Maintenance Fund in Vietnam: What Property Buyers Need to Know (2026 Guide)
When receiving a quotation for a property in Vietnam, many buyers come across a term that feels unfamiliar:
“Maintenance Fund” (Vietnamese: Kinh phí bảo trì – KPBT).
This often raises a series of practical questions:
- What exactly is this fee?
- Why do I have to pay it upfront?
- Is it a one-time payment or recurring?
- If I sell the property, does the next buyer have to pay it again?
These are very common concerns especially for first-time buyers or international investors.
- In this guide, we will break it down in simple terms what it is, how it works, and how it affects the total price you actually pay when buying property in Vietnam.
What Is a Maintenance Fund?
The maintenance fund (it’s called a sinking fund) is a one-time fee paid when purchasing an apartment in Vietnam. It is used for the long-term maintenance of the building, especially shared areas and major repairs.
Importantly, this is not an optional fee. The requirement to collect a maintenance fund is stipulated by Vietnamese law, specifically under the Housing Law 2014, and continues to be enforced and further clarified in the Housing Law 2023. This means all apartment projects are legally required to collect this fund from buyers.
Unlike monthly service fees, the maintenance fund is collected once at handover and is reserved for future use.
In simple terms: It is money set aside in advance to ensure the building remains well-maintained over time as required by law.
Maintenance Fund vs Monthly Service Fee
Many buyers confuse these two. In some countries, buyers don’t notice this cost because it is spread out monthly while in Vietnam, it is more transparent as an upfront fee. They serve completely different purposes. Here is the difference:
- Maintenance fund: one-time payment for long-term repairs
- Monthly management fee: recurring payment for daily operations (cleaning, security, management)
How Is the Maintenance Fund Managed?
- Who actually holds this money, and how is it managed?
Under Vietnamese regulations, the 2% maintenance fund is strictly managed in two distinct stages ensuring transparency and proper use. This structure is designed to ensure that the fund is transparent, protected, and used in the best interest of residents.
Stage 1: Held by the Developer (At Handover)
When you receive your apartment, the maintenance fund is paid directly to the developer.
However, this money is not treated as part of the developer’s business revenue.
The developer is legally required to:
- Open a separate term deposit account at a licensed bank
- Keep this account completely independent from their operational funds
- Use it solely to hold the maintenance fund for the building
This ensures the fund is preserved and even generates interest over time.
Stage 2: Transferred to the Management Board (After Occupancy)
Once residents move in and a building management board is established (elected by the residents), the responsibility shifts.
Within 7 days after the management board is officially recognized: The developer must transfer the entire maintenance fund including both principal and accumulated interest into an account controlled by the management board
From this point onward:
- The management board represents the residents
- The fund is jointly managed with the bank
- Money can only be used for approved maintenance works
What Does the Maintenance Fund Cover?
The fund is used for maintaining and repairing common areas and shared infrastructure, such as:
- Elevators and technical systems
- Building facade and exterior
- Parking systems
- Lobbies and hallways
- Fire safety and security systems
These are long-term, large-scale expenses not daily operations.
How Much Is the Maintenance Fund
in Vietnam?
2%
of the apartment value (before VAT)
Example:
Apartment price (net): 5,000,000,000 VND
Maintenance fund (2%): 100,000,000 VND
This amount is typically paid at the time of handover.
Is the Maintenance Fund Refundable?
- No, the maintenance fund is not refundable.
- It is transferred to the next owner if you sell the property.
This means the fund remains attached to the apartment, not the individual owner.
Understanding Presale Property Pricing in Vietnam
Price components when buying presale property in Vietnam
Price components
Net Price
The price quoted by the developer after discount, excluding taxes and fees.
VAT (10%)
Calculated based on the net price
Maintenance Fund (2%)
Calculated based on the net price
Total Price = Net Price + VAT (10%) + Maintenance Fund (2%)
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