Expat co-owning a house in Vietnam with wife

684POSTS

12 years ago

My wife (Vietnamese) and I are saving to buy a house and I am wondering if it is possible to be listed in the housebook as a co-owner or will I always have to register with the police like a tourist.
I don't register with them now as my landlord does that but I am wondering what all will change for me when we own our own home.
And to be clear, this has nothing to do with me trusting my wife or not, I just want to try to use the home ownership as a way to establish some permanency here.

See also

Real estate listings in Vietnam - 389 Ads
Accommodation in Vietnam - Guide
Associations for expatriates in Vietnam - Business
What happens to my house when my wife dies - 5 Replies
Foreigners owning property then renting them out as a business - 9 Replies
Building a house in vietnam - 8 Replies
Building House in Vietnam. - 1 Reply

charmavietnam ViP

2841POSTS

12 years ago

Oh still in progress?聽

聽 I thought you bought already.
As a foreigner you can own apartment if you fulfill certain conditions. (In your case you cannot because you are not residing here or you don't have a PRC/TRC, right? ). There is no chance to put your name in user certificate of property. If one of the spouse is foreigner then it should be under the name of Vietnamese spouse.
for more details.

VungTauDon Serial expat

684POSTS

12 years ago

No, still saving money, we are renting now. We will consult a lawyer later but I was hoping someone had some experience with this already.

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

Its about time Viet Nam changed this ridiculous policy of having to have it in a VN name.

Yen Le 2407 Member

10POSTS

12 years ago

Where are you from? If u come from countries which allow 2 nationalities, why dont you try to get聽 the Vietnamese nationality? That requires u a vietnamese name and by that way, you can have ur own ownership on a lot of properties in Vietnam. Also it could help you a lot with your work permit and visa.

milkybunnyHCM Serial expat

329POSTS

12 years ago

No can do, not even Viet Kieu who were previously Vn citizens can! It sucks but maybe they'll change it soon?

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

Yen Le 2407 wrote:
Where are you from? If u come from countries which allow 2 nationalities, why dont you try to get聽 the Vietnamese nationality? .

Haha another comedian, ( how did I ever miss this post??? ), the VN Govt only gives Citizenship to foreigners posthumously. ( I think you may even have to be a Dead Frenchman ).

1 member reacted to this post

lirelou Serial expat

393POSTS

11 years ago

BlueNZ, in re: "( I think you may even have to be a Dead Frenchman )."

Or a living one with some serious history in the country, like Andre Menras. Also, one German woman who devoted her life to the current government's cause. (Hers was posthumous and I believe she is buried there.)

Apparently, merely rolling into Vietnam as an expat does not qualify. Imagine that.

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

Theres no way that your name can be on the deeds of the house. If you buy a house then it will be solely in your Vietnamise wifes name only. It certainly puts them in a stronger possition if you have an arguement. Like get out of my house, it belongs to me. And if it comes to a divorce, you get nothing.
I know a guy who his wife divorced him, she dident pat a penny towards the house or funishings, now he pays her rent for a room.

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

#10

Jeff Brewster wrote:
Theres no way that your name can be on the deeds of the house. If you buy a house then it will be solely in your Vietnamise wifes name only. It certainly puts them in a stronger possition if you have an arguement. Like get out of my house, it belongs to me. And if it comes to a divorce, you get nothing.
I know a guy who his wife divorced him, she dident pat a penny towards the house or funishings, now he pays her rent for a room.

There was a post on here a long time ago, (聽 put Jaitch in the search box at the top of this page ), he said if you put yourself down as a Manager?, they can't kick you out, or sell without your permission.,
In VN everything is split 50/50 after a divorce.

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#11

Thanks聽 Bluenz,
Thats made me feel beter, not that im thinking about a divorce, but i was thinking its not that fair on the guy if he gets a divorce and nine times out of ten its him who has put the money into it.

