What documents do I need to open a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner?

The legal baseline is a valid passport or other competent-authority identity document, plus an entry visa, valid visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. Banks may request more, such as local-address evidence or residence documentation. Bring originals; copies are usually made at the branch. Nothing in the reviewed material records a single universal list, so confirm with your chosen bank before visiting.

Can I open a Vietnamese bank account as a tourist?

Tourists and other short-term visitors may face substantially more difficulty than residents, and approval is not assured even where a non-resident payment-account route exists. The legal baseline requires a valid visa or visa-exemption proof, but banks can impose stricter onboarding. If you are on a tourist visa, you may be asked for additional residence or purpose evidence, and a refusal is possible.

Why do different banks or branches ask for different documents?

Foreigners should not assume that every Vietnamese bank or branch applies the same onboarding requirements; branch-level and bank-level policies can differ. A bank may request additional information beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. This variation is normal, not a sign of a scam. Ask the specific branch what it needs before you go.

How long does it take to open a bank account in Vietnam?

Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN sets no standard processing time for opening an account, and same-day opening is not guaranteed. How long it takes can vary by bank and branch, and by whether your documents are complete and the bank asks for more. Confirm timing with the bank before you go.

What extra documents might a bank request beyond my passport and visa?

A bank may request additional information or documents beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. Examples from the reviewed material include proof of where you live in Vietnam and why you need the account. Nothing in the reviewed material records a fixed list, so ask your branch in advance.

Which circular regulates opening a payment account in Vietnam?

Circular No. 17/2024/TT-NHNN, issued by the State Bank of Vietnam on 28 June 2024, regulates the opening and use of payment accounts at payment service providers.

How Foreigners Can Open a Bank Account in Vietnam: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Short answer: foreigners residing in Vietnam have a clear legal documentation baseline for opening a Vietnamese bank account, but neither approval nor timing is guaranteed. You need the right documents and a biometric check, and branch policies vary. The legal baseline is a valid passport plus an entry visa, visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN, as amended by Circular 25/2025/TT-NHNN (effective from August 31, 2025), sets the current rules. Tourists and short-term visitors face more hurdles than residents, and approval is not assured.

Circular 17/2024, amended in 2025, sets the current rules

Short answer: Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN, as amended by Circular 25/2025/TT-NHNN, is the legal framework banks follow for opening payment accounts, including for foreigners. The State Bank of Vietnam issued the 2025 circular to amend the payment-account rules, and it took effect on August 31, 2025. Some provisions had later effective dates of December 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026. This means the rules you encounter at a branch in 2026 are shaped by these two circulars, not older guidance. For a foreigner, the practical takeaway is that the legal documentation baseline for opening a payment account is set by these circulars, but approval is not assured. Banks may ask for more than the baseline: the circular lets a bank add documents or information as long as it tells you specifically what is needed, and for a foreigner residing in Vietnam the account details a bank must record include the registered residence address in Vietnam. An extra request can therefore reflect bank policy or a legal requirement.

Passport and visa are the legal baseline

Short answer: the legal documentation baseline includes a valid passport plus an entry visa, visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. For a foreign national residing in Vietnam, these are the documents the circular lists for opening a payment account, but meeting them does not by itself guarantee approval. The passport can be replaced by another competent-authority identity document, but in practice a passport is what most foreigners present. The visa requirement matters: you need to show you are legally in the country. The circular does not name a minimum visa type or length of stay, but a bank can ask for more than it lists. For details on visa types and what counts as a visa-equivalent document, see The Honest Visa Guide for Renting Long-Term in Vietnam. For how this fits into your broader money setup, read Banking, Money and Paying Rent in Vietnam.

Biometric verification usually means an in-person visit

Short answer: expect to appear at a branch at least once for biometric verification. Biometric verification is part of current banking authentication in Vietnam, and it may require an in-person branch visit for customers whose identity data cannot be matched electronically. This includes passport-based cases: if you are in Vietnam and open an account with a passport, the bank must meet you in person and compare your biometric information with the details shown in your document (Articles 15 and 17 of Circular 17/2024, as amended). In practice, this means you should plan for a branch visit even if you start the application online. The circular does not specify which biometric data a bank collects or how, so ask the branch what to expect. If you are a foreigner with a passport, do not assume you can complete everything remotely. For more on how banking works for expats, see Banking, Money and Paying Rent in Vietnam.

Branch and bank policies can differ

Short answer: do not assume every bank or branch applies the same onboarding requirements. Foreigners should not assume that every Vietnamese bank or branch follows identical rules. Branch-level and bank-level policies can differ, so the experience at one branch may not match another. One branch might ask for local-address evidence or residence documentation, while another might not. One bank might open an account for a tourist, while another will refuse. This variation is not illegal; it is how banks manage risk. Before you go, call the branch or ask a local contact what documents they actually want. For a practical overview of banking in Vietnam, see Banking, Money and Paying Rent in Vietnam.

