Lessons · Level 3
3-1. Housing ① Finding a Home — Choosing an Area and Saying What You Want
Tìm nhà thuê
🎯 Goal Compare home types and neighborhoods, tell an agent what you want, and book a viewing · about 40 min
Finding a home in former District 2
Since July 2025, most of former District 2 has become phường An Khánh (most of Thảo Điền, Thủ Thiêm and An Phú). Agents and listings still often use the names Thảo Điền, An Phú, Quận 2, though.
- Thảo Điền — the expat residential area. Lots of cafés, restaurants and international schools; rents are on the high side. Many alley houses (nhà phố) and villas.
- An Phú · An Khánh — home to big apartment complexes (Masteri, The Vista, etc.). Pools, gyms and security, and many are close to a metro station.
- Thủ Thiêm · Sala — a newly built urban area. Wide, clean streets and close to District 1, but still few neighborhood shops.
Most people find listings through Facebook groups, batdongsan.com.vn, Nhà Tốt (Chợ Tốt's real estate section) and agents (môi giới).
Home types and real estate words
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| căn hộ | apartment | kang hoh |
| chung cư | apartment building | choong kew |
| căn hộ dịch vụ | serviced apartment | kang hoh yit yoo |
| nhà phố | townhouse | nya foh |
| phòng trọ | rented room | fawng chaw |
| chủ nhà | landlord | choo nya |
| môi giới | real estate agent | moy yuhy |
| tin cho thuê | rental listing | tin chaw tway |
| giá thuê | rent price | ya tway |
| phòng ngủ | bedroom | fawng ngoo |
| nhà vệ sinh | bathroom | nya yay sin |
| ban công | balcony | bang kohng |
| đầy đủ nội thất | fully furnished | duhy doo noy tuhk |
| nhà trống | unfurnished trống = empty. 'còn trống' = still available (can be rented) | nya chohng |
| hợp đồng một năm | one-year lease | huhp dohng mohk nam |
Saying what you want
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Em muốn thuê căn hộ hai phòng ngủ. | I want to rent a two-bedroom apartment. | em moo-uhng tway kang hoh hai fawng ngoo. |
| Giá khoảng hai mươi triệu một tháng. | About twenty million dong a month. | ya khwang hai mew-ee chee-oo mohk tang. |
| Em cần nhà có đầy đủ nội thất. | I need a fully furnished place. | em kuhng nya kaw duhy doo noy tuhk. |
| Gần ga metro thì tốt. | Near a metro station would be good. | guhng ga metro tee tohk. |
| Em muốn ở khu Thảo Điền hoặc An Khánh. | I'd like to live in Thao Dien or An Khanh. | em moo-uhng uh khoo tao dee-uhng wak ang khan. |
| Nhà em ở đường Quốc Hương, phường An Khánh. | My place is on Quốc Hương Street, An Khanh Ward. Describing where you live now. The street name is an example — practise with your own address | nya em uh dew-uhng wohk hew-uhng, few-uhng ang khan. |
| Em sẽ ở ít nhất một năm. | I'll stay at least one year. | em seh uh it nyuhk mohk nam. |
| Căn đó còn trống không? | Is that unit still available? | kang daw kawng chohng khohng? |
| Anh gửi hình qua Zalo giùm em nha. | Please send me photos on Zalo. | an gew-ee hin wa Zalo yoom em nya. |
| Khi nào em đi xem nhà được? | When can I go see the place? | khee nao em dee sem nya dew-uhk? |
| Em thấy tin này trên Facebook. | I saw this listing on Facebook. | em tuhy tin nai chen Facebook. |
Real conversation — Calling an agent
Minsu sees an apartment listing in An Khánh ward on Facebook and calls the agent, Thảo. Thảo is younger than Minsu, so she calls him anh and he calls her em.
| Thảo | Alô, em Thảo nghe. | Hello, this is Thao. |
| Minsu | Chào em. Anh thấy tin cho thuê căn hộ ở An Khánh trên Facebook. Căn đó còn không em? | Hi. I saw your listing for an apartment in An Khanh on Facebook. Is it still available? |
| Thảo | Dạ còn anh. Anh cần mấy phòng ngủ? | Yes, it is. How many bedrooms do you need? |
| Minsu | Anh cần hai phòng ngủ, có đầy đủ nội thất. | Two bedrooms, fully furnished. |
| Thảo | Dạ, căn này hai phòng ngủ, giá hai mươi triệu một tháng, chưa bao gồm phí quản lý. | This one has two bedrooms, twenty million a month, not including the management fee. |
| Minsu | Gần ga metro không em? | Is it near a metro station? |
| Thảo | Dạ, đi bộ khoảng mười phút tới ga Thảo Điền. | Yes, about a ten-minute walk to Thao Dien station. |
| Minsu | Anh muốn đi xem nhà. Thứ bảy này được không? | I'd like to see it. Is this Saturday okay? |
| Thảo | Dạ được. Mười giờ sáng thứ bảy nha anh. Em gửi địa chỉ qua Zalo cho anh. | Sure. Ten a.m. on Saturday. I'll send you the address on Zalo. |
| Minsu | Ok, cảm ơn em. Hẹn gặp em thứ bảy. | Okay, thank you. See you on Saturday. |
Tips for finding listings
- Based on 2026 listings, a 2-bedroom apartment in the big complexes of An Khánh and An Phú is often around 15–22 million VND a month. It varies a lot by complex, floor, furniture and view, so use this only as a rough guide.
- Always check whether the price says 'chưa bao gồm phí quản lý' (management fee not included).
- The agent's fee is usually paid by the landlord, but check before signing: 'Do I have to pay too?' (Em có phải trả phí môi giới không?)
- The same home can be posted by several agents at different prices. If you like a complex, ask 2–3 agents.
- Most agents send photos, videos and addresses over Zalo.
Watch out for rental scams
- If someone asks you to send a deposit (tiền cọc) before you've seen the place, it's very likely a scam. See it in person and pay when you sign the contract.
- Be suspicious if the photos look too good and the price is much cheaper than nearby places. Some ads are bait: you call, and they show you a different home.
- Make sure the person signing is the real owner (or someone authorized by them). You'll learn more in Lesson 3-3 (Contracts).
- Management fees, electricity, water, internet and parking can add several million VND a month on top of the rent. Compare total costs.