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The best banks in Vietnam: our comparison
Which bank should foreign buyers use in Vietnam?
4
State-owned “Big Four” banks
Hold Vietnam's widest branch networks and deposit base
7
Banks compared in this guide
State-owned, private and foreign-owned, assessed for foreign buyers
Rare
Non-resident mortgage access
Most local banks lend against property only to TRC holders, case by case
0
US retail banks present
Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase have no branches in Vietnam
01Vietcombank
4.3 / 5State-owned trade-finance heavyweight
IdéalBuyers who want a reliable VND account and deep foreign-exchange experience
- Founded
- 1963
- Ownership
- Majority state-owned, listed on HOSE
- Headquarters
- Hanoi
- +Extensive branch network
- +Deep trade-finance and FX experience
- +Wide correspondent-banking relationships
- −English service concentrated in major branches
- −No standard mortgage product for non-residents
02BIDV
4.0 / 5Vietnam's oldest state bank, widest branch reach
IdéalBuyers who want a branch nearby almost anywhere in the country
- Founded
- 1957
- Ownership
- Majority state-owned, listed on HOSE
- Headquarters
- Hanoi
- +One of the largest branch networks in Vietnam
- +Established corporate and project-finance infrastructure
- −English support varies significantly by branch
- −Foreign-client desks concentrated in major cities
03VietinBank
3.9 / 5Big-Four state bank with a strong corporate arm
IdéalBuyers whose transaction involves a developer's corporate banking relationship
- Founded
- 1988
- Ownership
- Majority state-owned, listed on HOSE
- Headquarters
- Hanoi
- +Established corporate and project-finance relationships
- +Strong ties to major developers' bank guarantees
- −Retail foreign-client service less developed than private banks
04Agribank
3.6 / 5Vietnam's largest branch network, wholly state-owned
IdéalBuyers prioritising reach outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
- Founded
- 1988
- Ownership
- Wholly state-owned, not listed
- Headquarters
- Hanoi
- +Largest branch and agent network in the country
- +Strong presence in secondary cities and provinces
- −Least internationalised of the Big Four for foreign retail clients
05ACB
4.1 / 5Private retail bank with a strong service reputation
IdéalExpats wanting a more service-oriented private bank
- Founded
- 1993
- Ownership
- Private joint-stock, listed on HOSE
- Headquarters
- Ho Chi Minh City
- +Strong retail service reputation
- +Good digital banking features
- −Fewer Hanoi branches than the state-owned majors
06Techcombank
4.4 / 5Vietnam's leading private bank, digital-first
IdéalBuyers wanting an app-based experience and a Hanoi headquarters
- Founded
- 1993
- Ownership
- Private joint-stock, listed on HOSE
- Headquarters
- Hanoi
- +Strong digital banking platform
- +English-friendly premium desks in Hanoi
- −Like all local banks, does not extend standard mortgages to non-residents
07HSBC Vietnam
4.6 / 5Internationally-owned bank with a dedicated expat desk
IdéalExpats and HNW buyers wanting English-first service and international continuity
- Ownership
- Wholly foreign-owned subsidiary of HSBC Group
- Licensing
- Among the first wholly foreign-owned banks locally incorporated in Vietnam
- Headquarters
- Ho Chi Minh City, with Hanoi branch presence
- +English-first service throughout
- +International account and transfer continuity
- −Fewer branches than local Big-Four or private banks
- −Premium/expat banking often has relationship minimums
Vietnam banks at a glance for foreign buyers
| Bank | Ownership | Account access for foreign buyers | Foreign-currency (USD/EUR) accounts | Lending to non-resident foreigners | English-language service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietcombank | Majority state-owned, listed | VND account with valid passport + visa | Available, restricted purpose | Not offered to non-residents | Moderate — strongest at major branches |
| BIDV | Majority state-owned, listed | VND account with valid passport + visa | Available, restricted purpose | Not offered to non-residents | Moderate — varies by branch |
| VietinBank | Majority state-owned, listed | VND account with valid passport + visa | Available, restricted purpose | Not offered to non-residents | Moderate — strongest for corporate clients |
| Agribank | Wholly state-owned | VND account with valid passport + visa | Available, restricted purpose | Not offered to non-residents | Limited outside major cities |
| ACB | Private, listed | VND account with valid passport + visa | Available, restricted purpose | TRC holders only, case by case | Good — Hanoi and HCMC branches |
| Techcombank | Private, listed | VND account with valid passport + visa | Available, restricted purpose | TRC holders only, case by case | Good — dedicated premium desks |
| HSBC Vietnam | Wholly foreign-owned subsidiary | VND account, may require proof of local ties | Most flexible of the group | TRC / expat lending programmes, case by case | Excellent — English-first |
✓ Who this comparison is for
- ✓Buyers who need a Vietnamese dong account to pay deposits and instalments through the banking system
- ✓Expats holding a Temporary Residence Card exploring whether a local loan is realistic for their profile
- ✓High-net-worth buyers who want continuity with an international private bank they may already use at home
- ⚠Short-stay visa holders expecting a Vietnamese bank to issue a mortgage
- ⚠Buyers hoping to open a fully anonymous or purely online account without ever visiting Vietnam
- ⚠Anyone assuming a US retail bank operates here — none of Bank of America, Wells Fargo or Chase do
Banking for foreign property buyers in Hanoi: what actually works
A bank account is not optional in a Hanoi purchase: the reservation deposit, the staged payments under the Sale & Purchase Agreement, and the funds you will eventually repatriate on resale all move through the banking system. For most foreign buyers, that is the full extent of the relationship — an account to receive and send money, not a loan.
