Can Vietnamese buy property abroad? Rules in 7 countries
What Vietnamese buyers should know before buying abroad: published rules in the US, Australia, Canada, the UK, Japan, Thailand and the UAE, plus extra costs.
· 3 min read · batdongsanquocte.vn
More and more Vietnamese families are looking into buying property abroad: a flat near a child's university, a place to retire, or simply part of their savings held in another country. The first questions are always the same. Does that country let foreigners buy? Which kinds of homes? And how does the money get there? This guide summarises the published rules in the seven countries Vietnamese buyers ask about most, along with the costs that sit on top of the price and the mistakes people often make. It is general information to help you prepare questions, not a substitute for advice from a lawyer licensed in each country.
Can Vietnamese buy property abroad? Seven countries at a glance
| Country | What foreigners can buy | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No federal ban on foreign buyers | Some states have their own rules. When a foreign owner sells, tax is usually withheld at source under FIRPTA. |
| Australia | Approval is needed in most cases; new homes can be approved | From 1 April 2025 until at least 31 March 2027, foreign buyers are barred from established homes, with limited exceptions. |
| Canada | Non-citizens and non-permanent residents are barred from buying homes in major urban areas | The ban runs until 1 January 2027, with exceptions for inheritance, divorce and some work-permit holders. |
| United Kingdom | Open to foreign buyers | Non-UK residents pay an extra 2% Stamp Duty Land Tax on homes in England and Northern Ireland, in force since 1 April 2021. |
| Japan | No nationality limit on land or buildings | Buying brings no visa. Since April 2026 foreign buyers declare citizenship at registration and file a use report. |
| Thailand | Condo units, within 49% of a building's saleable floor area | Foreigners cannot own land. Purchase money must arrive from abroad in foreign currency. |
| UAE (Dubai) | Open in designated freehold areas | Long-term investor visas have their own published conditions and do not come automatically with a purchase. |
These rules move quickly: Australia and Canada have both tightened in the last two years. Check the date on everything you read, this guide included.
How the money gets there
This is the step many buyers skip. Individuals in Vietnam who send foreign currency abroad must do it through a bank, for a purpose permitted under foreign-exchange rules, and with supporting documents. Not every bank will process a property purchase straight away, so talk to your bank before you pay a deposit anywhere. The destination country has rules too: Thailand only recognises a foreigner's condo purchase when the money arrives from abroad in foreign currency, in the buyer's own name, with the purpose stated. Keep every transfer record, because you will need them again when you sell and bring the money home.
Costs on top of the price
The advertised price is only part of the bill. Before you compare countries, list all of these:
- Transfer or stamp duty on purchase, plus foreign-buyer surcharges in some places.
- Lawyer, notary or registration fees, and approval fees where they apply.
- Building management fees, sinking funds and home insurance.
- Annual property taxes and tax on rental income.
- Tax on sale, and any withholding applied to foreign sellers.
- Exchange-rate spreads every time money moves in either direction.
- Property management if you will not live there full time.
Five common mistakes
- Believing "buy a home, get residency". In most countries owning property and the right to live there are separate matters.
- Paying a deposit before talking to the bank. If the money cannot move on time, the deposit may be lost.
- Putting the home in someone else's name. In many countries that is a way around the law and can cost you the property.
- Listening only to the agent. Agents are paid by the seller; your own lawyer is the one who protects you.
- Forgetting holding costs. An empty home still costs fees, tax and insurance, and Australia charges foreign owners a vacancy fee.
Where to start
Answer three questions first: why you are buying, how the money will move, and who will handle things on the ground. Then shortlist two countries and read their rules properly, for example our guides to buying property in Australia as a foreigner and buying a condo in Thailand. If you would like general information for a specific country sent to you, leave your Zalo number on the advice page. In the meantime, a few property and finance books will help you ask a lawyer the right questions, and a sturdy suitcase will see you through the viewing trip.
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