Opening a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner: will a tourist get one, and where to go in Nha Trang
On a tourist visa you will usually be turned down; a business visa and BIDV give better odds. A table of central banks, documents, ATMs and opening hours.
On a tourist visa, don't count on opening a bank account in Vietnam: Vietcombank in Nha Trang says no (we asked at the branch on 29 September 2026), and SHB turned down VietGid's own owner. Your chances are better on a business visa or a residence card, and among banks, try BIDV at 11 Quang Trung first: foreigners opened accounts and cards there this summer. Call the branch first and tell them which visa you have. And if you only need cash, you don't need an account at all.
Which bank should I try?
| Bank | Address | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| BIDV | 11 Quang Trung | foreigners opened accounts and debit cards in summer 2026; good English |
| Vietcombank | 17 Quang Trung | no account on a tourist visa |
| SHB | 175–177 Thống Nhất | yes on a business visa, no on a tourist visa (2020) |
| TPBank | 79 Yersin | clear English; call about visas |
| VPBank | 26 Yersin | an ATM foreigners like |
| Techcombank | Vincom Plaza, 44–46 Lê Thánh Tôn | call about accounts for foreigners |
| ACB | 80 Quang Trung | call about accounts for foreigners |
| VRB | 159 Thống Nhất | Vietnam–Russia joint bank (BIDV and VTB): accounts and transfers, roubles included; ask at the branch whether a Mir card works in their ATM |
Every branch with its phone number is in banks. BIDV and Vietcombank are almost next door on Quang Trung (numbers 11 and 17): if one says no, try the other.
Why do some people get an account and others don't?
State Bank rules say a foreigner opens an account with a passport and visa. But the branch decides, and in practice many want a residence card or a visa valid for several months. So the same bank may turn away a tourist and open an account for someone who works here.
VietGid's owner went through it: in 2020 SHB opened an account on a business visa and issued a card five days later; on a tourist visa, the same bank said no.
What should I bring?
- Your passport with visa (or the document that lets you stay without one).
- A Vietnamese phone number registered in your name — often asked for.
- Proof of where you live: a lease or your residence registration.
- A translation app: the form may be in Vietnamese only.
How do I get cash without an account?
You don't need one: ATMs of the big banks pay out on foreign cards. Foreigners like the ATM at VPBank, 26 Yersin — they withdrew with Visa and Mastercard with no ATM fee. Your own bank may still charge, and ATM terms change, so check the amount on screen before you confirm.
If you need to change cash rather than withdraw it, see where to change money.
When are banks open?
Weekdays roughly 8:00 to 17:00, with a lunch break around 11:30–13:30. Closed at weekends and on holidays, though some branches open on Saturday morning. Go in the morning and call ahead — opening an account takes a while.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tourist open a bank account in Vietnam? On a tourist visa you'll usually be turned down: Vietcombank in Nha Trang said no on 29 September 2026, and SHB said no to VietGid's owner. A business visa or residence card gives you a better chance. Call the branch and ask about your visa.
Which bank in Nha Trang opens accounts for foreigners? In summer 2026 foreigners opened accounts and debit cards at BIDV, 11 Quang Trung. Ask by phone which visa they want now.
What documents does a foreigner need? A passport with a visa. Branches often also want a Vietnamese phone number in your name and proof of address.
Do I need a residence card? Not always, but many branches ask for one or for a visa valid for several months. The branch decides.
Do bank staff speak English? At BIDV and TPBank, yes, reasonably well. The form may still be in Vietnamese only.
Where can I withdraw cash with a foreign card? At any big bank's ATM. Foreigners like the VPBank ATM at 26 Yersin. Check the fee on screen.
Are banks open on Saturday? Mostly not. Some branches open on Saturday morning — call before you go.
Sources and checks
That Vietcombank in Nha Trang doesn't open accounts on a tourist visa is the branch's answer on 29.09.2026. The 2020 SHB experience is the VietGid owner's own account, not today's terms. Reviews cite residence in Vietnam for 12 months or more as SHB's condition; we found no full terms on the bank's site. The passport-and-visa rule is State Bank of Vietnam Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN (sbv.gov.vn). BIDV: three Russian-speaking visitors' Google Maps reviews, July–September 2026; TPBank's English: a September 2026 review; the VPBank ATM: 2026 reviews from Kazakh bank cardholders; one review ten months old mentions a fee at the TPBank ATM. Reviews are visitors' opinions, not bank terms. Hours: the general pattern is from VietGid's owner (29.09.2026); a directory gives TPBank Saturday 8:00–12:00, VPBank opens at 7:30, and a review puts Techcombank's lunch at 11:30–14:00. 2025–2026 overviews disagree on whether a residence card is required; some say VPBank and others accept an e-visa. There are no fees or bank rankings here: they change, and an outdated figure is worse than none. Updated 7 October 2026.