Interior Design Cost in Ho Chi Minh City (2026)
Quick Answer
Estimated rangeIn Ho Chi Minh City, interior design is commonly priced either as a design fee per square metre or as a percentage of the fit-out budget. A practical working estimate is around 150,000-500,000 VND per m² for design-only work, with many full interior fit-out projects landing around 3,000,000-8,000,000 VND per m² depending on finish level. Publicly standardised pricing is limited, so most market figures should be treated as estimates unless confirmed directly in a written quotation.
Overview
Interior design costs in Ho Chi Minh City vary widely because local firms package services differently: some charge only for concept and drawings, while others combine design, project management, furniture specification and build execution. For apartments and houses, the most common charging method is a design fee per square metre, with lower rates for simple modern schemes and higher rates for bespoke, luxury or highly customised interiors. Commercial interiors such as cafés, offices and retail units often cost more because they involve branding, MEP coordination, approvals, and tighter delivery schedules. In practice, homeowners in Ho Chi Minh City should budget separately for design and for fit-out works unless a contractor offers a turnkey package. Design-only pricing often sits in the low hundreds of thousands of dong per square metre, while the construction and furnishing budget is usually several million dong per square metre. Small projects may have a minimum fee, and one-off consultations or site visits are sometimes charged hourly or as a standalone call-out. Final cost is heavily affected by apartment size, level of custom carpentry, imported materials, and whether the property is a shell unit or already partly finished. VAT treatment and scope detail should always be checked in the contract, because quoted prices in Vietnam may or may not clearly state whether VAT, supervision visits, revisions, 3D renders, and authority submissions are included.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Interior design fee(per m²) Estimated range based on typical residential interior design market rates in Ho Chi Minh City and other major Vietnamese cities for concept, drawings and basic design development only; exact public official price benchmarks are not standardised. | ~VND 150,000 – VND 500,000 | Estimated range |
| Full interior fit-out budget(per m²) Estimated range for mid-market residential interiors in Ho Chi Minh City including joinery, finishes and furnishing allowances; basis is typical local turnkey fit-out pricing rather than a regulated tariff. | ~VND 3,000,000 – VND 8,000,000 | Estimated range |
| Initial consultation / design meeting(per visit) Estimated range based on common professional service charging patterns for independent designers and small studios in Ho Chi Minh City where a first paid consultation or site survey is billed separately. | ~VND 500,000 – VND 2,000,000 | Estimated range |
| Hourly design rate(per hour) Estimated range for freelance or consultancy-based interior design time in Ho Chi Minh City; many firms do not publish hourly rates and prefer fixed-fee or per-m² pricing. | ~VND 300,000 – VND 1,200,000 | Estimated range |
| Design fee as share of project cost(percent of project cost) Estimated industry-style range used where designers price as a percentage of fit-out or procurement budget, especially for larger or more bespoke projects. | ~VND 5 – VND 15 | Estimated range |
What’s Typically Included
- Concept design
- Space planning
- 2D technical drawings
- 3D visualisations in some packages
- Material and finish selection
- Site supervision or project coordination in higher-tier packages
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
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Regulator / licensing: Department of Construction of Ho Chi Minh City; Ministry of Construction
Variants & Configurations
Duration
Small apartment design can take a few weeks; larger or bespoke residential and commercial projects often run several weeks to a few months before build completion.
How Fees Work
Most providers in Ho Chi Minh City quote a fixed fee per square metre, a lump-sum package, or a percentage of project value. Supervision visits, extra revisions and procurement management may be charged separately.
Factors Affecting Price
- Size of the property and whether the fee is priced per square metre or as a minimum package
- Scope included: concept only, 2D drawings, 3D renders, supervision, procurement, and turnkey build
- Level of finish, especially custom carpentry, imported furniture, stone, lighting and smart-home features
- Project type: apartment, landed house, office, café or retail unit
- Condition of the unit at handover, such as shell-and-core versus partly finished apartment
- Timeline pressure and number of design revisions
Local Context
In Ho Chi Minh City, quotes may be presented either before or after VAT, so confirm whether 10% VAT is included. Tipping is not a standard part of interior design pricing; contract clarity matters more than gratuities. Costs in central districts and premium condominium developments can be higher because of access restrictions, building management rules, delivery timing limits and stricter finishing requirements.
These are data-informed estimate ranges, not confirmed prices.
Costs like this vary widely by job, location, timing and provider, so there is no single fixed price. The ranges here are based on typical market rates to give you a realistic ballpark. For an exact figure for your situation, get a quote or check the official source below.
Prices are shown in Vietnamese đồng (VND). For larger fit-out projects, quotes are often itemised by m² and by furniture/joinery package rather than by room.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does interior design cost for an apartment in Ho Chi Minh City?+
A reasonable estimate for design-only services is about 150,000-500,000 VND per m². If you also want fit-out works, a mid-range total project budget often starts around 3,000,000 VND per m² and can go well beyond 8,000,000 VND per m² for higher-end finishes.
Do interior designers in Ho Chi Minh City charge by the hour?+
Some freelancers and consultants do, but many local studios prefer per-square-metre or package pricing. An hourly estimate for consulting work is roughly 300,000-1,200,000 VND.
Is there a call-out or consultation fee?+
Often yes, especially for independent designers or if the first visit includes measurements and advice. A practical estimate is 500,000-2,000,000 VND per visit, though some firms waive it if you sign a larger contract.
What usually makes the price go up the most?+
Custom joinery, imported materials, luxury kitchens, stone surfaces, complex lighting plans and on-site supervision are among the biggest drivers. Commercial spaces also tend to cost more because of branding, MEP coordination and approvals.
Are interior designers in Vietnam licensed?+
Interior design itself is not usually presented to consumers through a simple public licence register in the same way as some regulated trades. However, construction and fit-out activities can involve contractor capability requirements and oversight by construction authorities, so you should ask for business registration, portfolio, contract scope and any relevant construction credentials.
Where can I look for vetted interior designers or contractors?+
There is no single official public directory dedicated only to vetted interior designers in Ho Chi Minh City. In practice, buyers often use major business directories, developer recommendations, or trade and design associations, then verify company registration and contract scope directly.
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