Questions about housing options from a first time visitor.

Let's mention where you are dreaming the impossible:
(1) Short term rental: Anything that rents 'long term' is usually in the one-year range;
(2) Room rental with separate access: Rare as chicken's teeth;
(3) Even hotels require deposits (or your passport) so why should they take a risk on you?
(4) Deposit: Not all Landlords are crooks. Again, why should they take a risk on you?
(5) Apartment: Definitely out of the question;
(6) Simple, decent (clean) hotel room: About USD$12-15/day in Pham Ngu Lao - the backpacker slum in Quan 1;
(7) What makes you think Quan 5 or 10 is cheaper?
(8) SRO's: Only if you don't get lucky;
(9) $200-$400 per month price range. You're joking (except for a room with a common entrance);
(10) Amenities such as A/C, a small kitchen or at least mini refrigerator, cable TV, internet connection and things like that). You're joking;

f you want a realistic take on accommodation, check out: < http://vietnam.craigslist.org/roo/ >, < http://vietnam.craigslist.org/apa/ >

Hi, Thank you for your reply. I have read about having to leave your passport with the management when you check into a hotel and am willing to do that if that is what is required but had not read about having to pay a (significant) deposit so assumed one would not be needed if staying at a hotel.

The private entrance thing just has to do with my not wanting to end up in a situation where I am living in a house with some kids or elderly people or if I return home late at night I will be disturbing some family or would get funny looks from the head of the household when I bring a female friend over to visit and even funnier looks when I bring another female friend over to visit on another day...If I were renting a room in a boarding type of house I wouldn't care about the separate entrance issue as much (which is also why I also asked about SROs).

I understand that not all landlords are crooks but I have read numerous postings here and elsewhere from people who had difficulty getting their deposits back in Vietnam (and have seen similar difficulties experienced by foreign students living in Mexico) and when these kinds of difficulties do arise I think it is much easier to deal with them if you are moving to another place in the same city (hell now that I think of it it has twice taken me over 2 months to get deposits back - well over the legal time limit - here in San Diego while doing everything I could to get them back from here in town) rather than if you are moving oversees and planning on getting your deposit back a day or two before departure (which is why those who are crooks often target tourists and visitors).

So because of the short duration of this first trip I assumed a hotel or SRO type of place (both of which I am still assuming would not likely charge 1 or 2 months deposit, am I wrong?) would be a better option.

I didn't think Districts 5 and 10 would be the cheapest those are just the ones I think I would most like to live in based on the information I have now. I know a lot of students live in District 10, my friend is one, she rents a room for $100 a month (plus utilities). Why is it unreasonable for me to think I can find something decent for $400 or less in a city where the average person makes a little over $2,000 per year? Please explain what I am missing. Thank you.

"(8) SRO's: Only if you don't get lucky;"

What does this mean? Are there SROs in HCMC (for those who don't know an SRO is a private oftentimes unfurnished or sparsely furnished room such as a bare-bones hotel room which will often have it's own bathroom attached but no kitchen, basically like a hotel except only weekly and/or monthly rates are offered and no maid service. Here in San Diego - one of the most expensive counties for housing in the U.S. - there are a couple of decent ones around the $500 mo. range)?


"You're joking;"

I am very serious.

BTW didn't you respond to another thread where someone asked about cost of living by saying that they would need $1,500-$2,500 per month to rent a "decent 2 bedroom apartment"? I'm sorry but that makes no sense to me (I think we must just be coming from vastly different experiences/standards of living).

How can it cost the average annual salary of a Vietnamese person (between 1k and 2k USD throughout the country, between 2k and 3k in HCMC) just to rent a decent apartment for one month? I could probably count the number of U.S. cities where that would be an appropriate estimation on one hand with some fingers left over (again San Diego is one of the most expensive counties in the country and you would still be spending on the lower end of that range for a decent 2 bedroom here).

