng, Da Nang: a guide for expats who rent
The beach-side streets of An Thượng, where many expats in Da Nang rent: what living there is like, the homes, and what to check before you sign.
3 min readNest team
CostsWhat You Get for Your Money: Hanoi Apartment Guide 2025
Considering a move or upgrade in Hanoi? Your money stretches further here, but value varies by location.
5 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsTop Neighborhoods for Expats in Hanoi
Moving to a new city is always a big step, and as expats who’ve been in the real estate business for over five years, we’ve had our fair share of laughs, memories, and lessons learned from living in Hanoi.
5 min readNest team
NeighbourhoodsDiscovering To Ngoc Van Street: Why It’s a Popular Choice for Expats in Tay Ho, Hanoi
Nestled in the heart of Hanoi’s Tay Ho district, To Ngoc Van Street is a vibrant, tree-lined avenue that has become one of the most sought-after residential areas for expats living in Vietnam’s capital.
5 min readNest team
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