Finding & Setting Up Your Location
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15 min
Negotiating Your Lease
Practical negotiation tactics that work specifically in the Vietnamese market — and what foreigners consistently get wrong.
Negotiating Your Lease
Lease negotiation in Vietnam has its own dynamics. Understanding these will help you get better terms without damaging the relationship with your landlord — a relationship you will depend on for years.
What Is Negotiable (More Than You Think)
| Item | Typical ask | What you can often get |
|---|---|---|
| Rent price | Listed price | 5–20% reduction with preparation |
| Free fit-out period | 0 months | 1–3 months rent-free while renovating |
| Deposit amount | 3–6 months | 2–3 months for established businesses |
| Rent escalation cap | 10% / year | 5% / year or CPI-linked |
| Subletting rights | Not included | Often grantable for multi-floor spaces |
Negotiation Tactics That Work in Vietnam
- Show you are serious — landlords respond better to prepared tenants. Have your ERC, business plan, and references ready before the first meeting
- Leverage the market — tell the landlord you are looking at 3 or 4 other properties (and actually visit them — never bluff)
- Offer length for price — offering a 3-year lease instead of 1 often unlocks a 10–15% price reduction
- Cash deposit upfront — in a tight negotiation, offering to pay 6 months upfront instead of monthly can swing the deal
The Face Factor
Never make your landlord feel humiliated in negotiation. Low-ball offers or aggressive tactics can close doors permanently in a city where landlords talk to each other. Make your counter-offer with a smile and always frame it as "I want to make this work for both of us."
The best negotiating position: a strong alternative. If you're negotiating one property and have no others lined up, you will overpay. Always have a real backup option before entering serious negotiations.