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The best money transfer in Vietnam: our comparison
What is the best way to send money to Vietnam?
01Wise
4.5 / 5Transparent, mid-market-rate transfers via a listed fintech
IdéalPayments up to roughly €50,000 where fee transparency matters most
- Founded
- 2011, London (as TransferWise)
- Listed
- London Stock Exchange (LSE: WISE)
- Rate used
- Published mid-market rate, flat fee shown upfront
- Delivery to Vietnam
- Bank transfer only, no cash pickup
- +Fee shown before you commit, no hidden margin
- +Multi-currency account can hold and convert several currencies
- +Typically fast — many transfers arrive within a day
- −Large one-off transfers can trigger extra verification and may be slower than a specialist broker
- −No cash pickup option in Vietnam
02OFX
4.5 / 5No-cap FX broker built for large transfers, not small remittances
IdéalFull deposits and purchase-price wires with no upper limit
- Founded
- 1998, Sydney (as UKForex)
- Listed
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: OFX)
- Transfer size
- No maximum — built for six-figure transfers
- Rate model
- No flat fee; revenue from the margin on the exchange rate
- +Handles property-scale sums that consumer apps cap out on
- +Dedicated dealer for large or recurring transfers
- +Rate typically improves as transfer size grows
- −No published flat fee, so the margin needs comparing case by case
- −No cash pickup or retail branch network in Vietnam
03Remitly
3.8 / 5App-based remittances with tiered speed options
IdéalSmaller, recurring transfers to family or staff, not the purchase price itself
- Founded
- 2011, Seattle
- Listed
- Nasdaq (RELY)
- Speed tiers
- Economy vs express, each with a different rate/fee mix
- +Simple, app-only flow
- +Often discounted rates on a first transfer
- +Good coverage of the US-to-Vietnam corridor
- −Transfer limits sit well below a typical deposit or purchase price
- −Not built for large lump sums
04Xe Money Transfer
3.7 / 5The currency-converter brand, now with its own transfer service
IdéalBenchmarking a live rate quote before you commit elsewhere
- Origin
- 1993, as the Xe.com currency converter
- Owner
- Euronet Worldwide (acquired 2015)
- Delivery
- Bank-to-bank transfer, app and web
- +Long-standing rate-quote credibility
- +Straightforward online transfers
- +No cash-pickup complexity to navigate
- −Less specialised for six-figure property transfers than OFX
- −No branch or cash network inside Vietnam
05Western Union
3.5 / 5The largest cash-pickup network, at a wider exchange-rate margin
IdéalSending smaller sums to a recipient without a Vietnamese bank account
- Founded
- 1851, Denver, Colorado
- Listed
- New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: WU)
- Network
- Extensive agent and bank-partner network across Vietnam
- +Same-day cash pickup at a huge number of locations
- +No bank account needed for the recipient
- +Globally recognised, long track record
- −Exchange-rate margin is typically the widest of the providers compared here
- −Not suited to a property-scale transfer that needs a clean bank-wire audit trail
06MoneyGram
3.3 / 5Western Union's main rival, a similar cash-pickup model
IdéalA backup cash-pickup option alongside Western Union
- Founded
- 1940 as Travelers Express; renamed MoneyGram in 1988
- Ownership
- Went private in 2023 (Madison Dearborn Partners), after decades as a listed company
- Network
- Cash pickup via partner banks and outlets in Vietnam
- +Wide cash-pickup footprint
- +Familiar, established brand
- +Useful when the recipient needs cash the same day
- −Fee and rate structure less transparent than fintech-first providers
- −Not designed for a full property payment
Money-transfer providers at a glance
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Fee model | Available to non-residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wise | Transparent fees on transfers up to ~€50,000 | Flat fee + published mid-market rate | Yes, from any Wise-supported country |
| 2 | OFX | Large one-off transfers, no maximum | No flat fee; margin on the exchange rate | Yes, with a dedicated dealer for large sums |
| 3 | Remitly | Smaller, recurring family transfers | Tiered speed: economy vs express | Yes, app-based |
| 4 | Xe Money Transfer | Rate-checking before you commit elsewhere | Margin built into the rate, low or no fee | Yes, bank-to-bank |
| 5 | Western Union | Cash pickup without a Vietnamese bank account | Fee plus a wider FX margin | Yes, widest pickup network |
| 6 | MoneyGram | Backup cash-pickup option | Fee plus FX margin | Yes |
What moving money into Vietnam really costs
Indicative ranges based on each provider's public fee model — always get a live quote before sending, rates change daily
