Process of buying home or condo in Vietnam (Saigon)

Don’t buy property in Vietnam - it’s all junk! even new buildings are dilapidatd after only 5 years.  Poor quality materials and shoddy workmanship. 

The current trend of selling apartments in Vietnam is to build them and sell them, not to find customers and cater to their needs, including brokers and agents. Regarding the real estate agency system as you describe, in Vietnam it is currently not developed. If you want to buy an apartment in Vietnam, you must accept it

Does anyone know if buyers agents even exist or is this just not a thing here?

Your Vietnamese wife is the buyer's agent

what the heck is the best way to find anything actually for sale?

Your Vietnamese wife should be able to search the online sites in Tiếng Việt to find "for sale by owner" listings and avoid going through an agent.

...it does seem like they are greatly inflating the prices when we go check out properties and maybe they dont want us to actually get it appraised. This goes back to them being the sellers agent above.   -@jrharvey

You'll never really know unless you make a valid counter offer and are prepared to buy now, not some possible date in the future.

They've got no reason to offer any type of appraisal if they think you aren't serious about buying but are just shopping around.

That's pretty consistent with the way most all Vietnamese people do business.

@Kingsley Dedunewic ***

    Lived here two years…  couldn’t have found a better place… sorry you had a bad experience.
Many ex- pats very happy here…I used to live in Vung Tau, and looking in Hoi An - they can’t come close in comparison…
   

    -@Kingsley Dedunewic

Just please keep in mind there is a huge difference between renting somewhere and being satisfied, vs. investing in ownership for any length of time (not including "flipping").

When reading comments from long-term housing investors over the past 6 years here on the forum, there's a general consensus that the buyer should definitely beware in Vietnam.

@secedit

That is over negative - I myself managed the building of a good quality high-rise block in Vietnam. You have to investigate yourself - you can’t rely on any agent….

You firstly search on real estate websites listing 'for sale' properties.  Then decide which location / district your interest lies.  Then, speak local language and ask to see the place. I assume you are looking at new developments. Go meet up with the seller's agent or owner and scrutinize the construction thoroughly. If and only if, you are completely satisfied, then ask the price. Of course you must have some prior data of that particular location's prevailing pricing (e.g per sq m) to be able to make comparisons - is that a fair deal or not?

That is an exercise in itself, appraisals are not the norm here. Watch also that when you make 'return offer', they will push you for a quick decision/sale (some even impose by a certain date/time) that 'someone' is also interested (usual tactic)....and its the practice that they do confine themselves to specific areas so that they are confident about rather than a wide spread...

Hope it helps...

@Swee Loke

So here is a summary of the struggle we have been running into. We go on many websites looking at for sale properties. For example lets say Dot Property. Just as an example we see a bunch of listings  between 4-5 billion VND for 2 bedrooms, 68sqm. They all look good so we start to reach out to the listing agent which is always my wife speaking to them in Vietnamese. If we reach out and its not an obvious scam then we talk with the realtor. The agent says... "yes please come take a look and I have multiple properties here to see". We set up a date and show up. We start looking through places same size, same view, same level of finishes and the  realtor starts saying things like... "this one is listed at 7 billion but I think we can bring the owner down to 6.5". Confused we ask what happened to the 4-5 billion listed. Realtor responds with "oh that's not the same place".  We respond "ok well lets see this place". Realtor responds saying that is an old listing and doesn't exist anymore. I'm confused because the listing was just posted last week. Also confused how the prices can jump so much so quickly. We then look through all the other places she has to show us and its the same story with every single one. The only ones even coming close to what we thought the price would be are completely torn up or unfinished places with the view facing into someone elses apartment. Nothing at all like the listings showing everything brand new and with a perfect view.

