What costs do you pay when buying property in Vietnam in 2026?

Developers selling new chung cư (apartment building) stock commonly quote value-added tax separately from the base unit price. Contracts also allocate a maintenance fund (quỹ bảo trì) contribution for shared building works, often expressed as a percentage of the apartment value in marketing materials.

Payment schedules follow the Real Estate Business Law protections for off-plan sales. Verify what is due at signing, on construction milestones, and at handover before you treat a promotional "zero deposit" banner as complete.

Secondary sales add registration and certificate work, notary or legal fees where parties choose them, and tax lines allocated in the contract. Personal income tax on property transfers is commonly discussed at around 2% of the transfer price for individual sellers, but your contract and advisor must confirm the exact allocation between buyer and seller.

Budget ongoing condominium fees from handover day, not only closing day.

If you finance through a Vietnamese institution, add appraisal, insurance, and loan arrangement charges the bank lists: Foreigner mortgage. State Bank foreign-exchange rules still govern how offshore funds enter the transaction.

Use an independent Vietnamese property lawyer to map every fee line against the provincial project list and remaining foreign quota before you sign.