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

#12

Jeff Brewster wrote:
Thanks聽 Bluenz,
Thats made me feel beter, not that im thinking about a divorce, but i was thinking its not that fair on the guy if he gets a divorce and nine times out of ten its him who has put the money into it.

I'm lucky, we have separate houses, I only go to her house for conjugal visits, Vietnamese food, and to endure several hours of Chinese/Korean soapies, ( all parts spoken by that 1 annoying VN woman )

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

11 years ago

#13

If you get an independant lawyer to write up a document to say that you solely paid for the house and get her to sign it, then you are in a strong position.Keep the paperwork from the bank to show you brought the money into the country, if she wants to contest it she has to show evidence of ehere the money came from. She cant get 50% of something that she didnt pay for, she can only get a certain amount above what the improved property cost is.

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

#14

colinoscapee wrote:
If you get an independant lawyer to write up a document to say that you solely paid for the house and get her to sign it, then you are in a strong position.Keep the paperwork from the bank to show you brought the money into the country, if she wants to contest it she has to show evidence of ehere the money came from. She cant get 50% of something that she didnt pay for, she can only get a certain amount above what the improved property cost is.

I'm not sure if pre nuptials work in VN, has anyone tried it yet?聽 My wife had to prove the land her house was built on was actually owned by her sister, when she got divorced, and that (moderated: no vulgar word here pls) contributed nothing towards the house, but still got 1/2 of EVERYTHING.

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

11 years ago

#15

Talk to a lawyer and they will tell you its ok, I wouldnt be buying anything here that I couodnt get my money back on. The government wonders why expats dont buy in VN, I wonder why.

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

#16

colinoscapee wrote:
Talk to a lawyer and they will tell you its ok, I wouldnt be buying anything here that I couodnt get my money back on. The government wonders why expats dont buy in VN, I wonder why.

You would trust a VN lawyer????

1 member reacted to this post

Flip465 Serial expat

265POSTS

11 years ago

#17

colinoscapee wrote:
Talk to a lawyer and they will tell you its ok, I wouldn't be buying anything here that I couldn't get my money back on. The government wonders why expats dont buy in VN, I wonder why.

Trust a lawyer ???聽聽

Guarantee for the right price, (you pay cash in advance) you could find a VN lawyer who arrange to sell you either or both :聽 -

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.聽 Office of the National Assembly. 35 Ngo Quyen. Hanoi.

OR,

The Independence Palace. aka聽 Reunification Palace. 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

You might have to wait a while for the blue book for either buildings - but your VN lawyer will assure you it's just the usual government agencies delays taking聽 so long聽 to get the paper work done.聽

Wonder no more.聽

1 member reacted to this post

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#18

I know two good lawyers in Vietnan, one is called Robin Banks, and the other is called Robin foreigner.

2 members reacted to this post

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#19

Very good, that sums up lawyers to a tea. In England five of us took on a lawyer to do some buisness work concerning a property. It took him four years to put right the wrongs he did. In the end we payed him one hundred thousend pounds, which left the rest of us with a piss poor profit of just 12 grand each. Maybe this has something to do with the fact i detest all lawyers.

1 member reacted to this post

Happy8888 Serial expat

563POSTS

11 years ago

#20

My understanding is that a foreigner can own 49% and the viet 51% of land. This of course gives the viet controlling interest and the right to just kick you out should there be problems. However , there is a way around this if you have a trusted viet friend or the like. You can have them own 2% whilst you and your viet partner own 49% each . This way and as long as your trusted viet friend remains honorable , you can never be evicted nor can the property be sold without the friends ok. I would suggest that your viet friend does not know your spouse or her family and be kept at arms length from them

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#21

Not your besenes sudup

Happy8888 Serial expat

563POSTS

11 years ago

#22

Pray tell? Besenes sudup ?

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

#23

Happy8888 wrote:
Pray tell? Besenes sudup ?

Jeff also speaks Welsh.

