Best Ways to Send Money to Vietnam

Reviewed 2026-10-31. General independent information; check current official immigration, financial and medical guidance before acting.

Expert take — Cost of Asia editorial team Since 1 January 2025, a Vietnamese personal account that has not completed biometric verification can still receive money, but it cannot be used for online or mobile banking or ATM withdrawals (Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN). A cheap transfer is no use if it lands in an account you cannot spend from. Before you send your first large sum, complete biometric verification at your branch and confirm the account name matches your passport exactly.

Commercial transparency: Cost of Asia has no contracted partner in this category. Providers are compared on published criteria, and no provider has paid for inclusion. If this changes, affiliate links will be labelled.

This page is for expats funding a Vietnamese account and for anyone supporting someone in Vietnam. The main choice is between low-cost bank deposits and fast cash or wallet payouts, which usually cost more through the exchange rate.

Vietnam's banking rules have tightened. Besides biometric checks, Circular 30/2025/TT-NHNN requires payment accounts to be held under the holder's real name matching their ID from 1 April 2026, according to ExpatDen. A name mismatch can get a transfer rejected.

At a glance

How we chose

• Total cost: exchange margin plus fees, from providers' pages or dated third-party quotes.
• Payout options: bank account, cash pickup, mobile wallet, home delivery.
• Fit with Vietnamese rules: name matching and biometric verification.

For reference, Wise's converter showed a mid-market rate of about 34,557 VND per British pound on 31 October 2026. We used ExpatDen's comparison updated on 26 October 2026 and the providers' own Vietnam pages. Checked on 31 October 2026.

1. Wise — best for bank deposits at a low, visible cost

Wise converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee separately. ExpatDen reports a fee of US$8.84 for sending US$1,000 from a US bank account by ACH, checked in October 2026, with delivery in one to two days.

Fund the transfer from your bank account. ExpatDen says paying by credit card pushes the fee above 7%.

2. Remitly — best for MoMo wallet or cash pickup

According to ExpatDen, Remitly pays out to Vietnamese bank accounts, cash pickup points and MoMo wallets. That makes it practical for paying someone who lives on a mobile wallet rather than a bank account.

ExpatDen's Remitly quote came from an earlier snapshot, so run a live quote. A MoMo wallet must be verified first, or the transfer may be delayed or capped.

3. Western Union — best for cash collected within minutes

Western Union's Vietnam page lists payout to a bank account, cash pickup at its agent locations across Vietnam, mobile wallets and direct-to-card payments. It shows fees and rates only once you start a quote.

Speed has a price. ExpatDen reports that Western Union's instant transfers carry exchange costs of around 7%, against 3% to 4% for its regular service. Use it when speed matters more than cost.

4. Ria — best for home delivery or wallet choice

Ria's Vietnam page lists cash pickup at more than 10,000 locations in Vietnam, bank deposits to banks including VietinBank, Agribank, BIDV and Sacombank, wallets including MoMo, and home delivery. Its sample quote on the day we checked was 34,977 VND per pound on £100, with a fee-free first transfer for new customers.

Treat the first-transfer offer as a test price and compare your second quote.

5. OFX — best for large one-off sums

OFX says it transfers to almost any bank in Vietnam, works for individuals as well as businesses, and states no maximum on its Vietnam page. ExpatDen's October 2026 check put OFX at 24,611.73 VND per US dollar on US$1,000.

For a large sum, ask OFX for its rate on your exact amount and compare it with the mid-market rate on the same day.

What to check before you decide

• Finish biometric verification at your Vietnamese bank before you rely on the account, and ask the branch which documents it needs from foreigners.
• Match names exactly between your passport, the bank's records and the transfer instructions.
• Check your address on file. Official administrative names changed in 2025, when Vietnam abolished the district level and merged many wards. Areas such as District 2 / Thao Dien or Tay Ho are still commonly used, but make sure your bank profile matches your current documents.
• Ask your Vietnamese bank to convert to dong rather than your sending bank, as ExpatDen advises, and compare its rate.
• Keep transfer receipts. ExpatDen notes that large incoming transfers are routinely reported to the State Bank of Vietnam and may prompt questions.
• Declare cash at the border above US$5,000 in foreign currency or 15,000,000 VND, per ExpatDen's summary of Circular 15/2011.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to send money to Vietnam?

Usually a bank-to-bank transfer through a specialist provider, paid from your bank account. Cash and instant payouts tend to cost more through the exchange rate.

Can money arrive if my Vietnamese account is not biometrically verified?

Yes, according to ExpatDen, but you cannot use online banking, mobile banking or ATMs until verification is done.

Is money sent to Vietnam taxed?

ExpatDen notes that personal remittances from abroad are exempt from personal income tax under Circular 111/2013/TT-BTC. If you are a Vietnamese tax resident, ask a qualified adviser how your own foreign income is treated.

Related guides

• Cost of living in Vietnam
• Money services
• Vietnam tax for expats
• Best multi-currency accounts
• Moving to Vietnam
• Budget calculator

Sources

• ExpatDen — Transfer money to Vietnam (updated 26 October 2026) — Wise and OFX quotes, Remitly payouts, Western Union costs, Circulars 17/2024, 30/2025, 111/2013 and 15/2011
• Wise — GBP to VND converter — mid-market rate on 31 October 2026
• Western Union — Send money to Vietnam — payout methods
• Ria — Send money to Vietnam from the UK — pickup network, partner banks, wallets, home delivery, sample quote
• OFX — Send money from the UK to Vietnam — individuals, no stated maximum, coverage
• Wikipedia — 2025 Vietnamese administrative reform — 2025 district and ward changes