Opening and maintaining a Vietnamese bank account as a foreigner requires a consistent core document set — a valid passport with an appropriate visa or Temporary Residence Card, proof of a Vietnam address, and increasingly a Vietnamese phone number and tax code. Additional documents (labor contract, work permit, business registration) are commonly requested for specific account types, credit products, or larger transactions, and requirements can vary by branch even within the same bank.
Because branch-level KYC practices differ even within the same bank chain, arriving with a complete document set (rather than the bare legal minimum) avoids the frustrating experience of being turned away and asked to return with additional paperwork.
Key Facts
Core documents for any personal account: passport (valid for the account's expected duration), visa or Temporary Residence Card, and proof of Vietnam address.
A Vietnamese mobile phone number is effectively mandatory since OTP verification underpins both account opening and daily mobile banking use.
A personal tax code (Mã số thuế cá nhân) is increasingly requested, especially for accounts that will receive salary or be used for investment activity.
Employer letter or labor contract is commonly requested to establish income source and employment stability, particularly for credit products.
For business/company accounts, required documents expand to include the Enterprise Registration Certificate, company seal (if still used), legal representative's ID, and board/owner resolutions authorizing the account.
Documents issued outside Vietnam (e.g., a foreign marriage certificate for a joint account) generally need consular legalization and Vietnamese translation to be accepted.
Steps
Assemble the core personal document set — Passport, visa/TRC, proof of Vietnam address, and a local phone number cover the baseline for most personal accounts.
Add employment/income evidence — Bring a labor contract or employer confirmation letter, especially if you plan to apply for a credit card or loan alongside the account.
Register a personal tax code early — If you don't already have one from an employer, note that some banks now request a tax code for account opening or before enabling salary deposit features.
For business accounts, gather corporate documents — Enterprise Registration Certificate, legal representative ID, and any board resolution authorizing account signatories are typically required, plus the company seal specimen where still in use.
Legalize and translate any foreign-issued documents — Have foreign certificates (marriage, power of attorney) consular-legalized and professionally translated into Vietnamese before submission, since banks routinely reject documents that skip this step.
Required Documents
Valid passport
Visa or Temporary Residence Card
Proof of Vietnam address (lease agreement or employer letter)
Vietnamese mobile phone number
Personal tax code (where requested)
Labor contract or employer confirmation letter
Enterprise Registration Certificate and legal representative ID (business accounts only)
Common Mistakes
Showing up with only a passport and visa, without proof of address or a local phone number, and having to make a second trip.
Submitting foreign-issued documents without consular legalization and Vietnamese translation.
Assuming business account document requirements are the same as personal accounts — they require substantially more corporate paperwork.
Not confirming document requirements with the specific branch in advance, since practices vary even within the same bank.