Guide to Renting an Apartment in Da Nang

I’ve rented several apartments in Da Nang since 2018, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. I’ve lived in noisy apartments and quiet ones. I’ve had places where I was constantly dealing with ants or the occasional cockroach, and others that never had a single bug.

An apartment may look great, but then you move in only to find the next-door neighbor loves his karaoke. He and his friends will set up a speaker, blast music, and have a great time singing terribly at the expense of everyone in audio range. Welcome to Vietnam!

What follows is a collection of tips that I’ve learned from renting apartments in Da Nang and elsewhere in Vietnam. If you have any questions about apartment rentals in Da Nang, ask me in my Da Nang travel planning group.

Where to Live in Da Nang

This is probably the biggest question people have, and the one that people planning to move to Da Nang ask me the most. On a high level, the two choices are near the beach or in the city. There are a lot of serviced apartments near the beach (more on these later). In the city, you have a lot of options for renting a house, plus some serviced apartments, and then bigger condominiums.

When people ask me, my advice is always to book a hotel or an Airbnb for a few days or a week or two to explore some areas. I would advise against committing to an apartment (by wiring a rental deposit) while being in another country. Come here and view some places (and different areas) in person. A good budget hotel to base yourself while you explore is the Fivitel Da Nang (Agoda / Booking).

Here’s my guide to where to stay in Da Nang, which details the areas. It’s important to know that getting around Da Nang is easy. You can get between the beach and the city in less than 10 minutes. No matter where you end up living, it’s easy to access all of Da Nang by using a scooter or hiring Grab taxis. So it’s about finding a suitable apartment, in a good neighborhood that you personally vibe with.

Avoid Wiring Money From Abroad

I mentioned this quickly, but it’s worth its own section. I would strongly avoid wiring any money or committing to renting an apartment before arriving in Da Nang. It opens you up to being scammed or making a bad decision based on misleading photos and videos, which may be outdated (more on this further down). You want to view the unit in person and visit the surrounding area. Book a short stay at a hotel or Airbnb to explore first.

An exception to this is if you’ve gotten a referral from friends who live in a building that has a unit coming available. In this case, if you wire money to an owner, you at least have an ally (your friend) to confirm your payment, and you hopefully trust your friend’s judgment on the quality of the unit and its neighborhood.

I’ve rented units in bigger buildings that have had dedicated management staff who would take deposits from people before they arrived in Vietnam. This one in particular was a well-run building, with good staff, and current tenants were recommending their friends to move in when they arrived in Vietnam. Use connections if possible, and ask for referrals. It will save a lot of potential headaches.

Definitely don’t wire any money to an agent you found on Facebook.

Most Rentals are Serviced Apartments

Most of the units you’ll find available for rent will be what’s called “serviced apartments.” This means that, included in the rental price, there will be a cleaning service and Wi-Fi. The cleaning service is usually once or twice per week. What they do varies, but it usually consists of cleaning the apartment and changing the bed sheets and pillow cases.

Some people prefer to clean themselves without being bothered by a cleaner. You can still rent these serviced apartments and ask for no cleaning. A lot of apartments will ask when you want your cleaning, while others will tell you the time. Many owners are flexible, so you can arrange your cleaning at a time when you’re out of the apartment if you want.

There are condos for rent, too. These will be in high-rise buildings, like the Hiyori or the Monarchy. These won’t be serviced, and you might be renting from an owner overseas or who lives elsewhere in Vietnam. You’ll be on your own for cleaning and changing sheets/linens here.

In all cases, you’ll have to pay for your own electricity. The most expensive cost will be the air conditioner. In the hottest months in Da Nang (June, July, August), I’ve run the AC nearly all day and night, and my electric bill has hit close to 2.000.000 VND. During the cooler months, about 1.000.000 VND to 1.500.000 VND is normal.

In a serviced apartment, the landlord will take a picture of your unit’s meter, then calculate your usage off that. They’ll tally your electric bill, then add it to your monthly invoice.

Apartment Rental Costs

The cost of apartment rentals in Da Nang varies. I’ve rented fully furnished one-bedroom apartments for 7.500.000 VND ($290 USD). I’ve also rented a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment for 10.000.000 VND ($390 USD). These were serviced, with cleaning once weekly, and an elevator and parking garage.

But it’s very inconsistent. You may find two one-bedroom apartments in different buildings, near eachother, with similar amenities overall, yet cost millions of dong difference. When I look in the rental Facebook groups now, I see some agents and owners asking 12.000.000 VND or even 15.000.000 VND for basic one-bedroom apartments.

