Opening a homestay in Vietnam in 2026: which permits, and where to file
HostBooking · · 8 min read
Opening a homestay in Vietnam in 2026 takes four things: registering a household business at the commune office, a security and order certificate from the commune police, meeting fire-safety rules, and the minimum standards for a home renting rooms to tourists. Only then do you take guests and file their stay notices.
What the law calls a homestay
The Law on Tourism 2017 (No. 09/2017/QH14) lists eight kinds of tourist accommodation in Article 48. One is nhà ở có phòng cho khách du lịch thuê, a home with rooms for tourists: the legal name for a homestay. Article 49 sets three conditions: a business registration; meeting security and order, fire safety, environmental and food safety requirements; and minimum standards for facilities and service.
The minimum standards are in Article 27 of Decree 168/2017/ND-CP, the decree implementing the Tourism Law, still in force and partly amended by Decrees 142/2018 and 94/2021. In short: lighting and clean water; a shared living area, guest sleeping area, kitchen, bathroom and toilet; beds, mattresses, blankets, pillows and towels, with covers changed for each new guest; and a manager who has done tourism service training.
Four steps, in order
- Register a household business (hộ kinh doanh), or a company if you prefer, with accommodation services as its line of business.
- Sort out fire safety: check whether the property is on the managed list, prepare the file and the equipment.
- Get the security and order certificate (giấy chứng nhận đủ điều kiện về an ninh, trật tự) from the police.
- Tell the provincial tourism authority and open, then file a stay notice for guests every day.
1. Household business registration
Since 1 July 2025, household businesses register under Decree 168/2025/ND-CP on business registration. Districts no longer exist, so you file with the commune-level business registration office where the homestay is, in person or online with a VNeID digital identity. Decree 296/2026/ND-CP (in force 23 July 2026) changed some online filing rules, so read the current instructions on the public services portal first.
Tax is separate: from 2026 household businesses no longer pay presumptive tax or the business licence fee, and a homestay earning up to VND 500 million a year pays no VAT or personal income tax. See Vietnam homestay tax 2026.
2. Fire safety
The rules are the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue 2024 (No. 55/2024/QH15) and Decree 105/2025/ND-CP implementing it, both in force since 1 July 2025. Decree 347/2026/ND-CP (in force 15 September 2026) amended some of its articles.
Under Appendix I of Decree 105/2025, hotels, guesthouses and other accommodation two storeys or higher, or with 50 m² of floor area or more, are on the list of premises managed for fire safety. Most homestays qualify. You then need house rules, signs, extinguishers, emergency lights and clear escape routes, a fire-safety log and a firefighting plan for the premises. Ask the commune police which forms they use; the fire-safety papers also go into the security certificate application in the next step.
3. The security and order certificate
Accommodation is a business with security and order conditions under Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, amended by Decree 56/2023/ND-CP and most recently by Decree 58/2026/ND-CP (issued 13 February 2026, in force 15 March 2026). Under Decree 58/2026, a property with 29 rooms or fewer applies to the commune police; 30 rooms or more, or businesses with foreign elements, stay with the provincial police administrative unit. Electronic documents are accepted, and some papers, such as a criminal record extract, are no longer needed when the office can look them up in a national database.
Taking guests without the certificate can be fined VND 10–20 million for an individual, according to Can Tho city police’s summary of the current penalty rules. The person responsible for security must also qualify, for example not be serving a sentence.
4. The tourism authority, and opening
Accommodation is overseen by the provincial tourism authority: the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, or a Department of Tourism, depending on the province after the 2025 mergers. Many provinces ask for a notice before you open; Lao Cai, for example, asks for it at least 15 days ahead. Article 53 of the Tourism Law also requires written notice when the name, size, address or legal representative changes, and posting prices and house rules on site. Need house rules? Use the homestay house rules template.
From the first guest on, every overnight guest must be reported to the police before 11 pm: see guest stay notices.
After the 2025 province mergers: where to file
| Task | Main document | Where to file or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Household business registration | Decree 168/2025/ND-CP | Commune business registration office, or online |
| Fire safety | Law 55/2024/QH15, Decree 105/2025/ND-CP | Commune police / provincial fire police |
| Security certificate (≤ 29 rooms) | Decree 96/2016, amended by 56/2023 and 58/2026 | Commune police |
| Minimum standards, opening notice | Tourism Law 2017, Decree 168/2017 | Provincial tourism department |
| Guest stay notices | Law on Residence and its guidance | Commune police, VNeID, public services portal |
Since 1 July 2025 Vietnam has 34 provinces and cities and no district level. Work once done at district offices or district police has moved to the commune or the province. Ward and commune names on old papers may have changed; use the current ones on new applications.
Rules change quickly and local offices may apply them differently. This post summarises documents checked up to 2 November 2026 and is for reference only. Before filing, ask the commune People’s Committee and police where the homestay is.
Common mistakes
- Taking guests before the security certificate, thinking the household business registration is enough.
- Skipping fire safety because there are only a few rooms, when the threshold is two storeys or 50 m² of floor.
- Advertising “3-star” or “resort” without a rating: the Tourism Law allows the word “star” only after official rating.
- Not posting prices and house rules on site.
- Forgetting stay notices for OTA guests because the booking never passed through your hands.
Papers done: running it without the mess
HostBooking handles what comes after the permits: scan a chip CCCD to fill in guest details and download the stay list in the CT14 columns, S1a/S2a household business ledgers, a room calendar and QR deposits. It takes no commission per booking and has a Free plan. See features or create an account.
Frequently asked questions
Does a homestay with a few rooms need the security and order certificate?
Yes. Accommodation is a business with security and order conditions under Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, whatever the number of rooms. Since 15 March 2026, properties with 29 rooms or fewer apply to the commune police.
Does a homestay need fire-safety paperwork?
Under Appendix I of Decree 105/2025/ND-CP, accommodation two storeys or higher, or with 50 m² of floor area or more, is managed for fire safety. Most homestays are, so you need a file, house rules and firefighting equipment.
Where do I register a household business now that districts are gone?
Since 1 July 2025, with the commune-level business registration office where the homestay is, under Decree 168/2025/ND-CP, in person or online with a VNeID account.
Is a star rating required?
No. But without an official rating you may not use the word “star” or star images in advertising, under Article 53 of the Tourism Law 2017.
Can a foreigner register a homestay as a household business?
Household businesses are for Vietnamese citizens. Foreigners usually need a foreign-invested company, and then the security certificate goes through the provincial police. Talk to a lawyer first.