This has probably happened like 10 times now. Basically what I assume is going on is the agents are listing fake or low ball numbers, baiting people in and then showing around more expensive units or maybe just inflating the price all together. Its also possible as soon as they see us that add a very hefty foreigner tax of like 30-50%. Its hard to get a read on what the REAL prices are which is why we are so skeptical. I get this happening like once or twice but its happened every single time which has me thinking we are doing something terribly wrong here.

    @Swee Loke
So here is a summary of the struggle we have been running into. We go on many websites looking at for sale properties. For example lets say Dot Property. Just as an example we see a bunch of listings  between 4-5 billion VND for 2 bedrooms, 68sqm. They all look good so we start to reach out to the listing agent which is always my wife speaking to them in Vietnamese. If we reach out and its not an obvious scam then we talk with the realtor. The agent says... "yes please come take a look and I have multiple properties here to see". We set up a date and show up. We start looking through places same size, same view, same level of finishes and the  realtor starts saying things like... "this one is listed at 7 billion but I think we can bring the owner down to 6.5". Confused we ask what happened to the 4-5 billion listed. Realtor responds with "oh that's not the same place".  We respond "ok well lets see this place". Realtor responds saying that is an old listing and doesn't exist anymore. I'm confused because the listing was just posted last week. Also confused how the prices can jump so much so quickly. We then look through all the other places she has to show us and its the same story with every single one. The only ones even coming close to what we thought the price would be are completely torn up or unfinished places with the view facing into someone elses apartment. Nothing at all like the listings showing everything brand new and with a perfect view.

This has probably happened like 10 times now. Basically what I assume is going on is the agents are listing fake or low ball numbers, baiting people in and then showing around more expensive units or maybe just inflating the price all together. Its also possible as soon as they see us that add a very hefty foreigner tax of like 30-50%. Its hard to get a read on what the REAL prices are which is why we are so skeptical. I get this happening like once or twice but its happened every single time which has me thinking we are doing something terribly wrong here.
   

    -@jrharvey

Been there done that & its a mine field out there.

My advice................forget the listings on the internet & especially Dot Property I have had the same experience with them & half their listings are just bate to get you to a viewing. Drive around & look for a property development you like, go to the property management office or the investors office on site & they will have a list of properties for sale in that development & THE ASKING PRICE. If you go to the investors office they will then assign one of their employees to contact the owner & arrange a viewing. If you go to the management office there is a good chance that the agent they contact will be a free lancer working on commission so beware but at least you will know the real asking price before you do the viewing.

@goodolboy Wow thanks that sounds like some pretty sound advice especially since we have already narrowed it down to a few places we would like to live.

    @goodolboy Wow thanks that sounds like some pretty sound advice especially since we have already narrowed it down to a few places we would like to live.
   

    -@jrharvey

Thanks jrharvey & I just remembered another pretty sound rout to buy or rent & it actually does involve the internet. So as an example join a specific development group on FB. For example I live at Celadon City Diamond Brilliant Tan Phu (I rent)

On FB there are at least 5 or 6 groups that cover this Celadon City development & there are many owners advertise their flats for sale on there. Not all are owners, some free lance agents & some from the Investors office (Gamuda Land) & there is always a price to buy given.

As a bit of advice & caution from someone who watches the property market here on a daily basis (just a hobby really) but as an example here at Celadon City a 2 bed 2 wc 73m2 with balcony looking inward to the pools & garden before Covid were selling at about 3.7 billion & now 3.1 to 3.2 billion max!!

I own (& rent out) a 2 bed 2 wc 73m2 at D 12. Before Covid I was offered 2.1 billion for it & would have made a tidy profit (bought for 1.7 billion) but decided renting it out was a better option at the time. Same apartment now........max 1.75 billion.

@jrharvey : Yes, goodolboy has some sound advice. Try look for newly built developments.  It pays to get a broad view of certain 'hot' districts over the whole HCM because certain areas cater more for foreigners and others more for locals. It's quite common that areas nearer to District 1 are more expensive naturally. Ref Dist 2 and 7 are popular foreigners' haunts.  Please do not take business practice as done outside VN as the norm here as well -its entirely different, very jungle style and integrity is often quite out of the window.. .

very jungle style and integrity is often quite out of the window.. ......you said it
   

    -@Swee Loke

@jrharvey .May I suggest you try estate agent :

***

I have no experience with them, but hopefully,, they do have some 'integrity' to help somewhat...

