1. View accommodation in person:
   Search for housing in person, instead of renting over the internet before you've seen it yourself. It's good to pick the ones you'd like to see on the internet and then go view it personally before committing. A lot of places look different in person than what you'll see in pictures. You will always have a lot of options to choose from, so don't feel rushed. 
    

2. Location, location, location! 
   It's inconvenient when you've got the perfect place but then it's in the middle of nowhere or there's a lot of construction happening which will go on for months. 
   
   What makes Vietnam unique is that everything can be within walking distance from your apartment. The beach, restaurants, a local convenience store, bars etc. Therefore, most foreigners prefer Ngu Hanh Son District. Some foreigners would like to try and live in Son Tra District (near Son Tra Peninsula and mountain) to really get the feel of the Vietnamese culture. However, keep in mind that this can be challenging when living so far away from everything, especially from the convenience of getting weekly affordable & healthy take-out food delivered to your doorstep after long nights of teaching or quickly visiting a convenience store. 
   
   Questions to consider:
   - How far is it from the all three FSA locations? 10 - 15 minutes drive should be normal
   - How far from the beach?
   - How far from a local convenience store?
   - Is it a noisy place with a lot of construction?
   
   IMPORTANT NOTE: If you move into a place with a big open area somewhere near it which seems vacant, don't think to yourself "oh wow, some open space in my neighborhood", chances are they will start construction within a few weeks or months. It's safer to move into a place where there are no open areas for construction.
    

3. Make your requests known:
   Make requests prior to signing the contract. Some places will lack some items like a microwave, kettle, stove or they might have a small fridge (when you might prefer a larger fridge for long term use) or there might be some things you'd like to change or add for your convenience.
   
   Landlords are more than willing to meet your personal requirements & most of them will have no problem making changes. 
    

4. Discount for long term lease:
   If you are satisfied with your accommodation & planning to live there for at least 1 year or more, ask the landlord if you can get a discount for long term commitment – some landlords would be open to negotiate while others will not.
    

5. Pay upfront:
   Landlords will usually ask for 2-3 months of rent in advance plus 1 month’s rent as deposit. They will keep the deposit as insurance for any broken furniture or unpaid bills and will give it back to you at the end of your contract. This is normal in Danang.

 

If you contact housing agencies, usually they can show you the place the very next day. It’s best to contact a few agencies to have a few options. You can ask the landlord about the costs of electricity & water, Wi-Fi & available furniture.

 

On the Facebook Page “Da Nang & Hoi An Expats”, you can constantly find new advertisements of apartments and foreigners who wants to rent out a room - this is usually much cheaper and a great way to make new friends.