thu thiem vietnam real estate guide

January 25, 2010 in Blogs | Permalink | Comments

. Beer parties on the mosquito-bitten balconies, loud and awful karaoke deep into the night. The pool, which had been my exclusive domain during the languid weekday noontimes, became too crowded for my use. The beach gets pretty crowded too which is strange, because it is not particularly clean. Must be from all those fishermen working just off the shore, and all their support crews on the sand. Not that I blame them, they have a job to do and it was their beach long before the tourists moved in. Luckily, all you need to do is hire a jeep or motorcycle (or if you are truly intrepid, a Dalat style doubleseater lovebike) and you will presently leave the madding crowd behind. For example, go north just past the headland at Hom Ron and a magnificient beach opens up, totally yellow and pristine with barely a tourist and a resort to be seen. Go a little further north, past the little town near the small offshore island, and the land seems like one giant golfcourse -- without any golfers. I got the feeling, when I was slugging my way on the pedals through the place with Nga a couple of weeks ago, that this was prime golf course country. All you would have to do to build your own golf course would be choose a lot, buy it -- and fence it off. All your typical golf course features would already be there, built in -- natural sand traps (the rampant Binh Thuan dunes, your choice of shimmering white or rusty gold), water courses ringed with lotus flowers and swarming with dragonflies, lovely green birds whose eyes glint in the sun, and sandflies. It is unblemished country north of Hon Rom, and all there for the taking. What are you waiting for?

Speaking of golf courses:

August 9, 2009 in Blogs | Permalink | Comments

Ho Chi Minh City to Have First Subway By 2015

Line Will Link Bến Thành Market, Suối Tiên

Amidst a slumping property market, the investment in the two projects, Hung Dien New Town and the Vietnam International University Township, is a positive sign.

"Tan Hung Investment Shareholding Company, a specialist in agricultural exporting, fertilizer production and pepper processing, is making a 'milestone' investment in the US$1 billion urban area project on nearly 20 hectares of land in Binh Chanh District and District 8.

"Tan Hung's Chairwoman, Le Thi Giau, said the company would call other investors to partner it in Hung Dien New Town.

"The town will be comprised of office buildings, high-end apartment blocks, a shopping center, sports area and hospital.

"Work on the town project began Tuesday afternoon, after the morning press conference.

"On the same day, the Malaysian company Berjaya Land Berhad also announced its HCMC $3.5 billion university urban area project, which will cover 925 hectares of the northwestern Hoc Mon District.

"Ho Ngoc Minh, deputy head of the city's northwest urban project management board, said Vietnam International University Township was not only the city's largest project in terms of capital but also the largest university urban area project in the country.

April 15, 2008 in Blogs | Permalink | Comments

Thủ Thiêm Software Park

In Trouble Again

The project is a joint venture between SaigonTel Joint Stock Company, a subsidiary of the Sai Gon Invest Group and the TA Associates International Pte. Ltd., a member of the TECO group from Taiwan . SaigonTel contributes 20 percent of the joint venture’s capital. "We are a developer in Malaysia, mainly in Johor Bahru City, Johor State, Malaysia (5 minutes to Sigapore Immigration Check Point). We are building 60 villas (within Ledang Heights - exclusive for 571 villas only); we have buyers from Vietnam and still seeking for real estate brokers like you to help us solicit our villas in Vietnam to potential interested buyers. Land price very reasonable less than VND 7 million per square meter. If your firm is interested please reply to this email and we can discuss more on the details. hope to hear from your favourable response soon.

"Best regards
"Nguyen Duc Doan
"CEO
"DHSLAND Sdn. Bhd."

April 15, 2008 in Blogs | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Saigon Queen Villa

TODAY I GOT AN EMAIL HEADED BUSINESS JOINT VENTURE OPPORTUNITY. The email read:

"We would like to introduce our newly built villa apartments that are currently brought into activity. Located on Saigon River bank, near B.I.S International school, super market, and High-Tech industrialized zones, the twin villa faces three main streets recently redeveloped to accommodate traffic and prevent flooding. Hence, the area is accessible to important destinations and stays dry through out the year.

"Our villa apartments are exclusive in the following features:

"1. Differentiation:

"The combination of Villa apartments and Luxury hotel services aims to provide client with surrounding nature, space, comfort, relaxation, and escape from the humidity and city noise during or after work. The villa offer special amenities such as underground parking, elevator, swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, Jacuzzi, massage...

"2. Diversification:

"Villa apartments at Saigon Queen Villa range from one to four bedrooms. Apartment areas are from 76sm to 180sm. Each unit is fully furnished following the inventory list. Visitors can chose to stay on a daily basis. We provide flexible terms and a variety of options to suite client's needs.