All the best...

Me too would recommend maximum caution when buying property in Vietnam. In 2018 I started to look for an apartment in HCMC. At that time I worked in other Asian countries where listings on internet are pretty reliable so my main source of info was internet. My lady was very contrary to that, but I insisted and was quickly proven to be wrong. We checked a dozen of the listings and found NONE to correspond to the description. Some were total ruins, some were in small smelly backstreets, the price for some was double, some even were non existent. I was never present during talks with owner or agent as I know the price goes steeply up whenever the seller sees foreigner (me), be it in green market, be it for any other item.

So my lady went "her way" mainly through tsismis and corridor voices. Within 2-3 months she/we checked few apartments, mainly condos and high rise apartments. Finaly we (in fact she) decided for a standard 2-bed room, 2 WC 76 m2 flat in Emerald block B of Celadon City.

The buying itself was very stressful as the seller who was the owner (or "owner"), changed mind frequently: one day she wanted to sell, another she didnt want, the price already agreed was upped 30% the next day; today you talked to the owner or "owner" and tomorrow appears some random person etc. Finaly after many days all was agreed but than the owner (or "owner") asked to be payed in cash, contrary to what was previously agreed so my lady travelled from the province to HCMC, escorted by her brother and nephew with 1,9 billion CASH in her bag. Just crazy.

The location of Celadon City is not bad, the quality of the construction is so-so and the price was for that time (2nd half 2019) inflated but i understood usual for such apartment.  We spent about another USD 10.000 for bettering walls and fixtures, new kitchen/appliances and some new furniture. Just few months ago we had to replace laminated flooring in two rooms, totalling in 19 million.

The apartment is rented as we previously bought a house in the province which I honestly like more than HCMC. The rent will never pay the investment.

Overall my take is that buying property in Vietnam is not worth the stress, money and risk. The prices are greatly inflated and the quality of construction is doubtful. I would not bet that new buildings are of better quality than, say, 10 years ago. Plus, buying is like swimming in the pond full of crocodiles as cheating is usual part of the business.

    Me too would recommend maximum caution when buying property in Vietnam. In 2018 I started to look for an apartment in HCMC. At that time I worked in other Asian countries where listings on internet are pretty reliable so my main source of info was internet. My lady was very contrary to that, but I insisted and was quickly proven to be wrong. We checked a dozen of the listings and found NONE to correspond to the description. Some were total ruins, some were in small smelly backstreets, the price for some was double, some even were non existent. I was never present during talks with owner or agent as I know the price goes steeply up whenever the seller sees foreigner (me), be it in green market, be it for any other item.
So my lady went "her way" mainly through tsismis and corridor voices. Within 2-3 months she/we checked few apartments, mainly condos and high rise apartments. Finaly we (in fact she) decided for a standard 2-bed room, 2 WC 76 m2 flat in Emerald block B of Celadon City.

The buying itself was very stressful as the seller who was the owner (or "owner"), changed mind frequently: one day she wanted to sell, another she didnt want, the price already agreed was upped 30% the next day; today you talked to the owner or "owner" and tomorrow appears some random person etc. Finaly after many days all was agreed but than the owner (or "owner") asked to be payed in cash, contrary to what was previously agreed so my lady travelled from the province to HCMC, escorted by her brother and nephew with 1,9 billion CASH in her bag. Just crazy.

The location of Celadon City is not bad, the quality of the construction is so-so and the price was for that time (2nd half 2019) inflated but i understood usual for such apartment.  We spent about another USD 10.000 for bettering walls and fixtures, new kitchen/appliances and some new furniture. Just few months ago we had to replace laminated flooring in two rooms, totalling in 19 million.

