According to Batdongsan.com.vn's real estate market data for May 2026, the level of interest in real estate in the two largest markets nationwide has changed in the first five months of 2026. Specifically, Ho Chi Minh City now accounts for nearly 50% of the nationwide real estate interest, an increase of 8.5% compared to the same period last year, and is leading in search demand across the country.
Conversely, Hanoi's share price fell to 27.6%, a decrease of 5.9%. This development indicates that capital and buyer/investor interest are shifting back to the Southern market after a long period of price increases in the Northern market.
Nationwide, real estate searches in May decreased by approximately 5% compared to April. Looking at individual property types, apartments remain the leading segment in terms of interest, while other property types such as land plots and villas are experiencing greater downward pressure.
Apartment prices in Hanoi are falling.
In Hanoi, interest in apartments for sale increased by 4% in May compared to the previous month, showing a localized recovery but still lower than the same period in 2025. In the former Ho Chi Minh City, interest in apartments decreased by 3% compared to the previous month and by 11% compared to the previous year.
Conversely, the rental apartment market has seen more positive developments. Rental demand increased in both Hanoi (up 6%) and the former Ho Chi Minh City (up 24%) compared to the same period last year. This indicates that apartments remain a product with high real demand, especially given that home purchase prices exceed the financial capabilities of a segment of urban residents.
Regarding prices, the apartment market is differentiated by region. The average asking price for apartments in Hanoi in Q2/2026 is expected to be around 85 million VND/m2 - a 2% decrease compared to the previous quarter, while in the former Ho Chi Minh City it is 69 million VND/m2 - unchanged from the previous quarter. Asking prices for apartments in the former Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces both decreased by 3%.
Conversely, many localities saw an increase in apartment asking prices, such as Hai Phong (up 8%), Quang Ninh (up 6%), Binh Dinh (up 13%), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (up 20%), Long An (up 6%), and Dong Nai (up 5%) compared to the previous quarter. Provincial markets such as Da Nang , Quang Ninh, and Hung Yen also recorded an increase in interest in apartments for sale of 9-13% compared to April.
House prices in Ho Chi Minh City are falling.
Meanwhile, the market for detached houses shows a difference between the two major cities. Ho Chi Minh City maintains its appeal for detached houses for sale, with interest increasing by 5% in May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. In Hanoi, the demand for both detached houses for sale and rent has decreased.
According to Batdongsan.com.vn's big data, the gap in asking prices for private houses between the two major cities continues to widen. Specifically, the common price in Hanoi in May 2026 was approximately 253 million VND/m2, while in the former Ho Chi Minh City it was 119 million VND/m2. Meanwhile, the rental price for private houses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is almost the same, averaging around 20 million VND/house/month.
For street-front houses, data from Batdongsan.com.vn in May 2026 shows a decrease in interest of 8-10% compared to the previous month in both major cities. Price trends are contrasting; although asking prices for street-front houses in Hanoi have remained stable since the beginning of 2026, they are still 24% higher than in Q1 2025, while in Ho Chi Minh City, selling prices decreased by 7% during the same period, but rental prices increased by 38%.
In the markets of several other provinces and cities, the asking prices for townhouses have increased compared to the beginning of 2025. Da Nang leads with a 39% increase, followed by Khanh Hoa with a 17% increase and Hai Phong with a 16% increase.
“The real estate market is entering a phase of restructuring and differentiation. The downward trend in apartment prices in Hanoi is a signal reflecting the market's self-adjustment to its true value after a period of rapid growth. Meanwhile, the accelerated disbursement of infrastructure projects and the gradual implementation of new legal policies will be long-term drivers for the market,” said a representative from Batdongsan.com.vn.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/gia-nha-dat-ha-noi-cao-gap-doi-tphcm-post1852231.tpo
