Question 1

What costs are there on top of the price when buying an apartment in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

For a new (primary) apartment from a developer: the registration fee (about 0.5%), the one-time 2% maintenance (sinking) fund calculated on the pre-VAT price, and notary/administrative/certificate fees. VAT (about 10%) is usually already included in the developer’s listed price. For a resale (secondary) purchase: the 0.5% registration fee, notary fees, and a 2% personal income tax that is legally the seller’s but is sometimes negotiated onto the buyer. Figures are indicative and vary by locality and contract value.

Question 2

What is the 2% maintenance fund based on?

Accepted Answer

The apartment maintenance (sinking) fund is 2% of the pre-VAT sale price, not the VAT-inclusive total. It is a one-time payment when buying a new unit, paid into the building’s common-area maintenance fund managed by the management board — separate from the monthly management fee.

Vietnam property purchase cost calculator

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