I understand that for $400 I may not get every amenity listed (you mentioned hotel rooms at $12-$15 a day...are they really bad or something? Because that is about $400 a month...do these types of places sometimes offer weekly or monthly rates?) but I know basic cable, internet and utilities don't cost a lot because my friend pays about $50 a month or so for all.

I will check out craigslist as you mentioned. I do plan on looking at some more ads before I go but it is nice to get feedback from people that will not be included in the ads. Thanks again (and to all who respond to this thread).

I didn't even know they had craigslist HCMC...

One thing that concerns me is that I know when I was looking for places here in San Diego I saw a lot of ads which were obviously bogus (large spacious/nicely furnished apartments for well under $1,000 a month) so started reading online about what kinds of scams the people who put them up were running...

Let's use this ad as an example. Is this a realistic price for this place or is it more likely some sort of scam?

"A room has WC with bath-tub, balcony, bed, closet, working-desk, fridge, TV , hot water generator, air-conditioner..
-the renting price is $300USD /month.
including cleaning-service, laundry-service, maid-service, free water, gas, internet, cable TV. The electricity price is very low (3000 VND/ kwh)"

< http://vietnam.craigslist.org/roo/3398919066.html >

Nam_ wrote:

... had not read about having to pay a (significant) deposit so assumed one would not be needed if staying at a hotel.

... would get funny looks from the head of the household when I bring a female friend over to visit ...

I didn't think Districts 5 and 10 would be the cheapest those are just the ones I think I would most like to live in based on the information I have now. I know a lot of students live in District 10, my friend is one, she rents a room for $100 a month (plus utilities)...

A. I dare say you could get accommodation based on leaving your passport as security and paying your account weekly.

B & C. You are unlikely to get permission to reside with an unrelated (through marriage) family. Ditto with students residences.

Students residences can be as sparse as a large room / hall / dormitory which has been subdivided into roomettes with curtains as doors.

Overriding all these considerations is the approval of the Cong An (Peoples Police). They have ultimate say whether you can reside anywhere.

The Cong An would never let a Foreigner stay at a residence designated for students, subsidised housing and, at least in HCM, in a room with a VNese family. This happens when application has been made or in remote areas.

Nam_ wrote:

"(8) SRO's: Only if you don't get lucky;"

If you score - which means it wiill have at least double occupancy.

We are not in San Diego.

Nam_ wrote:

... you respond to another thread where someone asked about cost of living by saying that ...

I don't always double answer questions.

Nam_ wrote:

How can it cost the average annual salary of a Vietnamese person (between 1k and 2k USD throughout the country, between 2k and 3k in HCMC)

When you have an extended family squeezed into a small apartment (some don't even have individual facilities)means they can spend a little more on rent.

Nam_ wrote:

... for $400 I may not get every amenity listed (you mentioned hotel rooms at $12-$15 a day...are they really bad or something? Because that is about $400 a month...do these types of places sometimes offer weekly or monthly rates?)

I know an older government hotel that offers twin beds, bathroom (with tub), fridge, cable TV. InterNet in the lobby. Visitors are permitted in the room until 22.30H - with ID card/passport) (reporting time)

I rent a two-bedroom condo as an office for $400/month+++ but on an annual lease.

Nam_ wrote:

I know basic cable, internet and utilities don't cost a lot because my friend pays about $50 a month or so for all.

Cable TV is pretty well the same for all suppliers ($5); InterNet up to $50/month; other utilities based on use.

Jaitch wrote:

Overriding all these considerations is the approval of the Cong An (Peoples Police). They have ultimate say whether you can reside anywhere.

The Cong An would never let a Foreigner stay at a residence designated for students, subsidised housing and, at least in HCM, in a room with a VNese family. This happens when application has been made or in remote areas.

Oh okay. I had read something about this on a blog but the person said that even though certain types of places weren't supposed to rent to foreigners (because of regulations that hotels for foreigners must have A/C and other amenities) that many did anyway and that you just had to ask...maybe I got the impression from reading it that it was less of a big deal than it really is.