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#24

Do la chuyen cua vo chong toi toi khong thich aiban raban vao ca,lam ondung nhieu huyen nua

Happy8888 Serial expat

563POSTS

11 years ago

#25

I think Jeff may have been drinking ! Either that or he thinks being an uninformative nutter is somewhat amusing. Small things amuse small .......

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#26

Im sorry everyone, ive been out and ive have just come back and have seen that my wife has been on here ( bless her ). She dont like me coming on here, she says that i gossip. Which is true. She thinks that i only speak to the girls, its called paranoid. Sorry to everyone please for give her she no not what she do.

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

#27

Jeff Brewster wrote:
Im sorry everyone, ive been out and ive have just come back and have seen that my wife has been on here ( bless her ). She dont like me coming on here, she says that i gossip. Which is true. She thinks that i only speak to the girls, its called paranoid. Sorry to everyone please for give her she no not what she do.

I called our local Paranoia Society today.
The guy who answered the phone said,"How the hell did you get this number?"

One in three people suffer from Paranoia.
The other two are watching him....

Merry Christmas to all the paranoia sufferers out there. Just remember, you are not alone.....

1 member reacted to this post

Happy8888 Serial expat

563POSTS

11 years ago

#28

For gods sake man , control that woman. Big question is " How did she get out of the kitchen "???

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#29

The qestion is how the hell did she ever get out the loony bin in the first place? I knew there was something when i come home from walking the dogs and we got cought in the rain, and we made the foor all dirty. She dident say a word, then she said would you like a cup of tea darling. Hello whats going on here. I was hopping the next question would be come in the bedroom and sort me out big boy. ( that was just a fantacy). Dident happen. Then i gets out the ipad and she says ive got to go over to my sisters, and she was gone in less than minute. Thats funny because when we go out she takes an hour to get ready. Then it all came to light, i opened the ipad pissed myself laughing,. Sorry 8888 you must have thought i i was smoking some extra stong Jamacan woodbines (again)聽 the truth is my wife cant read English that great, she sees the word lawyer puts 2 and 2 together and comes up with 楼*#~>$ shes not very good with maths or English, but she can cook a good fish soup.

bluenz Member

1933POSTS

11 years ago

#30

Jeff Brewster wrote:
The qestion is how the hell did she ever get out the loony bin in the first place? I knew there was something when i come home from walking the dogs and we got cought in the rain, and we made the foor all dirty. She dident say a word, then she said would you like a cup of tea darling. Hello whats going on here. I was hopping the next question would be come in the bedroom and sort me out big boy. ( that was just a fantacy). Dident happen. Then i gets out the ipad and she says ive got to go over to my sisters, and she was gone in less than minute. Thats funny because when we go out she takes an hour to get ready. Then it all came to light, i opened the ipad pissed myself laughing,. Sorry 8888 you must have thought i i was smoking some extra stong Jamacan woodbines (again)聽 the truth is my wife cant read English that great, she sees the word lawyer puts 2 and 2 together and comes up with 楼*#~>$ shes not very good with maths or English, but she can cook a good fish soup.

Consider yourself lucky Jeff, I was renewing my passport, when my then Filipino wife, ( yeh, I know, you would have thought I would have learn t from that marriage??? ), saw the envelope addressed to Immigration, I had a visit from the Police the next morning, telling me she had taken out an order which forbade me from going near the house, I practically had to beg them to let me go back and get some clothes, she thought I was trying to get her deported????

Jeff Brewster Active member

95POSTS

11 years ago

#31

Ha ha , yes thats brought a smile to my face, but the tears are still there from the football, well if you can call it that. From the defeat we suffered today at the hans of ay聽 Loius Sanches. Roy f,,ing Hogson could run a bath, let alone the English foot ball team. 1966 is looking more like infinaty. Roony and co are on 300 grand a week. In 1966 they were on 30 quid aweek and still won the F,,king world cup.. Time for more Saigon beer.