How can a newcomer open a bank account in Vietnam in 2026?

Bring your original foreign passport. A foreigner residing in Vietnam must also show a valid entry visa, a document used instead of a visa, or proof of visa exemption under Circular 17/2024 as amended by Circular 25/2025. A temporary residence card gives stronger long-stay evidence, but it does not force approval.

Prepare your current Vietnamese address, overseas address, local phone number, email, occupation, and every country of tax residence with the relevant taxpayer number. A tạm trú confirmation, meaning proof that your accommodation reported your temporary stay, can support the local address. Banks may also request an employment contract, employer letter, work permit, payslips, school or investment papers, or records showing where savings came from.

The bank must complete customer identification and anti-money-laundering checks, which are checks against illicit funds and sanctioned activity. Circular 25/2025 requires direct verification for a foreign individual in Vietnam using a passport or other foreign identity document. An app may start the form, but a branch visit can still be necessary for passport and biometric matching. Biometrics are a face or other physical feature used to confirm identity.

Ask for a VND account, meaning an account in Vietnamese dong, for local salary and bills. Foreign-currency accounts are permitted only within Vietnam's foreign-exchange rules, and depositing or transferring foreign currency can require evidence of the source and lawful transaction. Do not assume a US-dollar balance can be used like a domestic VND current account.

Compare debit-card access, domestic transfers, international remittances, cash withdrawal limits, foreign-exchange spread, monthly fees, and English support. Confirm whether the bank can activate mobile banking on your exact passport and phone combination. VNeID is Vietnam's electronic identity system. Some automated journeys are built around Vietnamese identity data, so a foreign passport holder may need manual branch verification when VNeID matching is unavailable.

Give payroll the account name and number exactly as the bank displays them. Test one domestic transfer, card payment, cash withdrawal, and app login before moving a large balance. For international transfers, retain payslips, contracts, tax papers, and source-of-funds records because the bank may need a lawful-purpose file.

Update the bank after a passport renewal, visa or card change, new phone number, address move, employer change, or revised tax residence. A mismatch between an expired passport and the banking profile can limit electronic transactions. Never let an agent register the app on another person's device or retain your one-time security codes.