The draft decree would supersede Decree No 90/2006/ND-CP that expanded the number of Overseas Vietnamese who are eligible to buy houses in Vietnam.

The draft decree divides eligible Overseas Vietnamese into two categories as follows:
The first comprises Vietnamese citizens living abroad, including Vietnamese nationals and foreign-passport holders who retain their Vietnamese nationality. They will be allowed to own an unlimited number of houses in Vietnam in the same way as Vietnamese living permanently in Vietnam. Vietnamese living abroad, and who have not retained their nationality will be included in this first category if eligible as listed by the Housing Law, Article 126.
The second allows Vietnamese living abroad who have been in Vietnam for at least six months or hold visa-exemption certificates to own a single residence.

The draft decree also provides stipulations on certificates and documents to identify who is an Overseas Vietnamese.

According to the Construction Ministry’s statistics, by the third quarter of 2007, about 130 Overseas Vietnamese had bought houses, mostly in Ho Chi Minh City.

However, Vietnamese people residing abroad still face a number of difficulties in purchasing houses at home as Decree No 90/2006/ND-CP does not give specific regulations on how to certify overseas Vietnamese who are eligible for home ownership in Vietnam. The Decree assigns the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Public Security to issue guidance on this issue.