The apartment is rented as we previously bought a house in the province which I honestly like more than HCMC. The rent will never pay the investment.

Overall my take is that buying property in Vietnam is not worth the stress, money and risk. The prices are greatly inflated and the quality of construction is doubtful. I would not bet that new buildings are of better quality than, say, 10 years ago. Plus, buying is like swimming in the pond full of crocodiles as cheating is usual part of the business.
   

    -@ruzuba1500

I think thats a great post & so true in many ways but just in my view...................a 2 bed 2wc 76m2 Celadon city Emerald Block B will sell easily for the give away price of 3 billion even at todays deflated prices. I moved to Celadon City Diamond Brilliant 3 months ago & was previously renting at Celadon City Emerald Block A in exactly the same Apartment you own & had to move out cos the owner sold the apartment & it was sold for 3.1 billion. Of course it depends on the outlook of the balcony (inward looking to gardens or outward looking to street). So for me I would be more than happy with a purchase price of 1.9 billion + say 250,000,000 upgrades & sell for even as low as 3,000,000,000 is a pretty good profit for 4 years ownership in todays market & that not taking into account the rent you have had.

Goodolboy,

thanks for your update. Honestly, i didnt think that in current cooling real estate market the apartment like that can sell for 3 billion. Due to the stress with buying I mentioned above, I was ready to abort everything and to talk out my lady to drop the deal (what is impossible, she is Vietnamese). However, it turned out that was not so bad deal because as you correctly noted, beside expenses & maintenance there's also monthly rent that comes in. We currently rent it for 10-11 million, which i think is decent amount considering really cooling market.

In spite of all cons, if somebody decides to buy a house, I would say now is right moment although I dont see a quick remedy in current downturn cycle meaning that the prices could drop more.

    Goodolboy,
thanks for your update. Honestly, i didnt think that in current cooling real estate market the apartment like that can sell for 3 billion. Due to the stress with buying I mentioned above, I was ready to abort everything and to talk out my lady to drop the deal (what is impossible, she is Vietnamese). However, it turned out that was not so bad deal because as you correctly noted, beside expenses & maintenance there's also monthly rent that comes in. We currently rent it for 10-11 million, which i think is decent amount considering really cooling market.
In spite of all cons, if somebody decides to buy a house, I would say now is right moment although I dont see a quick remedy in current downturn cycle meaning that the prices could drop more.
   

    -@ruzuba1500

Wish I had known about you place before, I was paying 12 million (un furnished) Emerald A2 + management fee. I was 3 years at Emerald ( block F & then Block A2) & really liked it, but now very happy at Diamond Brilliant.

But please remember there is a big difference in apartment value at Emerald depending in the view. The apartment I quoted that I was renting & sold for 3.1 billion was garden view, but still I really think you would get 3 billion even for street view.

Wish I had known about you place before, I was paying 12 million (un furnished) Emerald A2 + management fee. I was 3 years at Emerald ( block F & then Block A2) & really liked it, but now very happy at Diamond Brilliant.
   

    -@goodolboy

How's life in that area in general? Is it relatively quiet? How long is it by motorbike let's say you want to get to Q3 or Q1?

    Wish I had known about you place before, I was paying 12 million (un furnished) Emerald A2 + management fee. I was 3 years at Emerald ( block F & then Block A2) & really liked it, but now very happy at Diamond Brilliant.        -@goodolboy

How's life in that area in general? Is it relatively quiet? How long is it by motorbike let's say you want to get to Q3 or Q1?
   

    -@WillyBaldy

Celadon City life is good for me anyways. I look at as a hidden oasis & where I live in Diamond Brilliant now its very quiet for now anyways cos the development is only about 70% occupied.

