Rental Contracts in Vietnam: Must-Have Clauses in 2025
A detailed breakdown of essential legal clauses in a Vietnamese rental contract, protecting both tenant and landlord.
Why a proper lease matters
A rental agreement is a legally binding document. A complete contract prevents the vast majority of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Required information
1. Parties' details:
- Full name, national ID number, permanent address of both landlord and tenant
2. Property description:
- Full address, usable floor area, number of rooms
- Inventory list of included furnishings
3. Lease term:
- Start and end date; conditions for automatic renewal or renegotiation
4. Rent and payment method:
- Monthly rent (in figures and words)
- Due date and method (cash / bank transfer)
- Rent increase conditions (Vietnamese law caps increases at ~10%/year)
5. Security deposit:
- Amount, conditions for withholding, and timeline for refund after vacating
6. Additional costs:
- Electricity, water, building management fees, internet — who pays?
- How they are calculated (government rate / actual meter / flat fee)
7. Repairs and maintenance:
- Minor wear-and-tear: tenant's responsibility
- Structural or natural-disaster damage: landlord's responsibility
- Define the threshold between "minor" and "major"
8. Termination clause:
- Notice period (typically 30–60 days)
- Penalty for early termination
9. Mutual commitments:
- Landlord guarantees right of use and no unannounced entry
- Tenant commits to using the property for its stated purpose only
Should you register the contract?
Vietnamese law does not require notarisation for leases under 6 months, but registering with the local ward authorities provides a strong legal basis in case of disputes, especially for longer leases.
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