| — | Min | Max | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sending provider feeOften €0 where the margin sits in the rate (OFX, Xe); flat fee at Wise | €0 | €15 | flat or tieredBuyer, per transfer |
| FX margin vs the mid-market rateNarrowest at Wise and OFX; widest on Western Union/MoneyGram cash pickup | 0.3% | 3% | % of amount sentBuyer, built into the exchange rate |
| Intermediary (SWIFT) bank chargesMainly affects bank wires, not fintech transfer apps | €10 | €40 | flat, per wireDeducted en route on a traditional bank-to-bank wire |
| Receiving bank fee in VietnamVaries by bank — confirm with your Hanoi bank before sending | €0 | €20 | flatRecipient's Vietnamese bank |
| Total | ≈0.3% | ≈3.5% |
Illustrative example: sending €500,000 to fund a purchase
- Wise (flat fee + mid-market rate)
- ≈€2,000–3,500
- OFX (margin only, no cap)
- ≈€2,500–4,000
- Western Union or a traditional bank wire
- ≈€7,500–15,000
- Σ
- Up to roughly €12,000 spread between the cheapest and priciest option
Provider fee disclosures (Wise, OFX, Western Union, MoneyGram) — confirm the live quote before sending
✓ Which provider suits you
- ✓Wiring a full deposit or purchase price (roughly €50,000+) — go to OFX or your bank's FX desk
- ✓Moving smaller sums where fee transparency matters — Wise
- ✓Sending monthly living costs or paying local staff — Remitly or Xe
- ⚠Six-figure property payments through a cash-pickup remittance service — none of the six are built for that scale as a primary channel
- ⚠Anyone expecting to use Zelle, Cash App or Venmo — none operate outside the US/UK
- ⚠Buyers who skip a second rate quote — even a 1% difference in margin is meaningful on a property-sized transfer
Money-transfer partners in our directory
OFX
★Transferts internationaux et solutions FX de forte valeur (spot, forwards, ordres à cours limité), comptes globaux multi-devises (25+), cartes corporate, gestion du risque de change. Sert particuliers fortunés et entreprises, incl. achats immobiliers à l'étranger.
Dublin, Irlande (entité UE) ; siège mondial Sydney, Australie (coté ASX) · EN
Wise
Transferts internationaux vers 160+ pays, compte multi-devises (40+ devises), carte de débit, comptes business, API. Sert particuliers, expatriés et entreprises pour transferts de moyenne à grande valeur.
Bruxelles (entité UE, Wise Europe SA) ; siège mondial Londres, UK · EN, FR (site multilingue)
Xe Money Transfer
Transferts internationaux vers 190+ pays, conversion de devises et taux de référence, alertes de change, comptes business multi-devises, gestion du risque FX, API de données de change. Division money transfer du groupe Euronet.
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada (filiale d'Euronet Worldwide) · EN (+ multilingue)
Frequently asked questions
What's the best way to send money to Vietnam?
For most buyers, a specialist provider beats a bank on both speed and cost. Use a low-margin fintech such as Wise for transfers under about €50,000, and a no-cap broker such as OFX for a full deposit or purchase price — then compare that quote against your Vietnamese bank's own wire rate before committing.
Can I Zelle money to Vietnam?
No. Zelle only moves money between US bank accounts and does not support any international transfer, including to Vietnam. You will need a cross-border provider such as those compared above, or a SWIFT bank wire.
What can I use instead of Western Union?
Wise and OFX generally offer a narrower exchange-rate margin than Western Union for bank-to-bank transfers. Remitly and Xe are also viable app-based alternatives; Western Union and MoneyGram remain useful specifically when the recipient needs cash pickup rather than a bank deposit.
Does Vietnam use Cash App?
No. Cash App operates only within the United States and the United Kingdom and cannot send or receive international payments. For Vietnam, use one of the providers in our money-transfer directory or a bank wire instead.
What's the best way to fund a Hanoi property purchase specifically?
Send the deposit and purchase price by traceable bank wire or a specialist broker, never a person-to-person app. Vietnamese developers will typically want to see bank statements evidencing the source of funds, and the transfer is usually expected to clear before you sign the deposit agreement. See our guide to financing a purchase for the full sequence.
How do I move money back out of Vietnam after selling?
Repatriating sale proceeds is a separate process from sending money in, with its own documentation requirements at your Vietnamese bank. Our guide to selling as a foreigner walks through what to prepare before you list.
Wiring funds for a Hanoi purchase? Get a second opinion first
Our advisory desk can review your transfer plan, connect you with a vetted provider, and confirm what your bank and the developer will require before you send a single euro. Response within 24h, no obligation.