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Send money to Vietnam
The safest and most cost-effective ways of sending money to friends and family in Vietnam.
Guides
Exchange Rates
The best way to send money to Vietnam comes down to how much you’re sending, and your chosen payment method.
Xoom conveniently pairs with your PayPal account for bank transfers. WorldRemit and Remitly are often cheaper than MoneyGram and Western Union for nearly instant cash pickups. And Wise has competitive rates — but compare a few providers to find the cheapest deal for your next transfer.
Send money to Vietnam with Remitly
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
- Transfer to 50+ countries around the world
- Express option so your money arrives in minutes
- Delivery promise where fees are refunded if it doesn't arrive on time
Compare money transfer services that send money to Vietnam
Our table lets you compare the services you can use to send money abroad. Compare services on transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you're ready to send.
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What's in this guide?
What’s the best way to send money to Vietnam?
Finding the best way to send money to Vietnam depends on whether you want to deliver money to a bank account or to be picked up as cash. Digital money transfer services can cheaply deliver money to bank accounts, while cash transfers are often faster but more expensive.
- Digital money transfer services. Compare brands like InstaReM, Wise, OFX and Xoom to send money to Vietnam digitally.
- Cash transfers. Remitly, WorldRemit, Western Union, MoneyGram and similar services can deliver cash for pickup in Vietnam, often within a few minutes.
You’ll most likely want to avoid using your bank or a service like PayPal as you’ll pay higher fees and be offered weaker exchange rates than when using a digital money transfer service.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending $1,500 to Vietnam
Let’s say you need to send $1,500 to family in Vietnam. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of May 25, 2020.
| Digital money transfer service | Cash transfer | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | $0 | $3.99 | $25 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 23,086 VND | 1 USD = 23,221 VND | 1 USD = 21,186 VND |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 day | Minutes | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | VND 34,629,492 | VND 34,739,718 | VND 31,249,350 |
| Verdict |
|
|
|
The bank option ends up being both the slowest and gets the smallest amount of money to your recipient in Vietnam. If you go with the cash transfer service, your recipient ends up with nearly VND 3.5 million more than the bank offers.
How to send money to Vietnam online
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
- Sign up for a free account. After you pick a provider, sign up for an account using your contact information, proof of ID and preferred payment method.
- Provide transfer details. Submit your recipient’s contact information and pick a delivery method. If transferring to a bank, you’ll need their Vietnamese bank account details.
- Confirm transfer details. Double-check your payment method, expected fees and destination.
- Save your receipt. Record your receipt’s confirmation number to track the progress of your transfer to Vietnam. Some money transfer providers send a text or email when your transfer is complete.
How to get the most out of your money transfer to Vietnam
Weigh costs and fees against convenience to learn how to compare money transfer providers that send to Vietnam to best meet your needs:
- Exchange rates. The USD-VND relationship doesn’t fluctuate often, but using a service that allows you to lock in exchange prices may help you save money down the line if the Vietnamese dong rises against the US dollar.
- Transfer fees. Transferring money overseas nearly always requires fees, but they might be hidden in the exchange rate. When sending large amounts, it may be cheaper to pay a flat fee to secure a stronger USD-VND exchange rate.
- Transfer limits. How much you can send varies by company, and different amounts can attract higher or lower fees. Shop around for the best deal on the number of Vietnamese dong you’re sending to Vietnam.
- Turnaround. Transferring money through a local bank can take a business week or longer. If you need the funds delivered quickly, seek out a digital specialist that offers instant transfers to Vietnam.
- Sending limits. Comparing prices for one large transfer instead of many small transfers is typically easier, so picking the service you use based on how much you’re sending is a valid strategy for saving money.
- Transfer methods. Whether you want money sent to an Vietnamese bank account or picked up as cash at a local agent, narrow down a company that matches your preferred delivery method.
Emergency cash transfer
When urgency trumps cost to get your money to Vietnam quickly, look for money transfer companies that support cash pickup in minutes. You can pay with a credit or debit card for fast pickup, but fees are higher than other methods.
How to send money to Vietnam without a bank account
Cash transfer services can help you if you don’t have a bank account, look for a local company that supports storefronts for cash payments. These services include agent locations in other countries that allow your recipient to pick up cash without a bank account.
Vietnam’s exchange rates explained
The exchange rate determines how much one country’s currency is worth in another country’s currency. When a country’s currency is strong, it yields more money when exchanging it in a country with a weaker currency. Vietnam’s exchange rate is somewhat fixed compared to the US dollar. Because both are relatively stable, the USD-VND relationship typically doesn’t make sharp movements. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.
Today’s exchange rate USD to VND
Can you Venmo Vietnam?
No. Venmo, Cash App, Zelle and similar services are all restricted mostly to the US. Cash App and Venmo do not work between Vietnam and the US. You’ll need to use a dedicated money transfer service, a bank transfer, a PayPal transfer or something similar to send money to Vietnam.
Documents needed for sending to and receiving money in Vietnam
To send money to Vietnam from the US, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in Vietnam may be different by company.
Documents to send money from the US
To send money from the US to Vietnam, you’ll need documentation and details that include:
- Identification. Most services require a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued ID. Some services allow you to send transfers without ID, but they may require your SSN.
- Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal checks.
- Recipient information. Submit your recipient’s name as it appears on their ID, along with their phone number, Vietnamese bank account and routing number.
Documents to receive money in Vietnam
To pick up money in person, documentation can include:
- Transfer number. The person sending you money can forward the transfer’s confirmation details — called a PIN, a MTCN, a reference number or a tracking number, depending on the company.
- Government-issued ID. A Vietnamese Passport, Vietnamese ID or similar official ID may be required to pick up your transfer.
- Amount sent. You may need to know how much was sent, usually within 10% of the total.
- Sender’s information. Take along your sender’s full name, the sending country and their address, if known.
What to watch out for
Sending money to Vietnamese relatives or family members in Vietnam may be subject to taxes on the money transfer, but it depends on a lot of variables. In general, any large transfers being sent from the US to Vietnam should be filed with the IRS to avoid any penalties. To learn more about what penalties you may face by failing to file your transfer, read our guide on IRS taxes for large money transfers.
Learn more about using the Vietnamese Dong in Vietnam
Bottom line
Sending your hard-earned money to Vietnam shouldn’t cost a fortune. Compare money transfer companies that specialize in foreign transactions for the strongest rates, lowest fees and flexible delivery. For transfers to other countries, rely on our country-specific guides the next time you need to make a transfer.
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Ask an Expert
Vietnam uses last name first (this is the way he sent his information to me) is this the way to fill in the information for the recipient or should I fill it in with first in first place
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
You should enter your receiver’s first and last name, as it appears on their government-issued ID.
Kind Regards,
Faye