"3. Luxury Services:

"Our 3 – 4 star resort standard facility and services include the following:

"- Attached Basic Services (free of charge):

"Water utility (included warm water), room cleaning, linen changing, reception, security guard, and parking 24/7.

"ADSL and wireless internet, Cable TV, swimming pool, gymnasium, and spa

"Extended Services:

"V.A.T, electric power, telephone (with ID call), restaurant, and bar

"Car and driver for transportation to airport and school daily, also available for personal rent

"Grocery - convenient store to provide food and household items, as well as other services supporting business people during their staying

"Affordable Rates and Simple Procedure:

"A flat rate ranged from 700USD to 1500USD, depending on the apartment size, is the only amount you would pay for accommodation and all basic services at Saigon Queen Villa.

"Only one month deposit is required.

"SAIGON QUEEN VILLA: To view flyer click here.

"112 Nguyen Van Huong St, Thao Dien ward, District 2, HCMC. Tel: 848 8783022 - 8905394 Fax: 848 8436029.

"Website: www.saigonqueenvilla.com. Email: info@saigonqueenvilla.com.

January 23, 2008 in Blogs | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Expats Not Immune to Vietnam Property Price Fever

THIS STORY WAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED ON THAN NIEN NEWS: "Vietnam's property price fever is infecting not only locals and the national media. It's getting foreigners and overseas media hot and bothered as well. Singapore-based The Straits Times ran a report in November headlined Vietnamese feel the pinch of red-hot home prices. Roger Mitton, the correspondent in Hanoi, tells a story of physician Nguyen Thu Huong who lives with her husband and daughter in a small suburban apartment in Hanoi.

"Huong has to pay US$60 a month rent, which is half of her monthly salary, for the 35-year-old apartment.

"In another story, Tran Minh Phuong, 23, an accountant at a toy-making company in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) says she earns VND1.8 million ($113) a month and has to pay a third of that in rent for her little one-room apartment.

"They all dream of owning their own apartments but with property price sky-rocketing that is simply impossible.

"Not only locals but about 81,000 expats in Vietnam have also suffered from soaring rents and greedy landlords, even though their income is much higher..."

(For full story click here.)

January 23, 2008 in Blogs | Permalink | Comments

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Sedona Suites (Executive Apartments)

I WAS WALKING AROUND HO CHI MINH CITY THIS MORNING AFTER ARRIVING BACK IN THE CITY LAST NIGHT, FOR MY FIRST VISIT IN MORE THAN 10 YEARS. What struck me more than anything, after so long an absense, was the plethora of hotels and executive living arrangements which have sprung up, particularly in the Saigon district. Saigon is literally thronging with gorgeous new hotels and hip boutiques and restaurants and swinging bars; on almost every block there are building sites aplenty, promising further luxury. One development which is already up and running and attracting attention from the Ho Chi Minh City expat community, is Sedona Suites. Located on Le Loi Boulevard within walking distance to many banks, airline offices and entertainment options, Sedona Suites is a sanctuary of elegance and style that combines the comforts of home with the convenience of hotel facilities (that's a lift from Holiday City.) There are 89 one to three-bedroom units; room facilities include: satellite television, local & IDD telephone, bathroom with long bath and separate shower compartment, wardrobes, Intercom, laundry machines, water filtration system, VCR and Hi-Fi System, 100% electricity back-up and safes & security surveillance. King-sized beds are draped with 100% cotton duvets. The fully equipped kitchen boasts electric cooker hood, cabinet and oven.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Changing Face of Ho Chi Minh City (Otherwise Known as Saigon)

BIG CHANGES ARE ON THEIR WAY FOR THE VIETNAMESE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. As Final Word (A British English Teacher in Saigon) reported on his blog today: "HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) by 2020 could be a very different place. So many projects are underway or being planned, and so many dollars are being poured into the economy by foreign investors, the only way is up, surely? Promisingly, a lot of the focus is based on infrastructure, a hugely important part of facilitating yet more rapid growth for Vietnam and the surrounding region. Other areas are real estate and tourism.

"In the near future we should see the completion of more high rise luxury apartments, shopping centers and hotels. The $265 million Kumho Asiana Plaza project finally resumed in October after being delayed for 10 years. It sits on the site that used to be Saigon Square, and is due to be completed in 2009. Saigon Happiness Square is a massive development underway that I mentioned before in D5. It's costing its Taiwanese investors $468 million, containing offices, shopping and a hotel. Saigon's tallest building is also under construction...

"'Feasibility studies for two metro lines totaling 21km in Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, are due to be submitted to the government in October. If all goes well, construction could start by the end of this year and the metro could open by 2008'...

