Tuesday, 24/2/2026 | 08:58 GMT+7

How can my foreign boyfriend buy the apartment he is currently renting?

My American colleague and boyfriend, an English teacher in TP HCM, has lived and worked in Vietnam for about 5 years.

An American expatriate in Ho Chi Minh City is seeking legal guidance on purchasing the apartment he has been renting, navigating the complexities of Vietnamese property law for foreigners. He has resided and worked in Vietnam for about five years as an English teacher. For many years, he has rented an apartment in An Khanh ward, formerly District 2. The owner recently decided to sell, and he wishes to buy it due to its convenient location and his long-term plans to live in Vietnam. However, he is unsure about the legal procedures and specific conditions for foreign property ownership.

Reader Mai Lan, seeking clarification for her boyfriend, has formally requested a lawyer's advice regarding the direct purchase of the apartment. She asks if her friend can directly sign the purchase contract with the current owner. If direct purchase is not possible, she wants to know under what categories foreigners are permitted to buy property and the necessary procedures involved.

Reader Mai Lan

>> Lawyer Ha Hai advises

By VnExpress: https://vnexpress.net/lam-the-nao-de-ban-trai-nguoi-nuoc-ngoai-mua-lai-can-ho-dang-thue-5039991.html

Tags: foreigner legal advice foreign property ownership in Vietnam Housing Law 2023

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