Banks may ask for more than the legal minimum

Short answer: yes, a bank can ask for more than the passport and visa that the law requires. A bank may request local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. Nothing in the reviewed material records a standard list of extra documents; what a branch asks for can depend on the bank and the staff member you see. Bring a rental contract, a utility bill in your name, or a letter from your landlord if you have one, and be ready to explain why you need the account. If you are asked for something you do not have, ask the branch whether an alternative document is acceptable before you give up.

Tourists and short-term visitors face more hurdles

Short answer: tourists and short-term visitors should expect more difficulty and no guarantee of approval. Residents have a clearer path. Tourists and other short-term visitors may face substantially more difficulty opening accounts than residents, and approval is not assured even where a non-resident payment-account route exists. If you are on a tourist visa or a short stay, do not assume you can open an account; ask the bank before you travel or on your first day. Some banks may refuse outright, while others may require additional proof of ties to Vietnam. Nothing in the reviewed material records a uniform policy for tourists, so treat any promise of easy account opening as unverified until a branch confirms it in writing.

Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN on payment accounts

The State Bank of Vietnam issued Circular No. 17/2024/TT-NHNN on 28 June 2024 in Hanoi. It regulates the opening and use of payment accounts at payment service providers. The circular cites the Law on Credit Institutions dated 18 January 2024, Decree No. 52/2024/ND-CP on non-cash payment dated 15 May 2024, the Anti-Money Laundering Law dated 15 November 2022, and related decrees.

Reported amendment: Circular 25/2025/TT-NHNN is reported to have taken effect on 31 August 2025. It is reported to amend and supplement Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN (effective 1 July 2024) on opening and using payment accounts at payment-service providers; according to the available report, the amended subject matter is the opening and use of such accounts in Vietnam.

Circular 39/2026/TT-NHNN amends Circular 16/2014

The State Bank of Vietnam issued Circular No. 39/2026/TT-NHNN on 5 August 2026, amending and supplementing Circular No. 16/2014/TT-NHNN. The amended regulation concerns the use of foreign-currency accounts and Vietnamese-dong accounts by residents and non-residents at authorized banks in Vietnam. The legal basis cited includes the State Bank Law, the Law on Credit Institutions (with subsequent amendments cited in the document), the Ordinance on Foreign Exchange, and Decree No. 70/2014/ND-CP.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need to open a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner?: The legal baseline is a valid passport or other competent-authority identity document, plus an entry visa, valid visa-equivalent document, or proof of visa exemption. Banks may request more, such as local-address evidence or residence documentation. Bring originals; copies are usually made at the branch. Nothing in the reviewed material records a single universal list, so confirm with your chosen bank before visiting.
Do I have to visit a bank branch in person to open an account?: Likely yes for many foreigners. Biometric verification is part of current banking authentication and may require an in-person branch visit for customers whose identity data cannot be matched electronically. If you open an account in Vietnam with a passport, the bank must meet you in person and compare your biometric information with the details shown in your document. Circular 17/2024 also allows electronic opening, but it relies on matching against a chip-based Vietnamese ID or an electronic identity (VNeID) account, which a passport alone does not provide, so ask whether the bank offers it to foreigners. Plan for at least one branch visit.
Can I open a Vietnamese bank account as a tourist?: Tourists and other short-term visitors may face substantially more difficulty than residents, and approval is not assured even where a non-resident payment-account route exists. The legal baseline requires a valid visa or visa-exemption proof, but banks can impose stricter onboarding. If you are on a tourist visa, you may be asked for additional residence or purpose evidence, and a refusal is possible.
Why do different banks or branches ask for different documents?: Foreigners should not assume that every Vietnamese bank or branch applies the same onboarding requirements; branch-level and bank-level policies can differ. A bank may request additional information beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. This variation is normal, not a sign of a scam. Ask the specific branch what it needs before you go.
How long does it take to open a bank account in Vietnam?: Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN sets no standard processing time for opening an account, and same-day opening is not guaranteed. How long it takes can vary by bank and branch, and by whether your documents are complete and the bank asks for more. Confirm timing with the bank before you go.
What extra documents might a bank request beyond my passport and visa?: A bank may request additional information or documents beyond the legal identity baseline, such as local-address evidence, residence documentation, or information about the account's purpose. Examples from the reviewed material include proof of where you live in Vietnam and why you need the account. Nothing in the reviewed material records a fixed list, so ask your branch in advance.
Which circular regulates opening a payment account in Vietnam?: Circular No. 17/2024/TT-NHNN, issued by the State Bank of Vietnam on 28 June 2024, regulates the opening and use of payment accounts at payment service providers.

Updated: 2026-10-21