How can tenants recover a rental deposit in Vietnam if the landlord or agent refuses to refund it?

From messages by 2 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 20 days ago

TL;DR

If you have met the lease terms and the deposit is withheld, a police report may be an option. Legal action is possible, but a local lawyer may charge around VND 21 million, so compare the cost with the amount you could recover.

What the community said

If you have complied with the rental agreement but the deposit is still withheld, take the contract and proof of payment to the local police as a practical next step.

20 days ago local police

Before paying a deposit, put the refund terms and any compensation for a failed move-in in writing. One agreement specified a double refund if the tenants could not be moved in.

20 days ago double deposit refund

Court action may not be economical for a modest deposit: a local lawyer quoted about VND 21 million, nearly the value of the deposit. In the reported case, the agents refunded the deposit and added VND 1 million in compensation, so legal action was dropped.

20 days ago VND 21 million; VND 1 million