I did a trip yesterday from here to Phan Xich Long St in Phu Nhuan (to meet an old friend of the Forum "Colin" just back from OZ for a short break) & it took no more than 20 minutes (but yesterday it was still quiet after TET) On even a busy day I can do the airport in about 25 minutes & D2 in about 50 minutes driving like a Vietnamese using the side walk a lot & using the old Mobylette. District 3 in about 30 minutes but its a big district so depends where.

Although I am not particularly fond of living in HCMC, Celadon City location is rather decent, has good portion of green and relatively tranquil, I would say, taking into consideration that it is in the midst of the big city. If somebody anyway decide to buy an apartment in this development, I feel the choice is good location wise while for all other elements, one must do really careful evaluation.

Goodolboy,

thanks for additional info. Our flat has garden view but is in 5th floor what affects the value. Diamond is however better located as the most of apartments have garden view, for that is also more expensive, I think.

My understanding is that you live in rented apartment, may I ask why you didnt opt to buy one? Is it because of aforesaid doubts or some other reasons?     

My understanding is that you live in rented apartment, may I ask why you didnt opt to buy one? Is it because of aforesaid doubts or some other reasons?     
   

    -@ruzuba1500

Personally I would not buy again. If you had asked me that question before Covid I would have given you a different answer. I bought (using a lawyer) an apartment in D12 about 5 years ago when I had a "TRC" & at first it was all good, however I quickly realized I had gone into the transaction with blinkers. Every weekend one family had a tent erected in the street below & the karaoke would start at full volume & the main event was this woman screaming & wailing most of the night & even although we were on the 15th floor & with all the doors & windows closed you could not here the TV for the excruciating noise! Then there were the neighbours wives shouting to each other from their door ways & kids screaming up & down the hallway (Ms My thought it was just normal life in Vietnam & did not see a problem) but I decided I had enough & we moved to first off Emerald block F & then Emerald block A2 & now Diamond Brilliant. I am happy just to rent now as its less complicated but even renting for the un initiated in Vietnam can be a mine field if you are not careful. Like I said before its quiet here at Diamond as the place is only 70% occupied so no noisy neighbours or screaming kids etc & Karaoke is not allowed inside the complex.

We rent out the apartment at D12 & thats a whole different story & experience that would take hours to tell believe me!!

Celadon City life is good for me anyways. I look at as a hidden oasis & where I live in Diamond Brilliant now its very quiet for now anyways cos the development is only about 70% occupied.

I did a trip yesterday from here to Phan Xich Long St in Phu Nhuan (to meet an old friend of the Forum "Colin" just back from OZ for a short break) & it took no more than 20 minutes (but yesterday it was still quiet after TET) On even a busy day I can do the airport in about 25 minutes & D2 in about 50 minutes driving like a Vietnamese using the side walk a lot & using the old Mobylette. District 3 in about 30 minutes but its a big district so depends where.
   

    -@goodolboy

Thanks for the info, it's really appreciated. It's a bit OT but I'm planning for my next 6 months+ stay and it's either Saigon or Rạch Giá (which is like my second hometown) and I love living in a small city close to the ocean *but* there's also a lot of drawbacks that come with this. Celadon City could alleviate the biggest issue I've got with Saigon which is the noise and pollution.

Two last questions:

1) is the area around Celadon City still pretty "local"? Like, local street restaurants and no crazy expat prices like you'll find in Q2? I'll send my Vietnamese friend from my city she's in Saigon at the moment so she can scout for me but I'd like to have your input since you've  been there for quite a while.

2) What prices could I expect in Diamond for let's say a one bedroom?

Thanks again.

Every weekend one family had a tent erected in the street below & the karaoke would start at full volume & the main event was this woman screaming & wailing most of the night & even although we were on the 15th floor & with all the doors & windows closed you could not here the TV for the excruciating noise!

My Goodness this is my biggest fear in Vietnam. I once had an apartment in a small quiet city but they erected a pre-Tet bingo area just around the corner and they started screaming and singing bingo/lottery numbers every evening for weeks. There's almost nowhere safe!

