Renting guides
Renting in Da Nang as a Foreigner: Deposits, Contracts and Extra Costs
What you pay, what you sign and how to get your deposit back.
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Key takeaways
- You need a passport and a valid visa to rent in Da Nang. Landlords do not ask for a work permit, a Vietnamese bank account or a guarantor.
- One month's rent is the standard deposit on a six or twelve month lease. Landlords ask for two months on short leases and furnished villas.
- Most landlords bill electricity at 4,000 to 6,000 dong per kWh, above EVN's household tariff of about 1,984 to 3,460 dong. A one bedroom with air conditioning costs 600,000 to 1,500,000 dong a month to run.
- Your landlord must register you with the local police as a temporary resident. You need that registration to extend a visa.
- Film the home, photograph the meters and sign an inventory on move-in day. That record decides how much of your deposit comes back.
Can foreigners rent a home in Da Nang?
Yes. Vietnam puts no limit on foreigners renting a home, and you can sign a lease on a tourist visa or an e-visa. You need your passport and a visa or entry stamp that covers your stay. Landlords in Da Nang do not ask for a work permit, a Vietnamese bank account, proof of income or a local guarantor.
I have arranged more than 500 rentals for foreign families and residents here since 2019. The rent causes few surprises. The deposit, the electricity rate and the wording of the contract cause most of the disputes I help sort out, so this guide takes them in the order you meet them.
A passport and a valid visa are all you need to sign a lease in Da Nang.
How much deposit do landlords in Da Nang ask for?
One month's rent is the standard deposit on a six or twelve month lease. Landlords ask for two months on leases under six months, on furnished villas and on homes with expensive furniture. You pay the deposit and the first month's rent together when you sign.
| Lease | Deposit | Rent paid |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 1 month | Monthly. Some house owners offer a lower rent for 3 or 6 months ahead. |
| 6 months | 1 month | Monthly |
| 1 to 5 months | 1 to 2 months | Monthly, at a higher rate |
| Furnished villa, any length | 2 months | Monthly or every 3 months |
Pay by bank transfer to the owner named on the contract, so you have a record of each payment. If an owner offers a discount for paying three or six months ahead, take it only with a signed contract and a receipt for every transfer.
How long is a lease in Da Nang, and can you leave early?
Six and twelve months are the standard terms. Landlords also rent by the month, and most charge 10 to 30 percent more for it, because a short tenancy leaves them more empty weeks between tenants.
Leave before the end of a standard lease and the landlord keeps your deposit. Before you sign, ask for a clause that lets you leave on 30 days' notice after the first six months, or when you find a replacement tenant. Many landlords agree when you ask at the start, and few will add it later.
Settle the renewal terms in the same contract. A clause that caps the rent increase at renewal, for example at 5 percent, saves you a negotiation a year later.
Ask for the early-exit clause before you sign. Few landlords add one later.
What should a rental contract in Vietnam include?
Ask for a bilingual contract in Vietnamese and English. If the two versions disagree, a Vietnamese court will read the Vietnamese text, so have someone you trust check that both versions say the same thing.
| Clause | What to check |
|---|---|
| Landlord | The owner's full name and ID number, matching the property's ownership certificate (the pink book), or a signed authorisation from the owner if someone else rents it out. |
| Rent | The monthly amount, the due date and what the rent covers: furniture, cleaning, internet and the building fee. |
| Deposit | The amount, and the number of days after you move out within which the landlord returns it. |
| Utilities | The electricity rate per kWh and the water charge, written as numbers. |
| Repairs | Who pays for what. Owners cover the structure, plumbing, air conditioning and appliances; tenants cover light bulbs and any damage they cause. |
| Leaving early | The notice period, and what you lose if you leave before the end date. |
| Occupants and pets | Who lives in the home, and whether pets are allowed. |
| Inventory | A signed list of furniture and appliances, attached to the contract. |
If a landlord says the contract will follow later, wait for it before you pay anything.
What costs come on top of the rent?
