The Hanoi real estate market saw optimistic development in the third quarter and the growth trend is expected to continue to the end of this year, Savills Vietnam real estate agent reported on Oct. 5.

"Good economic recovery in the third quarter helped the office and retail sectors in the property market," said Pham Thanh Son, Savills Vietnam economics expert.

Hanoi 's office occupancy rate average increased to 91 percent, a 4 percent jump, in the second quarter, according to Savills associate director and head of research and consultancy Tran Nhu Trung.

The average occupancy rate in the city's shopping centres remained high at 94 percent and many new shopping centres opened in this quarter.

The serviced apartment sector average dipped slightly to 91 percent from 92 percent in the third quarter but average rental rates increased by 0.4 percent to 26 USD per sq.m per month, Trung said.

Son reported challenges to credit acquisition for the capital property market, which include depreciating dong, high interest rates for loans and Decree 71, which contributed to a decline in mobilised capital.

Son also asserted that the increased price of gold and the higher exchange rate attracted more investors to the financial market so available capital for property projects has declined./.