    Every weekend one family had a tent erected in the street below & the karaoke would start at full volume & the main event was this woman screaming & wailing most of the night & even although we were on the 15th floor & with all the doors & windows closed you could not here the TV for the excruciating noise!

My Goodness this is my biggest fear in Vietnam. I once had an apartment in a small quiet city but they erected a pre-Tet bingo area just around the corner and they started screaming and singing bingo/lottery numbers every evening for weeks. There's almost nowhere safe!
   

    -@WillyBaldy

Best solution we've found so far has been living in a detached house on the rice fields of Hội An.

Not perfect, as there was still some karaoke by our neighbors, but the combination of excellent soundproofing by a wise landlord (hoping to rent to foreigners) and the physical distance between structures did a great job of making the noise of an occasional karaoke outbreak manageable.

Also the bedrooms were in the back of the house with only rice fields behind us, so we could usually sleep through any noise out front.

We would still be there if our daughters hadn't started university studies in Đà Nẵng.

I realize that finding a suitably quiet house in an urban area is nearly impossible (we have a really noisy nextdoor neighbor here in Đà Nẵng) but we will probably never consider living in an apartment again.

Anyone with wide-open options as to where to live in Việt Nam would do well to explore well beyond the confines of major urban areas.

Two last questions:

OK Willie, I will try to say it as it is & as I see it but it will be as honest as I can make it in my reply.....…

1)…….Please remember that Celadon City is on the main flight path for TSN so for some people that would be a big problem & when I first looked at moving here I too thought that would be a problem for me,  but after a week living here I found I hardly heard them & they don't bother me at all now.

1) is the area around Celadon City still pretty "local"? Like, local street restaurants and no crazy expat prices like you'll find in Q2? I'll send my Vietnamese friend from my city she's in Saigon at the moment so she can scout for me but I'd like to have your input since you've  been there for quite a while. ..........................yes outside is still totally "local" & has not changed for years. I can still get a big bowel of Pho for 30kvnd, Buncha Ha Noi for 40kvnd Banh Mi 20 to 20k vnd & cafe sua for 15 to 20kvnd & coffee latte hot for 35kvnd for example. There are some up market & up priced shops opening inside Celadon City especially at Diamond Brilliant & Diamond Alnata on the boulevard. (Starbucks for example) However inside Emerald & Ruby there are still some small ma n pa grocery shops where the prices are similar to the street markets which as you know there are many!

My Apartment in Brilliant looks out over the gardens & on to Celadon Park & at the weekends you can hear parties on going but no Karaoke is allowed inside Celadon City.

However on special holidays like Teacher Day & pre TETE  for example, inside Emerald & Ruby there are some pretty noisy organised events with like party hosts screaming & shouting into microphones with the amp volumes at max but thankfully they are few & far between & strictly shut down at or before 10pm

2) What prices could I expect in Diamond for let's say a one bedroom? ...............Have to say from my information there are no 1 bedroom apartments at Brilliant or Alnata so cant comment.

My 2 bed 2 shower unfurnished (has 3 air con, hot water & kitchen units) brand new place is 15 million a month but the deal I have is there is no Management fee for 3 years if I manage to live & stay here that long

My first apartment at Emerald block F was again 2 bed  2 wc/shower & that was 10 million but the management fee averaged 1.3 million per month.

My second apartment at Emerald Block A2 was again 2 bed  2 wc/shower & was 12 million & the management fee averaged 1.3 million per month.

I think you should get a 1 bed rental with furniture at Emerald for about 10 million but remember the one beds at Emerald are basically a partition in the lounge forming the bed area!

If you join one of the Celadon City groups on FB you will see most of the rentals available there either from the owners or agents. But again as a bit of a warning......what you see on a photo is not always what you get when you do a viewing!!!!

example

good luck

Alan C

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2026172974166997

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1605916393190731

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1277468115776768

Thanks again.
   

