Serviced apartments see strong growth in Hanoi, face challenges in HCMC

The serviced apartment market in Hanoi experienced significant growth in 2024, driven by strong foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, while it faced challenges from declining FDI and increasing competition in Ho Chi Minh City.

In 2024, Vietnam attracted a total of $38.2 billion in registered FDI. The FDI disbursement reached $25.4 billion, a 9% year-on-year increase and an all-time high.

The influx of FDI led to a substantial number of foreign experts and workers living and working in Vietnam, boosting the growth of serviced apartments, particularly in Hanoi and HCMC.

However, this segment showed contrasting trends in the two major cities.

According to a Savills Vietnam report, the total serviced apartment supply reached 6,246 units from 64 projects, maintaining stability quarter-on-quarter and increasing by 3% year-on-year, after the SwissBelresidences Hanoi project began operation in Q3/2024.

Occupancy rates rose 2 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year to 84%. In particular, A- and B-grade apartments had higher occupancy rates quarter-on-quarter, while C-grade ones saw a 2-percentage-point decline.

Average rent climbed by 1% quarter-on-quarter and 2% year-on-year, reaching nearly VND600,000 ($23.5) per square meter per month. Grade C was the only segment to experience a decrease in rental prices.

In 2024, Hanoi attracted $2.2 billion in FDI from 293 newly registered projects, a 30% surge from the same period of 2023, ranking fifth in the country, after Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, HCM, and Quang Ninh.

The capital city also approved the planning of three new industrial parks (IPs) in Thuong Tin and Soc Son districts, covering a total area of 600 hectares. These include Bac Thuong Tin IP (137 hectares), Phung Hiep IP (175 hectares), and Soc Son IP (324 hectares). Ten existing IPs span 1,300 hectares, nine of which are fully occupied.

The expansion of industrial parks is expected to attract more tenants into the serviced apartment market, particularly foreign experts, engineers, and technicians.

Regarding future supply, Savills expected from this year, Hanoi will have 17 new projects with 4,077 units to be launched.

In 2025 alone, seven projects will provide 2,889 units, with the West Lake View Complex projected to add the largest supply of A-grade units. One project in Tay Ho district is expected to add 162 units by 2026. Up to 83% of future supply will be in the inner city, while the remaining 17% will be in the western area.

International operators continue to dominate Hanoi’s market, with 87% of future supply. Notable market players include The Ascott, Lotte Group, Parkroyal Serviced Suites Hanoi, Shilla Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, and Hyatt.

Matthew Powell, director of Savills Hanoi, said he believed that the development of industrial parks, along with strong FDI flows, has been a key driver of the serviced apartment demand growth.

Challenges from declining FDI, competition in HCMC

Meanwhile, in HCMC, in Q4/2024, the supply of serviced apartments decreased by 3% quarter-on-quarter but remained stable year-on-year, with over 8,000 units.

The quarterly decline was primarily due to the closure of 55 A-grade apartments at Indochine Park Tower and the conversion of 175 serviced apartments into hotels in two projects.

Savills forecast that the future supply of serviced apartments in the southern hub will be limited, with increasing competition from rental apartments.

By 2027, only nine projects with a total of around 700 units are expected to enter the market. Of these, B-grade apartments will account for 67% of future supply, with an average 160 units per project.

Since 2021, the situation had improved, with occupancy rates increasing by an average of 4 percentage points per year and rental prices rising 1% annually. However, in 2024, occupancy dropped by 3 percentage points year-on-year to 79%, mainly due to weaker short-term demand in Q3. Rental prices remained stable year-on-year at VND515,000 ($20.2) per sqm per month.

In Q4, rents rose 2% quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, reaching VND522,000 ($20.45) per sqm per month. Along with the rent increase, high demand during the year-end period helped boost landlords' confidence.

Occupancy increased by 5 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and by 1 percentage point year-on-year to 82%, thanks to demand from expatriates, international visitors, and business travelers.

There was strong consumption across all categories, with 315 units sold. B-grade apartments accounted for the largest share at 77%, driven by short-term demand from international visitors and business travelers, followed by C-grade with 20%, and A-grade 3%.

FDI is a key driver of accommodation demand from foreign workers in Vietnam. However, experts assessed that the slowdown in FDI growth in HCMC may pose challenges for the growth of this segment.

In 2024, registered FDI in the city reached $3 billion, a 49% plunge from the previous year. Newly registered capital was $511 million, down 15% year on year.

At the same time, the serviced apartment segment in HCMC faced direct competition from more affordable rental apartments. In Q4, serviced apartment rents were approximately 45-112% higher than those for high-end residential apartments. By 2027, more than 5,000 A- and B-grade apartments are expected to enter the market.

Su Ngoc Khuong, senior director of investment at Savills Vietnam, commented that in 2024, serviced apartments in HCMC showed an improvement in performance thanks to growth in international visitors and the year-end travel demand. However, the slowdown in FDI could affect the future prospects of this sector, he noted.