Buying Australian Property from Vietnam: A Guide for Vietnamese Investors

Australia is consistently one of the most popular offshore property investment destinations for Vietnamese buyers. Cultural familiarity, a large Vietnamese community in Melbourne and Sydney, strong education connections, and long-term capital growth make Australian property a well-understood and trusted asset class for Vietnamese families and investors.

Why Vietnamese Investors Look at Australian Property

Vietnamese buyers are primarily motivated by three factors: asset diversification into a stable, AUD-denominated market; education — purchasing an apartment in Melbourne or Sydney while a child studies at an Australian university; and long-term capital preservation in a market with transparent title registration and rule of law.

Melbourne in particular has one of the largest Vietnamese communities outside Vietnam. Buyers from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have well-established networks in Melbourne's suburbs, making the purchasing and management process significantly more accessible.

What Vietnamese Buyers Can Purchase

As foreign investors, Vietnamese buyers who are not Australian permanent residents or citizens are generally limited to purchasing new residential property. This includes off-the-plan apartments, newly completed dwellings, and vacant land for residential development.

FIRB approval is required. The application is straightforward for standard residential new property purchases and is typically approved within 30 days.

FIRB and the Buying Process

Vietnamese buyers apply for FIRB approval online through the Australian government's foreign investment portal. The fee depends on the purchase price. Legal documentation is in English; VSNRY works with buyers to arrange Vietnamese-speaking solicitors and conveyancers where needed.

Costs for Vietnamese Buyers

In Victoria, foreign buyers pay an 8% Foreign Purchaser Additional Duty (FPAD) on top of standard stamp duty. For a $650,000 Melbourne apartment, FPAD is $52,000. Total acquisition costs including all duties, FIRB fee, and legal fees typically run to 12–15% of the purchase price.

In Queensland (Gold Coast), the Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty (AFAD) is also 8%. Queensland does not have an off-the-plan stamp duty concession for investors.

Popular Property Types for Vietnamese Buyers

New apartments in Melbourne's CBD and inner suburbs are the most common purchase for Vietnamese investors — particularly those purchasing for a child's university accommodation or as a long-term investment. House and land packages in growth corridors represent the next most popular product for buyers focused on yield and depreciation.

How VSNRY Works with Vietnamese Buyers

VSNRY Property has experience working with Vietnamese buyers at all stages of the investment process. We provide access to FIRB-eligible new property in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast, and coordinate with legal, tax, and mortgage professionals to ensure the transaction process is clear and managed from the Australian side.

Contact VSNRY to discuss available projects and begin the inquiry process.