Electricity surprises new renters most. Landlords bill it from a sub-meter at 4,000 to 6,000 dong per kWh. Vietnam Electricity charges households a stepped tariff of about 1,984 to 3,460 dong per kWh, and the landlord keeps the difference. A one bedroom apartment with the air conditioning on for much of the day costs 600,000 to 1,500,000 dong a month to run.
| Cost | Typical amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 4,000 to 6,000 ₫ per kWh; 600,000 to 1,500,000 ₫ a month for a one bedroom | Billed by the landlord from a sub-meter |
| Water | 100,000 to 200,000 ₫ a month | A flat fee in most apartments; some houses bill by the cubic metre |
| Internet | 200,000 to 300,000 ₫ a month | Included in most furnished apartments |
| Building fee | Included in most furnished apartment rents | Unfurnished units in some buildings charge it per square metre |
| Motorbike parking | 100,000 to 200,000 ₫ a month | Apartment buildings; free at most houses |
| Rubbish collection | 30,000 to 50,000 ₫ a month | Houses |
| Official invoice | About 10 percent on top of rent | Some landlords add their tax cost if your employer needs a VAT invoice |
Ask the landlord to write the electricity rate into the contract. At 200 kWh a month, a rate of 3,500 dong instead of 5,000 saves you 300,000 dong every month of the lease.
Get the electricity rate in writing. It moves your monthly bill more than any other line.
Who registers you with the police?
Your landlord does. Vietnam's law on foreigners' entry and residence requires the owner of the place you stay to declare you to the local police within 12 hours of your arrival, or 24 hours in remote areas. Most landlords file it online. Send them a photo of your passport and visa page on the day you move in.
Ask for confirmation once they have filed it. You need a registered address to extend a visa or apply for a temporary residence card, and a landlord who refuses to register you is a reason to look elsewhere.
How do you get your deposit back?
Your record from move-in day decides the outcome. On the day you get the keys:
- Film every room with the landlord present, including marks on walls, floors and furniture.
- Photograph the meters for electricity and water, and write both readings on the inventory.
- Count the keys, key cards and remote controls, and list them.
- Sign the inventory together, and each keep a copy.
When you leave, give written notice by the date in the contract, which is 30 days in most leases. Book a walk-through for your last day, settle the final utility bill against the meter readings, and agree in writing the date the landlord returns the deposit. Ask for the money by bank transfer.
Landlords may deduct for damage beyond normal wear and for unpaid bills. Faded paint and a worn sofa count as normal wear. A cracked tile or a missing remote does not.
Film the home on move-in day. That video settles most deposit disputes.
What are the warning signs of a bad rental?
Keep looking if you meet any of these:
- The person renting the home cannot show the pink book or a signed authorisation from the owner.
- The landlord wants money before you see a contract, or a full year's rent in cash.
- The landlord will not write the electricity rate into the contract.
- The landlord will not register you with the police.
- The price changes between the viewing and the contract.
- The unit you view differs from the one in the listing photos.
Outside the October to February peak, Da Nang has plenty of homes for rent, so walking away from one of these costs you little. Our Son Tra and My An comparison helps you pick the area first, and the current listings show what a fair rent looks like in each one.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners rent an apartment in Da Nang?
Yes. Vietnam puts no limit on foreigners renting a home. You need a passport and a visa or entry stamp that covers your stay, and a tourist visa or e-visa is enough to sign a lease.
How much is the deposit for a rental in Da Nang?
One month's rent is the standard deposit on a six or twelve month lease. Landlords ask for two months on leases under six months and on furnished villas. The landlord returns it after you move out, minus damage beyond normal wear and any unpaid bills.
Is electricity included in the rent in Vietnam?
In most rentals, no. Landlords bill electricity from a sub-meter at 4,000 to 6,000 dong per kWh, so a one bedroom apartment with air conditioning costs 600,000 to 1,500,000 dong a month to run. Ask for the rate in the contract.
Do I need a work permit to rent in Vietnam?
No. Landlords in Da Nang ask for a passport and a valid visa. They do not ask for a work permit, a Vietnamese bank account, proof of income or a local guarantor.
Who registers a foreign tenant with the police in Vietnam?
The landlord. Vietnamese law requires the owner of the place you stay to declare you to the local police within 12 hours of arrival in most areas. Ask for confirmation, because you need a registered address to extend a visa.
Do tenants pay an agent fee in Da Nang?
In most Da Nang rentals the landlord pays the agent's commission, so as a tenant you should not pay a finder's fee. Ask any agent how they are paid before you start viewing.
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