What tenant rights do renters have in Vietnam in 2026?

Articles 162–163 of the 2023 Housing Law require a housing contract in writing that identifies parties, property, price, term, handover, and rights. Article 164 says notarisation is optional unless the parties agree otherwise. Deposit size is not capped by a universal residential statute; one or two months is market custom. Civil Code Article 328 treats a deposit as security for concluding or performing a contract: if the landlord unlawfully refuses to perform, the default rule can require return of the deposit plus an equivalent amount unless the contract says otherwise. Detail on money clauses sits in rental contracts and deposits.

Landlords should hand over a usable home and usually cover structural failures; tenants pay rent on time, use the property carefully, and cover damage beyond ordinary wear unless the lease reallocates those duties. In a chung cư, confirm who pays phí quản lý and parking: Condominium fees.

State notice periods, early-exit triggers, electricity rate per kWh, deposit return deadline, inventory rules, and what happens if the owner sells mid-lease. Use VND bank transfers with clear purpose lines. The Vietnamese text usually controls in a dispute, so align bilingual versions before you pay: How to rent a home. Verify the lessor's right to let: Avoid rental scams.

Hosts must support tạm trú registration for foreign guests; treat that as a practical right you enforce at move-in, not a favour: Register temporary residence. Corridor-specific tactics differ in Renting in Ho Chi Minh City, Renting in Hanoi, and Renting in Da Nang.

If a deposit fight sticks, preserve the lease, receipts, Zalo or email threads, and handover photos. Ask the local ward People's Committee to mediate before you escalate to a civil claim. Significant sums need independent Vietnamese legal advice because forum and translation choices affect enforcement.