    -@WillyBaldy

Every weekend one family had a tent erected in the street below & the karaoke would start at full volume & the main event was this woman screaming & wailing most of the night & even although we were on the 15th floor & with all the doors & windows ............     block A2 & now Diamond Brilliant.

========

Goodolboy,

I could say wow! but I will not since this is quite common occurrence in Vn. Not to the extend you experienced but noise is often big problem. That is one of the reasons why I multiple times said not to like living in HCMC and prefer province although in the province people are also easily out of control. E.g., in my case, neighbours from time to time have birthdays, weddings and pre-festive gatherings with karaoke full volume. Plus at the back of the house we have a family that gathers some 2-3 times per month, usually Sunday, and at about 3pm they start with full throttle karaoke that our windows tremble and flowers wither. It is not only noise: there is nobody among them that can carry a single sound, let alone a tune so I can honestly say their singing is awful. But LUCKILY they drink a lot and based on magnitude of their out-of-tune howling I can judge how long they can continue. Usually, if they start at 3pm, at 7pm they are already all under the table dead drunk. Even in the wildest fiesta they didnt make it to 9pm. Silence after that is healing! But for the rest, with exception of some really loud snot nose kids (genuine village kids haha) and street vendors the place is tranquil.

As for HCMC, noise pollution is constant but Celadon City is bearable. Good thing is that loud music is forbidden after 10pm, but a lot depends on imminent neighbours. We were so far lucky, the most of neighbours in our building are cultured people and to me looks that majority of people is such. But again, I am province dweller so I have little experience in Celadon City.         

If you join one of the Celadon City groups on FB you will see most of the rentals available there either from the owners or agents. But again as a bit of a warning......what you see on a photo is not always what you get when you do a viewing!!!!

Wow thanks for your detailed message. Regadring the noise from planes, actually I really don't mind "stable" noises like trains or airplanes. I usually sleep with a loud "white noise" machine and it's mostly "random" noises that disturb me and the biggest culprit for me is the engines from motorbikes and of course Karaoke nights.

Thanks again for this wealth of information, lots of food for thought.

Its funny. Ive become so use to the loud noises I get really freaked out when I leave Vietnam. Its just too quiet and freaks me out. There's nothing peaceful about too quiet for me but it could just be my ADD brain.

    If you join one of the Celadon City groups on FB you will see most of the rentals available there either from the owners or agents. But again as a bit of a warning......what you see on a photo is not always what you get when you do a viewing!!!!

Wow thanks for your detailed message. Regadring the noise from planes, actually I really don't mind "stable" noises like trains or airplanes. I usually sleep with a loud "white noise" machine and it's mostly "random" noises that disturb me and the biggest culprit for me is the engines from motorbikes and of course Karaoke nights.

Thanks again for this wealth of information, lots of food for thought.
   

    -@WillyBaldy

It's screaming kids that does it for me.....not happy screaming & just kids having fun, but the high pitch  screaming tantrum stuff that does my head in & off tune karaoke noises of course. Having spent half my working life at sea, background big engine & oil drilling type noises don't even register.

    Its funny. Ive become so use to the loud noises I get really freaked out when I leave Vietnam. Its just too quiet and freaks me out. There's nothing peaceful about too quiet for me but it could just be my ADD brain.
   

    -@jrharvey

What's ADD?

        Its funny. Ive become so use to the loud noises I get really freaked out when I leave Vietnam. Its just too quiet and freaks me out. There's nothing peaceful about too quiet for me but it could just be my ADD brain.         -@jrharvey

What's ADD?
   

    -@goodolboy

I'd say "Attention Deficit Disorder"

@jrharvey

You and your wife could buy apartment or house in both of your name in Vietnam.

The properties must be done by a wellknow developer like Novoland and  make sure the projects that carryout by that developer meets requirements to sell for foreigner.

If you don't mind, pls keep in touch. I might got time to help both of you.