"The new International Airport at Long Thanh is scheduled to have phase 1 finished by 2010, as this Wikipedia page says, with further development planned into 2015 and beyond. This will allegedly include a high speed road link to the site 40kms from the city.

"The most recent big project to be announced is the construction of a high speed rail link from HCMC to Hanoi. This was reported across the world including Auntie. As the article says, it'll cut the journey from a mind boggling 2 days to a much more reasonable 10 hours, and it will only cost $33 billion, and the government claims that it can be completed in 6 years (the contractors want 9, I remember reading). This could become the jewel in the crown of the ASEAN rail network, which is seeking to complete by 2015. As this article from the People's Daily explains, the missing links are mainly in Cambodia -- once finished, the railway will be linked from Hanoi (and therefore into China and beyond to the Trans Siberian) to Singapore..."

Imagine the day when you can catch a train from London to Singapore via Russia, Siberia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. That would be one epic journey, and a worthy alternative to flying once jetliner carbon taxes start kicking in later into the 21st Century.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Why is Vietnamese Real Estate So Expensive?

VIETNAM HAS LONG HAD A REPUTATION FOR BEING ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE COUNTRIES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA TO BUY A PROPERTY, WITH PRICES COMPARABLE WITH THOSE OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. Consequently, Vietnam has never been seen as a bargain when it comes to investing in real estate, especially compared with its more glamorous neighbors such as Thailand. However, there are signs of change in the beautiful land of Vietnam, and its day of arrival on the global real estate investment stage may well be nigh. As the Asia Property Report news service reported in January 2007: "In the eyes of local and foreign investors, the Vietnamese real estate market has entered a period of golden chances.

"One of the reasons for the increasingly dynamic development of the market was the State's promulgation of documents to guide the implementation of the Common Investment Law and the Housing Law, creating a clear legal framework for the sector, which foreign investors have been waiting for.

"Another reason was the country's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which flung open the door for its finance market -- an important gateway for foreign investors to participate in the real estate business.

"Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Hung Vo joined many economic experts in expressing optimism for the real estate market in 2007 after a two year freeze period.

"The Deputy Minister explained that the newly felt optimism was based on several factors such as Vietnam's WTO accession, the US ratification of Permanent Trade Normal Relations (PNTR) with Vietnam and a record of official development assistance (ODA) capital pledged by international donors for 2007..."

o n l i n e + r e a l t o r s

Bat Dong San: www.tinbatdongsan.com/vn/.
BẤT ĐỘNG SẢN is of course Vietnamese for real estate, and from a SEO perspective at least, this site has the market cornered. Viewable in English and Vietnamese, the site includes a law library, news feed and brokerage service. As the site reads: "You have properties and want them to be sold out or rent out quickly?
"You are very busy to sell or rent them?
"Let us do that for you.
"With reasonable fees 1% of total value for each sold property or 1 month rental for each leased property or you allow us to earn the markup value if you donft want to pay the above fees.
"Just fill out the Form then send to us with 1 – 8 photos of your property to: info@tinbatdongsan.com..."

Chao Co: Phone: 84-913-804-550. Web: www.chaocom.com. Email: davidhousing@gmail.com.
This website, written in English and Japanese, prvides a full range of services for expats in Vietnam -- from real estate to car rental and travel plans, to business investment consultancy.

Craig's List: http://vietnam.craigslist.org/rfs/.

Like other invaders from the past, Craig is on his way to conquering Vietnam. Well, at least the classified real estate market in Vietnam (and they say that land equals power!) For the latest offerings from Ho Chi Minh City, hit Craig up.