But if it’s a nice building, well-maintained, with an elevator, cleaning service, and good furniture inside, I can see this as being worth it. If possible, I would try to look for several different options. You can find serviced studios for 5.000.000 VND.

Most owners that I’ve dealt with accept cash. You can also sign up for a service like Wise and transfer money into the owner’s Vietnamese bank account.

Use the Rental Facebook Groups

There are several Facebook groups dedicated to apartment rentals in Da Nang. Some of them are constant streams of agents advertising units. Others will allow you to post a wanted ad. Join a few different groups, and have a look. If you post your own wanted ad, be prepared to be spammed by “agents.” I put agents in quotes because most of them are freelance, and it’s unregulated. They work purely on commission if you decide to rent.

There are a few Facebook groups that I recommend looking at. Here’s one group. Here’s another group. And here’s a third group. To find more groups, use the search bar on Facebook and type in “Da Nang apartment rentals.” Then press the “Group” filter.

Here’s a sample wanted ad. Remember, most agents will be using Facebook’s translate feature, so keep it simple and direct.

“Hey all. I’m looking to rent an apartment:

• What: One bedroom (not a studio)
• Budget: Up to 10.000.000 VND
• Where: Near My Khe Beach
• Length: 3 months (longer if I like the unit)
• When: Move in ASAP
• Must-haves: Couch, working desk, washing machine, no nearby construction, no mold, no pets”

You can tweak the above sample however you’d like. You may know a specific area or street you want to be on. Either way, keep it short and clear.

Prepare for some frustration when dealing with agents. If you post a wanted ad with clear requirements, you’ll have people messaging you places that don’t meet your requirements at all, or sending you a private message asking what you’re requirements are. You’ll have to sift through a lot of nonsense to find a good place.

Source a Respectable Company

Besides the Facebook groups, you can contact an agency and have them show you units. You don’t need to pay any agent or company to help you find a unit. They will get a commission if you decide to rent the unit. A good agency in Da Nang is Central Vietnam Realty (CVR). Here is their website. You can also find them on Facebook here.

If you contact them, they’ll ask you general questions like your preferred area, budget, lease length, if you have pets, etc. They’ll send you options, and if any places pique you’re interest, they’ll meet you in person at the unit to view it.

You can use the Facebook groups simultaneously because agencies don’t necessarily represent/know of every available unit.

Ask for Recommendations

In addition to using the Facebook groups or an agency, try to connect with other expats (like me!) and ask for apartment building or agent recommendations. I’ve referred a few people to a building that I was living in in Son Tra when I knew a unit was coming open.

Do you know anyone in Da Nang? Can you ask around and find expats living in Da Nang? Any recommendation or referral you find will really help when getting started living in Da Nang. If you’re totally on your own, don’t worry. That’s partially what my website and my guides are for. Feel free to reach out to me in my Facebook group.

Explore the Surrounding Area

What’s going on around the apartment building can make or break a unit. Apartment photos don’t show what’s going on in the immediate area. Construction is the biggest issue. But there’s also road noise, noisy neighbors, roosters, and other issues. Besides the bad things to look out for, think about what you’d like access to. Are there places to eat nearby? What about supermarkets or gyms?

When I’m looking at renting a new apartment, I spend time outside and around the area first. If you have the luxury of being able to wait a few days, I’d visit the area a few times, at different times of day, to see what’s going on around the building.

The only caveat is that units sometimes get rented quickly. So you need to balance waiting to make a good decision with missing the boat. But at the same time, you don’t want to rush into renting a unit. If you feel pressured to make a decision, just know that there are tons of units. New places always come available. And if you have to wait a week or two in a hotel or Airbnb, it’s worth it if you end up getting a unit you’re happy with.

I mentioned the Fivitel Da Nang (Agoda / Booking) in the beginning. This is between the beach and the city, along the river. Here is the hotel’s location. It’s a good hotel to base yourself because of its location, but also because it’s cost-effective if you need to stay for a couple of weeks or more. I stayed here for one month while waiting for an apartment to open. Here’s my review of the Fivitel Da Nang.

Being Patient and Persistent

You’ll need patience when hunting for a good unit, especially when dealing with agents and owners. Some of them won’t always understand your needs. You may have to show them pictures of units or pieces of furniture to help give them a better idea of what you’re looking for.

For example, big couches are rare in Vietnam. I’ve sourced agents many times, and always tell them I want a big couch. I can’t tell you how many times the agents have come back with options, and the “couches” were wooden benches with cushions. One time, it was a unit with two wooden chairs pushed next to each other against the wall, which I was told was a sofa, with the TV mounted on the wall above the chairs. I have no idea how the owner expected anyone to watch the TV.

