According to preliminary statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA), in Ho Chi Minh City alone (before the merger), there were more than 8,740 short-term rental apartments ( flatbank model), creating jobs for about 15,000 workers.
This model has grown strongly thanks to the connection of popular online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Booking.com, Agoda, and Airbnb. A&T report shows that in 2024, this activity contributed VND16,200 billion to the country's GDP.
However, this activity is facing difficulties after Ho Chi Minh City applied Decision 26/2025 on management and use of apartment buildings, which stipulates that apartments can only be used for the right purpose of living, not rented by the hour or by day.
Currently, apartments still have signs prohibiting short-term accommodation services and preventing short-term accommodation providers and tourists from using the service.
According to feedback from short-term apartment rental service providers in Ho Chi Minh City, the situation is very difficult because there are no tenants while the service providers still have to pay rent, many people suffer hundreds of millions of VND in losses. Currently, businesses are still waiting for the city to soon announce the list of apartments allowed for short-term tourist accommodation.
Up to now, the list of apartments that are qualified as tourist accommodation facilities has not been announced. In a recent report by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, it was stated that, through review, most mixed-use apartments in the area do not have separate designs for electricity, water, elevators, fire prevention and fighting systems, garbage collection... exclusively for short-term accommodation. Therefore, these projects do not meet legal and safety requirements for exploitation.
Recently, this agency has received mixed feedback about the exploitation of short-term accommodation apartments. owners and apartment management boards are concerned that short-term leasing will affect security and daily life; while some individuals and businesses exploiting this service want a clear legal corridor for operations.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction is seeking opinions on a draft guideline on using apartments for short-term rental. In particular, there is a regulation that only apartments with mixed-use purposes - that is, works combining housing functions with trade and services - are considered for business housing.
The buildings that meet the conditions must ensure technical systems including electricity supply, drainage, elevators, fire prevention and fighting, waste treatment, etc. are built in accordance with the design documents approved by competent authorities. After reviewing, the Department of Construction will announce a list of apartment projects eligible for tourist accommodation rental.
The owner of the apartment to rent must register with the People's Committee at the commune level, the management board and the management and operation unit; at the same time, declare the accommodation to the customer, comply with regulations on tourism, residence, tax, fire prevention and fighting and insurance for the tenant.
Short-term leasing is only carried out when the apartment building conference approves the resolution, clearly defining the number of participating apartments, the maximum number of guests and the additional management and operation fees for accommodation businesses. The owner of a household that violates regulations on accommodation, taxes, security and order or fire prevention and fighting will be subject to administrative sanctions, repeated violations may result in criminal prosecution.
According to the Department of Construction, this guidance aims to create a clear legal corridor for short-term leasing activities in apartments, both effectively exploiting housing funds and ensuring safety and rights for residents.
