Renting in Canada as a Newcomer from Vietnam
Canada is home to one of the world's largest Vietnamese diaspora communities, dating back to the post-1975 refugee waves. Here's what to know before you rent.
Community roots
Since 1975
one of Canada's oldest diasporas
Nova Credit
Not supported
use alternatives below
VND / CAD
~18,550
September 2026
Section 1
Vietnamese-Canadians form one of Canada's longest-established diaspora communities
We did not find a single verified current ranking figure for Vietnam among 2024 source countries, so we're not publishing one here. What is well documented is that Canada's Vietnamese community dates back to the post-1975 refugee resettlement waves, making it one of the country's more established diaspora groups with deep community infrastructure in most major cities.
Vancouver's Little Saigon, officially designated by the city in 2012, is the most distinctly branded Vietnamese-Canadian district in the country.
Section 2
No Canadian credit history? Here's how to still qualify
Building a rental application without Canadian credit history comes down to documentation:
- 1Bring a translated employment letter stating your role, tenure, and salary.
- 2Bring 4-12 months of bank statements showing consistent income or savings.
- 3Offer a guarantor or co-signer if you have a Canadian contact who can vouch financially.
- 4Offer a larger security deposit where the province allows it.
Section 3
Documents to bring
Passport & immigration documents
Passport, COPR, study permit, or work permit, and Canadian ID once issued.
Employment letter
A translated employment letter confirming role, tenure, and salary from your Vietnamese employer.
Bank statements
4-12 months of statements showing income or savings history.
Landlord reference
A reference letter from a previous landlord, translated if needed.
Section 4
Where Vietnamese newcomers tend to settle
Little Saigon, Vancouver
Kingsway, Fraser-Nanaimo & Knight
Officially designated by the City of Vancouver in 2012, Little Saigon is the country's most distinctly branded Vietnamese-Canadian district.
Chinatown & East Chinatown, Toronto
Spadina/Dundas West & Gerrard Street East
Toronto's Vietnamese community, roughly 45,000 people, is concentrated around the Spadina/Dundas West Chinatown and the East Chinatown area on Gerrard Street East.
Calgary has a Vietnamese population of roughly 21,000 but no single verified neighbourhood hub. Edmonton's Vietnamese business community clusters around its Chinatown area and is supported by the Edmonton Viets Association, though without a distinct "Little Vietnam" name.
Section 5
Converting your budget to Canadian dollars
As of September 2026, 1 Canadian dollar is worth approximately 18,550 Vietnamese dong (mid-market spot rate, XE.com). Rates move daily; check a live converter before budgeting.
Section 6
Setting up Canadian banking
Canada's major banks all run newcomer programs that waive fees and don't require Canadian credit history to open an account:
Scotia StartRight
Newcomer chequing account with no monthly fee for the first year, plus a credit card option with no credit history required.
RBC Newcomer
Banking package for newcomers to Canada, including a no-history credit card for eligible permanent residents and work/study permit holders.
BMO NewStart
Newcomer banking program with fee waivers and credit-building tools for the first year in Canada.
Section 7
Tenant rights where you're likely to land
Tenancy law in Canada is set provincially, not federally. Here's what applies in the provinces Vietnamese newcomers most often move to:
Calgary, AB
Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)
No rent control: landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice, but only once every 365 days. Security deposits are capped at one month's rent. Disputes go to the RTDRS.
Edmonton, AB
Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)
Same Alberta-wide rules as Calgary: no rent control, one rent increase per 365 days, deposit capped at one month's rent, disputes go to the RTDRS.
Toronto, ON
Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
Rent control applies to units built before November 2018 (annual guideline increase). No damage deposit is allowed, only last month's rent, which the landlord must pay annual interest on. Disputes go to the LTB.
Vancouver, BC
Residential Tenancy Act
Rent increases are capped by an annual government-set percentage. Security deposit capped at half a month's rent, plus a separate pet deposit of up to half a month's rent. Disputes go to the RTB.
Section 8
Apply faster with SQRFT Passport
Build your verified rental identity once (employment, income, references), then share it with any landlord in Canada. No Canadian credit history required to get started.
FAQ
Common questions from Vietnamese newcomers
Sources