Choosing a new place to live can be an overwhelming process. There are so many properties, so many options, and so many locations. The price varies greatly too, especially in Vietnam, where everything is all over the place and it feels like a jungle sometimes. Here at Vietlong, we have worked with foreigners in Hanoi over 9 years to help them find their new home, which has given us a great opportunity to develop a few key criterias, regarding picking one. These are the things you should take into consideration when finding your next place, whether it’s an apartment, a studio, or a house.
1. Budget
This is the easy part of the housing selection process. You should probably already have an upper limit in your mind. The general rule is you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your income on your rent, though most people don’t reach this limit. Your budget will affect the type of areas you’ll be able to afford. Nicer neighborhood, like Hoan Kiem or Tay Ho area, or in high quality apartment complex, will cost a bit more. If you want to live in a more central area like Ba Dinh, that will also be more expensive as the land value is higher.
2. Commute
Now this is where things get a little bit tricky. When choosing your next place, you have to balance the length of your commute vs the price of your apartment and its niceties. Do you value your time more than the added cost of living closer to work, or do you just hate traffic (especially in Vietnam) like all of us? Then you just might want to choose a place next to your work place. If you don’t mind a bit of travel though, or the quality you can find living further away is much better, then you probably will like a place further away from your work.
There’s a lot of new buildings and complexes in Hanoi that has great quality of life, but takes 10-15 more minutes to get in the city, such as Ciputra and Vinhomes Riverside, so you should seriously sit down and consider what kind of commute you’d like.
3. Lifestyle
This is the last part of the housing equation, but unequivocally just as important. Do you want to live in a suburb area with a nice view, maybe a lake, or river, and lots of greenery? Or would you prefer a more central place like Hoan Kiem (the downtown of Hanoi), where you can watch and interact with normal people in their everyday lives? Do you hangout a lot, and want to go to dinners and bars in the evening, or do you just want to stay at home with your loved ones? These are all questions you should ask yourself, since your living space might vastly alter what kind of experience you will have on your free time.
BONUS (if you have kids): Schools
If you’re moving to Hanoi for a long term, you probably will want to consider the best learning experience for your kids. An example is United Nation School (UNIS), which is one of the premier multicultural school in Hanoi, and it’s located in Ciputra, so if you want to enroll your kids there, you might want to consider a place in Ciputra, or Tay Ho area. There’s also a lot more multicultural and billingual schools in Hanoi, and we’ll make a compiled list in the future for you to reference.
If you still can’t figure out what your needs are, or you don’t have the time to research all your options, here at Vietlong Housing, we’ve built a team dedicated to help you make the best choice for your living place. That means showing your properties, giving you professional advice on where you live, and even negotiate with the landlords for you. We’ll also help you with all the details when you move in and in your duration of stay if you choose to work with us.
If you’re ready, contact us now at
Email: phuong@vietlonghousing.com
Mobile: 0836886569
Chat with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vietlonghousing/
Check out apartment and housing listings on our website: www.vietlonghousing.com
Or come meet us at 2nd Floor, 27A To Ngoc Van Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi!
Let us help you find your new home, today!