Easy Property: Phone: 848/840 7962. Web: www.izproperty.com/.
This website touts itself as Vietnam's premier real estate services network. It is a big claim to make, but the listings at Easy Property are in a word, exhaustive. A huge range of properties are listed, ranging from serviced apartments in District 3 (the rent is between US$1100 to $2100 a month) to potential golf course sites in Dong Nai Province, to the entire Hoa Binh Towers in the capital Hanoi, to "possibly the best villa in An Phu" (that one is going at US$6000 a month in rent.)
Along with all the listings, Easy Property has realms of important information about the state of the rental and real estate market in Vietnam. There are nuggets of information like this, concerning international standard serviced apartments: "Ho Chi Minh City only has a combined stock of serviced apartments of about 2,000 units, an inadequate number relative to the ever increasing demand. Thus rentals have almost doubled in less than 5 years to the current levels. However, local investors have recently seen the investment opportunities available and are thus now rapidly filling the supply gap with a wide variety of new developments, both big and small. By the end of 2006, it is estimated that the number of units available will have doubled to over 4,000 units with several thousand more under construction. Though many of these are being built for sale on the local market (foreigners are unable to buy or sub-lease), many are being bought to rent to expats, at prices ranging from USD$800 – USD$2,700 per square meter, with a view to obtaining rentals from USD$10 – 30 per square meter per month.
"However, given the relatively stable number of expats living in Vietnam, coupled with strict new foreign employment registration stipulations, and the dramatic increase in stock, one can foresee rentals falling to levels more in line with those of ASEAN regional competitor cities over the course of the next few years.
"The largest and best located serviced apartment buildings with the widest range of facilities and services were constructed in the mid to late 1990's by foreign developers with deep pockets – typically USD$20+ million Joint Ventures. Since then, very few foreign investors have ventured into the domestic market. These established buildings have all had average occupancies of over 90% since @2002 and so are able to command premium rentals. Some offer short term accommodation (at up to USD$50/sqm per month) but many have waiting lists and so are only interested in minimum 12 month contracts. The majority of these are in the downtown area but some are a 20 minute commute."

Living in Vietnam: 42/63 Nguyen Hue Street, Dist.1. Phone: 08/291 0366. Web: www.livinginvietnam.com/travel.htm.
There is a lot of information on this website about living in Vietnam, how to get a visa or a job, and how to deal with the people in Vietnam. There is also a forum for travellers and expatriates, and lesson plans for those wanting to study Vietnamese. For those looking for real estate in Saigon (or Hanoi for that matter), this website also delivers. For example, if you were hoping to rent a two-bedroom apartment in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's District 1, you might be able to find one for US$1200 a month. If a French colonial style villa with three bedrooms, garden and a swimming pool was closer to what you were looking for, you could find one in District 3 for US$3000 a month. These are just some of the current rental properties listed on Living in Vietnam. There is a whole database of listings there, from apartments to office blocks -- it it is worth checking out.

P Index: 140 Nguyen Van Thu, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Phone (8) 910 6445. Web: www.pindex.vn/.
Vietnamese language site including listings and market information.

Property World: Web: Property World Vietnam.
As the name suggests, Property World has a searchable database of properties all over the world. Bulgaria seems to get a good representation in the database, given that country's current popularity with European buysres. When it comes to Vietnam, on the other hand -- well, in a recent search for properties for sale in Greater Vietnam ranging in price from US$0 to US$1000000000, Property World only returned one result. This was a property in the Saigon Pearl development at 92 Nguyen Huu Canh, HCMC. You can read about Saigon Pearl further down the page under the "Coming Developments" header.

Saigon Bat Dong San: 31 Ly Tu Trong, P. Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Phone: +84 (8) 823 4702/8013. Web: www.ttbatdongsan.com/.
Vietnamese language real estate site.

Vietnam House Rentals: http://www.vietnamhouserentals.com/saigon.htm.
Vietnam House Rentals & Real Estate (otherwise known as Toan Cau Co. Ltd) specializes in: apartments, serviced apartments, single private houses, luxury villas and offices for lease to travellers, professionals, and the legions of International Vagabonds who are flocking to Viet Nam at the present, as well as local customers.

Vietnam Total: http://realestate.vietnamtotal.com/.
This site has plenty of listings and information about properties in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and other cities like Vung Tau. At the time of writing (February 2007) there are family houses listed on Vietnam Total at Nguyen Huu Canh ($117,000), a stunning beach front property on Tran Phu St in Vung Tau ($1,000,000), a rubber harvesting farm in Bing Duong ($2,064,000), and a rental property in Hanoi (no price given). The website also offers a limited news resource including this recent story (recent for February 2007): "US-based Rockingham Asset Management company has gotten the license for its $1billion resort on Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam. The island will be a luxury resort with more than 2,000 rooms and villas for rent, a 6-hole golf course, a motor racetrack, a tourism school, and other tourism facilities. The resort should be completed in 2015."

VVG Property Development: http://www.vvg-vietnam.com/prop_dvlpmnt.htm.
This piece of online property lists land and resort developments, including the Cua Lap Beach Resort Development. The website claims: "A very visible sign of Vietnam's leap towards the 21st century is the horizontal construction sector (hotels, multiple-dwellings, and offices). On these pages, we feature the Ho Chi Minh City Region, with emphasis on Vung Tau and Saigon. The HCMC region (including Bien Hoa, Binh Duong, Vung Tau and Saigon) has a real (unofficial) population in excess of 11 million people, more than half the total foreign invested capital (US$ 25.15 billion or 55%), and 3,147 (63% of all) foreign invested projects (Jan05).
"

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