I also read something about foreigners not being allowed to spend the night with a Vietnamese person they are not married to but when I asked a friend about it she just laughed it off and said that it was not really enforced. And when I was looking into doing study abroad in Vietnam the housing accommodations (in Hanoi) were home-stay but perhaps there is special permission there.

So how am I supposed to know where I can/cannot stay according to the People's Police or whatever? Is there a place where you go and ask them?

I did read something online that said that when you check into a hotel that they report to the authorities that you are staying there. So does that mean if you do not check into a hotel which is officially licensed to house foreigners that raises some sort of red flag (pun not originally intended but I do find it mildly amusing nonetheless) or something?

Please advise. I just want to know what my options are without getting myself or anyone else in trouble.

Thanks again.

Hi,
Sorry to bother both of u but this argurment just makes me sick.
I dont know other housing options but with 400usd/month, a room with facilities in a hotel in District 10 is affortable. I know pretty nice one. Air conditioner, kitchen, bed, cabe, internet,... Though it s located in Dis.10, it s not so far from Dis.1. Of cource it will be pretty expensive if u stay a few days but if u r willing to stay one month or things like that, i guess u can deal w the owner, 400 is impossible i think. Good place.My name s Nguyen.

nhim_8x wrote:

Hi,
Sorry to bother both of u but this argurment just makes me sick.

No argument, just questions and answers.

nhim_8x wrote:

I dont know other housing options but with 400usd/month, a room with facilities in a hotel in District 10 is affortable. I know pretty nice one. Air conditioner, kitchen, bed, cabe, internet,... Though it s located in Dis.10, it s not so far from Dis.1.

Quan 10 is a long haul by taxi to Q1 and will add substantially to cost of living for 6 weeks, especially since hotels are available on Ha Bai Trung(hotel), Le Thanh Ton(equipped room)[both in Ben Nghi Ward] for this price as well as PNL(hotel). You can get a bed for under USD$6 in PNL.

I just tell him the place i know that might be helpful. That hotel s in Hoa Hung Str., Dist.10 according to his request, not to far from Dis. 1. As i said, Its not the most ideal, just an option. If u know some place better, show him.
Anyway, Jaitch, r u really from Buon Ma thuot? Its interesting that its my hometown, hehe, what a coincidence!

I think it's quite possible.I know the price in HCMC is even cheaper than here.

Nam check your PM. I might be looking to sublet my one bedroom studio in D1 during the winter months since I have another place to stay and probly won't use it

Hello JVo18, you should post an advert in the Housing in Ho Chi Minh section.

Thank you,
Aurélie

Hi,

I'm Sally.Are you male of female?

Do you have any phone when visiting Vn. I'm staying district 1 in bui Vien Street.If you want, can share a room with me.i'm finding a female

Nam_ wrote:

Hi,

I will be visiting Vietnam for the first time this winter and will probably be spending the entire time (just under 6 weeks) in HCMC.

I would like to know what are the different inexpensive housing options available. I do not want to rent a room in someone else's home unless there is a separate entrance and it is completely private. I also do not want to rent a place where a deposit is required because I do not want to deal with a big hassle/fight over getting the money back so for that reason and because of the short duration I think an apartment would probably be out of the question.

What kind of price range would I be looking at for a simple but decent (clean) hotel room(I am thinking in District 5 or 10)?

Do they have SROs (Single Room Occupancy) hotels in HCMC that are reasonably clean and safe?

I would like to get an idea what my options would be in the $200-$400 per month price range (I would prefer to spend on the lower end of that range and am not picky as long as I can get a clean room with a decent bed. If I were to spend on the higher end I would hope to have amenities such as A/C, a small kitchen or at least mini refrigerator, cable TV, internet connection and things like that).

If folks could give me an idea of what kinds of places are available at the lower and higher end of my budget I would really appreciate it!

Thanks.