Airbnb rules & returns in Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Radek Kucharski / CC BY 2.0
Short stays here were frozen for about a year. HCMC's Decision 19/2026/QD-UBND (effective 25 April 2026) reopened them for apartments whose approved use allows it.
Not legal advice
ShortStay Compass is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules change often. Confirm with the official source, your building management and a licensed local professional before you buy, list or host.
Rules
Rules file · Ho Chi Minh City
As of 2026-10-18
- Decision 19/2026/QD-UBND, Article 12: an apartment may be exploited in line with its category, approved function and design dossier. Leasing a tourist apartment requires registering as a tourist accommodation facility.
- Residential apartments still can't be used for non-residential purposes (Housing Law 2023).
- Foreign owners must file a lease notification with the commune People's Committee.
Sources
As of 2026-10-18
- Is Airbnb-Style Short-Term Apartment Rental Legal in Vietnam? · DEDICA Law Firm (10 Aug 2026) · accessed 2026-10-18
- HCM City reopens short-term apartment rental market under new rules · Viet Nam News (15 May 2026) · accessed 2026-10-18
Market estimates
Estimates, not projections
Ho Chi Minh City
Aug 2025 – Jul 2026 (trailing 12 months)
- ADR
- $62 Estimate
- Median ADR
- $46 Estimate
- Occupancy
- 34% Estimate
- Annual revenue / listing
- $4,807 Estimate
- Active listings
- 6,233 Estimate
Setup & management costs
Management fees
| Manager | Fee as published | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Carebnb+ | 20% of the nightly rate (full-service plan) | View |
Setup and furnishing Estimate
As of 2026-10-18
| Item | Local range | US$ range | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furnishing (studio) | VND 90,000,000–100,000,000 | US$ 3,480–3,867 | Studio checklist: furniture ~40m, electronics ~35m, decor and supplies ~15m, plus ~10m contingency and internet set-up. Smart lock is listed inside this budget. | |
| Licensing & registration | VND 0–300,000 | US$ 0–12 | Government fees only: household-business registration is VND 0 when filed online; security-and-order conditions appraisal fee VND 300,000. Advisers, fire-safety work and the city's 2026 short-stay rules are extra. | |
| Listing photos | Not yet sourced | Not yet sourced | Not yet sourced | Not yet sourced |
| Smart lock & basics | Not yet sourced | Not yet sourced | Not yet sourced | Not yet sourced |
Setup cost ranges are estimates compiled from published guides, retailer prices and official fee schedules, as of 2026-10-18. US$ conversions use mid-market rates on 18 Oct 2026 (open.er-api.com): US$1 = PHP 63.03, THB 33.43, IDR 18,014, MYR 4.08, VND 25,861, JPY 158.0. They exclude the property price, deposits and renovation unless stated. Where we found no solid source the item says "Not yet sourced".
Local managers
Tools for hosts
All host tools →- Hospitable
For running listings
- Airbtics
For market and revenue research
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Run the numbers for Ho Chi Minh City
Open the calculatorPostcards from the rulebook
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