What Does the World Say About Vietnam's Real Estate Market?

At the VREF 2026 Forum, themed "Shaping Standards for Sustainable Real Estate Market Development", experts and leaders from leading reputable real estate organizations globally and regionally offered diverse insights, positioning Vietnam's real estate market in comparison with international development standards.

Standards are Not a Destination, But a Foundation

Mr. Farook Mahmood, former President of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI World), highlighted a core issue: no real estate market can develop sustainably without a clear and consistent system of standards. According to him, these standards – concerning information transparency, risk management, professional practice, and market discipline – form the "framework" that helps the market self-regulate, limiting speculative boom cycles.

In this context, Vietnam's proactive approach to building and implementing a set of standards that are suitable for domestic conditions, while also aligning with international practices, is considered a step in the right direction. This is not only for better management of the current market, but also to prepare for the next phase of development, as capital flows increasingly prioritize sustainability, transparency, and long-term viability.

The standardization drive that Vietnam is pursuing is a pivotal factor to attract long-term investment capital, mitigate systemic risks, and safeguard the interests of market participants.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Soma Sundram, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Real Estate Network Alliance (ARENA), asserted that standardization is the shortest path to professionalizing the real estate market. In particular, he emphasized the crucial role of real estate brokers – the direct link connecting supply and demand and fostering public trust. Experience from ASEAN countries shows that when brokers are standardized in terms of competence, professional ethics, and effective supervision, the market operates more transparently, simultaneously enhancing the nation's competitiveness on the regional real estate map.

Lessons from Mature Markets

Offering insights from a leading developed market in Asia, Mr. Jeffhery Foo, former President of the Institute of Estate Agents Singapore (IEA), shared that market stability does not come from luck, but is the result of a long process of building market discipline based on clear standards and a robust management system.

In Singapore, regulations regarding professional practice, information disclosure, buyer protection, and market oversight are strictly enforced, creating a strong foundation of trust for investors and consumers.

According to him, the standardization drive that Vietnam is pursuing is a pivotal factor to attract long-term investment capital, mitigate systemic risks, and safeguard the interests of market participants. This is also a necessary condition for Vietnam's real estate sector to shift from extensive growth to intensive development.

In addition to these prominent guiding perspectives, the presence of experts from Thailand, Myanmar, and South Korea further affirmed the regional and international connectivity of VREF 2026. These diverse insights revealed that, despite each country having different contexts and levels of development, the commonality lies in the requirement to build standards as a foundation for sustainable development.

In this phase of robust market restructuring, steadfast adherence to the path of transparency, professionalism, and alignment with international standards will determine the long-term viability of Vietnam's real estate sector.

Communicated by An Huy Group

According to CafeLand Newspaper