Apartment/AirBnB vacancies

I've noticed a lot of apartment and AirBnB ads and was wondering if the vacancy rate goes down significantly after the rainy season, i.e. November? In other words, does HCMC see an influx of tourists in Nov? Basically, I'm seeing what looks like great deals and I'm trying to decide if I should book before I get there or after I arrive.
Currently, I've got a hotel booked for a few days and was planning on securing longer-term accommodations once I get there.

Cheers,

Roger
-@RTLisSB

My opinion:

Don't change your plan.

Once your here your plans may change, one day sipping a beer in HCMC the next on a bus to a place you never heard of before.

Or staying an extra week in a place you like instead of your planned one night.

@RTLisSB

airbnb pricing is set by algorithms that take is 70 different variables.

Most tourists dont rent apartments long term. With the 30-day visa, many tourists and long term expats are finding other countries that are more visa friendly. Hence, the glut of available properties.

I've noticed a lot of apartment and AirBnB ads and was wondering if the vacancy rate goes down significantly after the rainy season, i.e. November? In other words, does HCMC see an influx of tourists in Nov? Basically, I'm seeing what looks like great deals and I'm trying to decide if I should book before I get there or after I arrive.
Currently, I've got a hotel booked for a few days and was planning on securing longer-term accommodations once I get there.

Cheers,

Roger
-@RTLisSB

Agree with OB on this, Roger. Take your hotel for a week or two before looking further. Might even be a good idea to do a little hotel shopping your first or second day out. Hotels are very hungry for tourists and are open to offering discounts knowing you'll be staying a while (even a week).

I can't recall whether you've decided yet on which city/district etc you'll be starting off in. Decent hotels in D1 can be had for as little as 350K per night (~$22 CDN).

I've never rented a AirBnB, but there have been a couple of posts here from people reporting that the unit's VN owners are prone to making unannounced entrance while you may, or may not, be home.

When you say you're seeing great deals, can you give us a couple of examples, including location, amenities, rent etc.

MY first home here was a two bedroom house in a hem, district 7 running just south of Tran Trong Cung. Two story, with two bedrooms (each with air conditioner), two balconies off the second floor, two bathrooms, livingroom, kitchen, and a gated area at the front to lock up the bike. 7.5million VND per month (~$440 CDN). Very clean area. I was absolutely amazed at how clean the neighbours kept that hem. Swept daily by the residents. Daily garbage collection. Hydro ran me about 1.2m per month (air con and computers mostly).

Not long now for you! November's rapidly approaching

If you are visiting as a tourist I would agree with the others, keep it flexible. I first visited Vietnam four years ago and I had all my trips and accommodation planned out and booked before I left home. I soon realised that this was completely unnecessary and only served to restrict my options. Ever since then, I have simply booked a one way ticket and a couple of days in a comfortable hotel and things have always worked out well.

If you are visiting as a tourist I would agree with the others, keep it flexible. I first visited Vietnam four years ago and I had all my trips and accommodation planned out and booked before I left home. I soon realised that this was completely unnecessary and only served to restrict my options. Ever since then, I have simply booked a one way ticket and a couple of days in a comfortable hotel and things have always worked out well.
-@Malcolmleitrim

Excellent advice for Rodger, especially considering all the discussions we've had with him since he first introduced himself.

Adding my recent personal example since August 2nd:

I had a period of very important travel here in Vietnam, needing to drive from Vũng Tàu to Sài Gòn, visit government offices and overnight in the city, followed by a Mộc Bài visa run the next day, followed by an evening flight to Quảng Ngãi and return to our apartment VT a few days later (all of that for the important task of compiling marriage paperwork and filing the application).

Almost a month later, we packed up everything in an SUV, did an early-morning Mộc Bài run from VT, then drove to Buôn Ma Thuột & overnighted, driving to Quảng Ngãi the next day to pick up our official marriage certificate and store most of our belongings (at wife's parents' house), after which we flew to Hà Nội to apply for my Temporary Resident Certificate. We took a side trip to Hạ Long Bay, returned to Hà Nội & then flew to Huế (staying for 3 days) and then drove to Đà Nẵng where we've been for a few days while house hunting (we found one today in Hội An).

I definitely had plane reservations ahead of time, and also arranged my private drivers at least a few days ahead of time.

However, most of my hotel reservations were made using Agoda or HotelsDOTcom or BookingDOTcom within 2 to 48 hours before arrival.

Since a lot of what I had to do was actually very critical for me, you might have thought I would have planned out everything weeks ahead of time.

It's just not necessary.

Hotel reservations tend to be the least of my concerns when traveling in Vietnam.

I really love the flexibility of usually being able to make last-minute decisions and take advantage of last-minute sales.

...drove to Buôn Ma Thuột & overnighted, driving to Quảng Ngãi the next day to pick up our official marriage certificate and store most of our belongings (at wife's parents' house), after which we flew to Hà Nội to apply for my Temporary Resident Certificate.
-@OceanBeach92107

Are TRC's for spouses not available at provincial capitals?

If anything I would have thought that you would have had to get it wherever your spouse is in a hộ khẩu book, just as you were married in Quảng Ngãi. The whole house book routine is rather ridiculous, but I suppose it does serve as a form of population control.

My apologies for drifting off topic (I know it's one of your pet peeves) but your post brought my initial question to mind.

...drove to Buôn Ma Thuột & overnighted, driving to Quảng Ngãi the next day to pick up our official marriage certificate and store most of our belongings (at wife's parents' house), after which we flew to Hà Nội to apply for my Temporary Resident Certificate.
-@OceanBeach92107
Are TRC's for spouses not available at provincial capitals?

If anything I would have thought that you would have had to get it wherever your spouse is in a hộ khẩu book, just as you were married in Quảng Ngãi. The whole house book routine is rather ridiculous, but I suppose it does serve as a form of population control.

My apologies for drifting off topic (I know it's one of your pet peeves) but your post brought my initial question to mind.
-@THIGV

Spousal TRCs are currently only being issued in Hanoi or HCMC, depending on which city "owns" the province where the Vietnamese spouse is registered.

@Aidan in HCMC

Several new units, one bed, one bath, in D2 for $700 USD a month, but also about $160 discount for a long-term stay. New appliances throughout, "western style" bathroom with enclosed shower, washer, and weekly cleaning, Internet, utilities, pool and gym. Having read your comments, the AirBnB places don't seem as good a deal as I thought.

I will indeed wait until I land before getting a place.

Thanks, A

Roger