Opening a basic Vietnamese dong account is straightforward with a valid passport and visa; foreign-currency accounts are more restricted and usually require proof of a legitimate source of funds. Mortgage lending to non-resident foreigners is the exception, not the norm. Where a bank does lend against Hanoi property, it is typically limited to holders of a Temporary Residence Card, at a lower loan-to-value ratio than a local buyer would get, and often against a bank commitment letter issued case by case rather than as a standard product. Our dedicated guide to mortgages for foreigners covers the routes that work in practice.
Banks also sit behind a document every off-plan buyer should check before paying a deposit: the developer's bank guarantee, which protects instalments paid before handover. Verify it against the issuing bank's own branch, not just the paperwork supplied by an agent.
Banks in our directory working with foreign buyers
Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Ltd
★Banque internationale; Priority Banking & wealth management (The Good Life), Priority Private; comptes, cartes, prêts/hypothèques, FX; clientèle expatriée/HNW.
Hanoi · EN, VN
Woori Bank Vietnam Ltd
★Filiale coréenne (Woori Bank); détail, dépôts, cartes, prêts non garantis et hypothécaires, assurance, remises; offres dédiées aux expatriés coréens (dont garantie études en Corée).
Hanoi · EN, VN
HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Ltd
★1re banque étrangère incorporée au Vietnam; banque internationale pour expatriés; HSBC Premier (wealth), comptes, prêts immobiliers/home equity, cartes, remises & Global Transfers, investissement/assurance.
Ho Chi Minh City · EN, VN
Shinhan Bank Vietnam Ltd
★1re banque étrangère de détail au Vietnam (groupe coréen Shinhan); comptes, prêts (dont hypothécaires), cartes, remises; forte clientèle expatriée coréenne.
Ho Chi Minh City · EN, VN
Techcombank (Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank)
★Banque privée de premier plan; détail, entreprises, cartes, investment banking; segments Techcombank Priority et Private Banking pour clientèle aisée/HNW.
Hanoi · EN, VN
Public Bank Vietnam Ltd
★Filiale malaisienne (Public Bank Berhad); détail (cartes, dépôts, prêts perso, remises, assurance), banque premium 'Red Carpet Banking', entreprises (trade finance, FX, garanties).
National · EN, VN
Frequently asked questions
Which US bank has branches in Vietnam?
None of the major US retail banks — Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase or Citibank's consumer arm — operate branches in Vietnam. Foreign-owned banking here is dominated by non-US names: HSBC, Standard Chartered and a handful of other international lenders hold local subsidiary or branch licences instead.
What are the top 4 banks in Vietnam?
Vietnam's “Big Four” are Vietcombank, BIDV, VietinBank and Agribank — all majority or wholly state-owned. Together they hold the country's largest branch networks and the biggest share of retail deposits, which is why most foreign buyers open their transaction account with one of them.
What is the safest bank in Vietnam?
There is no independent, foreigner-facing safety ranking we can point to. Editorially, the state-owned Big Four carry the strongest systemic backing given majority government ownership, while HSBC Vietnam and Standard Chartered offer expats continuity with an international banking group they may already use at home.
What is the best bank for foreigners in Vietnam?
It depends on what you need. For day-to-day banking with English-first service, HSBC Vietnam and Standard Chartered rank highest. For a wider branch network and trade-finance depth, Vietcombank stands out. For a modern app and dedicated expat desks among local private banks, Techcombank and ACB are strong picks.
Can foreigners get a loan or mortgage in Vietnam?
Rarely, and only under specific conditions. A handful of banks with expat desks will consider lending to Temporary Residence Card holders, usually at a lower loan-to-value ratio and with extra documentation. Most foreign buyers instead pay in cash or use a developer's instalment plan — see our guide to financing a Vietnam purchase for the routes that actually work.
Does Bank of America or Wells Fargo have a branch in Vietnam?
No. Neither Bank of America nor Wells Fargo has a retail presence in Vietnam. If you bank with either at home, you will need to move funds through an international transfer service instead — compare providers in our money transfer guide.
Which bank in Vietnam charges the lowest fees for foreigners?
Fee schedules vary by bank, account type and transaction, and none publish a standardised “foreigner rate” — treat any figure quoted online with caution and confirm current fees directly with the branch before opening an account. As a category, international subsidiaries such as HSBC Vietnam tend to be more transparent about cross-border transfer costs than domestic retail banks.
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Not sure which bank fits your situation?
Our Hanoi desk works alongside vetted banks, mortgage advisors and money-transfer partners every week. Tell us your residency status and budget and we will point you to the right account — and tell you honestly if a local loan is realistic for you.