So, in addition to furniture choices, you’ll likely run into odd arrangements inside the apartments, too. Be patient, and keep searching. There are good and “normal” units out there!

Be prepared for other possible issues, too. A unit may be advertised as “available now,” only for you to go view it, say you’ll take it, then find out that it’s actually available in two weeks. This has happened to me a few times.

Another story: I was viewing a unit one time that really was coming available soon. The current tenant was in the unit, and we were chatting as I was looking around. The building’s manager was also with us. As I was walking around, she received a text message from one of her staff members saying that someone else had just walked in downstairs and put down a deposit on the unit. I didn’t have a chance to take it.

I’ll say it again because it’s important: be patient and prepared for hiccups.

Avoid Signing a Long Lease at First

This is my personal preference, but could also be considered a tip. Compared to the USA, where a standard apartment lease is one year, in Vietnam, you can find leases for varying lengths. I’ve signed apartment leases for one month, three months, six months, and one year.

Signing a lease for three months gives you an out if you end up not liking the apartment or the area. New construction pops up all the time, and neighbors sometimes decide to renovate their entire home. The construction workers work all hours of the day, from sunrise into the night, seven days a week.

You can take a place for three months, then extend it if you want. Once you’re settled in and know more about Da Nang, you may want to live in another area. I have friends who’ve lived in Da Nang for years, and they still only sign short-term leases.

Some owners may ask for a minimum of six months. This happens from time to time. If you love the place, you can do it. Or you can look around for places that will accept one month or three months (many do).

Apartment Rental Deposits

The standard deposit is one month’s rent. Some agents and owners ask for two months, but this is rare and not the norm. If I found a great place and was signing a lease for one year, I would consider two months. But for a three or six-month lease, I would look elsewhere.

Don’t feel pressured to pay two months’ deposit if you don’t want to. You can try to negotiate for one month, or you can look for a new place. There are always new places coming available.

I’ve always had a good experience getting my rental deposit back at the end of a lease in Vietnam. But I have heard stories of landlords keeping deposits or nickel-and-diming someone for minor (or made-up) issues found inside the apartment at checkout time.

Much of this can be negated by renting from good people or renting through an agency. If you rent through an agency or with a respected freelance agent, then you have an advocate on your side.

Imagery is Often Outdated

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to visit an apartment and the unit looked nothing like the advertised pictures or videos. This is very common. What happens is that owners are rarely the ones to advertise a unit they have for rent. What they do is contact a few agents, who then promote the unit. And a lot of times, the owners or the agents use recycled photos from either how the unit first looked or from another unit in the building.

Another story: I went to visit a unit one time that looked great in the photos. It was fully furnished, a nice kitchen with an island, a big L-couch, a smart TV…everything I wanted. When I arrived, the security guard showed me the unit, and it was entirely empty. No furniture at all. I was confused, and he spoke zero English. So I called the owner right then, who told me that if I liked how the unit looked in the picture, they could make it look like that, but it would take two weeks.

Unfortunately, this kind of shenanigans happens. Sometimes it’s a smaller inconsistency, like the couch being different. You should ask if the photos and videos are new.

Small Things That Make a Difference

For this section, I want to list some things to look for when renting an apartment. There is usually some kind of sacrifice or tradeoff.

• 🚰 This is important: What is the drinking water situation? The good buildings will have a bottle delivery service already arranged. Some buildings have a filtered water fountain that you can use freely.

• 🛗 Does it have an elevator? If not, what floor is the unit on?

• 🛵 If you rent a scooter, what is the parking situation? Easy in and easy out? I rented a place one time that didn’t want us driving the scooter inside the garage. So we had to turn off the scooter in front of the building, then walk it up a small hill, into the garage, and all the way to the back. This got tiring after a few months.

• 👕 Is there a washing machine? If not, is there a laundromat near the building? You can use Google Maps to see. There are plenty of laundry shops in Da Nang. Here’s a good one. And here’s another one near My Khe Beach. You can drop off your clothes and they’ll wash, dry, and fold them. This costs around 20.000 VND per kilogram. Many also offer pick-up and delivery.

• 🐜 Are there ants? Ants are common in apartments. Occasional ants in the bathroom or kitchen are normal, but not trails onto the bed, the couch, or larger infestations. I use a product called ANBIO that you can buy at this gardening store in Da Nang. ANBIO is a bait, not a spray. Each bottle costs 20.000 VND. You put down a couple of drops, and it will eliminate the entire nest.