Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism: Building a legal framework for short-term accommodation business owners

Regarding the short-term accommodation model in apartments, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has responded in writing to the reflection of Tuoi Tre newspaper.

A group of international tourists staying at an apartment building in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: HIEU GIANG

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has just issued a document responding to issues related to the short-term accommodation business model in apartments, as reported by Tuoi Tre newspaper .

According to the Department of Tourism, in recent years, the sharing economy model in the accommodation sector (especially short-term stays in apartments) has developed strongly in Ho Chi Minh City, meeting the diverse needs of international tourists, experts, short-term workers and young people who love homestay experiences.

The Department of Tourism believes that this model also has many shortcomings such as difficulties in managing security and order, not ensuring fire prevention and fighting conditions, not having a strict monitoring mechanism, and posing potential risks to tourists.

The Department of Tourism said that on February 27, 2025, the City People's Committee issued Decision No. 26 regulating the management and use of apartment buildings in the area, including regulations on the management of apartment exploitation activities as tourist accommodation facilities in apartment buildings, conditions for exploiting apartments as tourist accommodation services (in Article 12 of the regulation) and this issue has a direct impact on households that have been doing business under the Airbnb model in the past time.

According to the Department of Tourism, implementing the policy of the City People's Committee according to plan No. 2704 dated April 18, 2025 on developing the sharing economy in Ho Chi Minh City for the period 2025-2030, in which the Department of Science and Technology and related units research and develop "Policy to promote the development of the sharing economy model in the field of tourist accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City".

The Department of Tourism said that the policy is expected to be completed in 2027, with the main contents as follows:

Build a complete and practical legal framework, regulate business registration, and grant licenses to short-term accommodation business owners; build and implement tax policies for room rental activities via sharing platforms, in line with the tax system of Ho Chi Minh City and the national tax system.

Build a coordination mechanism between local authorities and sharing platforms to monitor activities and promptly handle violations related to security, order, and fire prevention and fighting.

Complete the intelligent management and monitoring system; develop an integrated electronic information portal that allows individuals and organizations to register and declare taxes easily; an information portal that connects data between relevant agencies and localities; ensure transparent management and continuous updates.

NGOC HIEN - THAO LE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/so-du-lich-tp-hcm-dang-xay-dung-khung-phap-ly-de-chu-nha-kinh-doanh-luu-tru-ngan-han-20250605155530267.htm