Introduction

There is no shortage of short-term and long-term accommodation options in Vietnam. Whether you are staying for a few weeks, a few months, or a few years, housing is cheap, diverse, flexible and easy to find. Whether you are looking to save money and live modestly or enjoy the high life in luxury serviced apartments, you are sure to find something suitable in a short space of time.

If you are looking to save money in the short run, countless affordable and clean budget guesthouses offer a great service at tiny prices.  These are usually run by families, and if you are lucky you might get invited to dine with the family from time to time.  Most rooms have a mini-fridge stocked with water, soft drinks and beer which you can purchase as you go.  Bills can be settled daily, weekly or monthly depending upon the agreement that you make with the proprietors upon arrival.  These agreements can also be modified if you want to stay longer, move rooms, etc.  Some guesthouses will offer a breakfast of fruit and/ or baguettes in the morning.

For a few more dollars, mid-range hotels abound all over the country, so if you want to get out of the main backpacker area this is a great option.  Rooms usually have private bathrooms and include breakfast where you can expect a choice of fruit, breads and Asian fare such as rice porridge and noodle soup.

At the top end of hotel accommodation you will find four and five star hotels that do not disappoint!  These offer large, luxurious rooms with all the amenities you would expect from a 1st class hotel anywhere else in the world including swimming pools, room service, spas and fitness centres, exquisite buffets and magnificent roof top bars and views. 

In the long term you might want to opt for a shared apartment or house. Vietnamese houses are highly affordable and boast modern amenities including washing machine, hot water, fully fitted kitchens etc. A newly refurbished 5 bedroom house, each room with its own individual bathroom, with living room, kitchen and roof top terrace costs on average US$200 per room per month and the choice of locations is endless.  

Alternatively, individual serviced apartments are also numerous and offer concierge service including cleaning and laundry and 24 hour reception and security on top of providing the most modern and tasteful fixtures and fittings that you would expect from luxury accommodation in your home town.

Once you have found a place that suits you, it’s time to sign a contract and pay a deposit. Contracts are usually one year long and include a detailed inventory and the terms of payment. The deposit is usually two or three months rent which is returned at the end of the lease. The process of finding a place to live is highly comparable to most western systems except that you can expect the process to be much faster and a great deal less expensive!