Lessons · Level 2
2-5. Banking 2 — opening an account at the counter
Mở tài khoản ngân hàng
🎯 Goal Ask what documents are needed at the bank counter, and open an account, get a card and register face verification · about 35 min
Why get a Vietnamese bank account?
In Ho Chi Minh City, rent, building fees, markets and even street stalls are often paid by bank transfer (chuyển khoản). A Vietnamese bank account makes life much easier.
What foreigners usually need to open an account (varies a little by bank)
- Original passport (hộ chiếu)
- A valid visa or temporary residence card (thẻ tạm trú) — short visas like tourist visas are often refused
- A Vietnamese phone number — for OTP text messages
- Your address in Vietnam — some banks ask for a lease
Most foreigners have to go to a branch in person. Opening an account online in the app (eKYC) usually requires a Vietnamese ID card.
Face verification (sinh trắc học): since July 2024, sending more than 10 million VND at once or more than 20 million VND in total per day requires face verification in the banking app. You also verify when using the app for the first time or after changing phones. Foreigners using a passport often have to register at the counter, so ask them to do it when you open the account.
Bank counter words
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ngân hàng | bank | nguhng hang |
| tài khoản | account | tai khwang |
| mở tài khoản | to open an account | muh tai khwang |
| quầy giao dịch | service counter Take a number and wait (lấy số = take a queue number) | wuhy yao yit |
| hộ chiếu | passport | hoh chee-oo |
| thị thực | visa In speech, people also just say visa ('wee-zah') | tee tewk |
| thẻ tạm trú | temporary residence card | teh tam choo |
| địa chỉ | address | dee-uh chee |
| số điện thoại | phone number | soh dee-uhng twai |
| ký tên | to sign | kee ten |
| mã OTP | OTP code | ma oh tay pay |
| mật khẩu | password | muhk khuh-oo |
| thẻ ghi nợ | debit card A credit card is thẻ tín dụng — hard for foreigners to get | teh gee nuh |
| sinh trắc học | biometric verification | sin chak hawk |
| ứng dụng ngân hàng | banking app People often just say app | ewng yoong nguhng hang |
Sentences at the counter
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Em muốn mở tài khoản. | I'd like to open an account. | em moo-uhng muh tai khwang. |
| Người nước ngoài mở tài khoản được không chị? | Can a foreigner open an account? | ngew-ee new-uhk ngwai muh tai khwang dew-uhk khohng chee? |
| Cần giấy tờ gì vậy chị? | What documents do I need? | kuhng yuhy tuh yee yuhy chee? |
| Đây là hộ chiếu với thẻ tạm trú của em. | Here are my passport and residence card. | duhy la hoh chee-oo yuhy teh tam choo koo-uh em. |
| Em điền vào đây phải không? | Do I fill it in here? | em dee-uhng yao duhy fai khohng? |
| Em ký tên ở đâu? | Where do I sign? | em kee ten uh duh-oo? |
| Bao lâu thì có thẻ? | How long until I get the card? | bao luh-oo tee kaw teh? |
| Có phí duy trì tài khoản không? | Is there an account maintenance fee? | kaw fee ywee chee tai khwang khohng? |
| Chị cài app giùm em được không? | Could you help me set up the app? | chee kai app yoom em dew-uhk khohng? |
| Em chưa nhận được mã OTP. | I haven't received the OTP yet. | em chew-uh nyuhng dew-uhk ma oh tay pay. |
| Em muốn đăng ký sinh trắc học luôn. | I'd also like to register my biometrics. | em moo-uhng dang kee sin chak hawk loo-uhng. |
Real conversation — opening an account at the bank counter
Minsu is at a bank branch in District 2. He took a number, waited, and went up to the counter.
| Staff | Dạ, em chào anh. Anh cần giao dịch gì ạ? | Hello. How can I help you? |
| Minsu | Chào em. Anh muốn mở tài khoản thanh toán. | Hi. I'd like to open a payment account. |
| Staff | Dạ, anh cho em xin hộ chiếu với thẻ tạm trú nha. | Sure, may I have your passport and residence card? |
| Minsu | Đây em. Anh có cần số điện thoại Việt Nam không? | Here. Do I need a Vietnamese phone number? |
| Staff | Dạ cần anh. Mã OTP sẽ gửi về số đó. | Yes. The OTP will be sent to that number. |
| Minsu | Được, số của anh đây. | Okay, here's my number. |
| Staff | Anh điền thông tin vào mẫu này rồi ký tên ở dưới giùm em nha. | Please fill in this form and sign at the bottom. |
| Minsu | Rồi. Anh lấy thẻ luôn được không? | Done. Can I get the card right away? |
| Staff | Dạ, thẻ thì vài ngày nữa mới có. Anh cài app ngân hàng trước nha. | The card takes a few days. Please install the bank app first. |
| Minsu | Em chụp hình mặt anh luôn hả? | Are you taking a photo of my face too? |
| Staff | Dạ đúng rồi, để đăng ký sinh trắc học. Anh nhìn vào camera nha. | Yes, to register your biometrics. Please look at the camera. |
| Minsu | Xong rồi hả? Cảm ơn em nhiều. | All done? Thank you so much. |
Choosing a bank · counter tips
- Big Vietnamese banks (Vietcombank, Techcombank, VPBank, etc.) have lots of branches and ATMs. Some foreign banks also have branches in Vietnam.
- Before you go, ask about required documents by phone or Zalo. Even within the same bank, branches may ask for different things.
- If you'll be sending more than 10 million VND (rent, for example), face verification is a must. Finish your sinh trắc học registration before you leave the branch.
- Many banks let you switch the app language to English. Ask the staff: 'Đổi sang tiếng Anh giùm em'.
Account warnings
- When your visa or temporary residence card expires, banking app transactions may be blocked. When you extend your visa, register the new visa with the bank.
- Never tell anyone your OTP codes or password, not even bank staff. Banks never ask for OTPs by phone.
- If you change the phone number registered with the bank, you won't get OTPs. Change the number at the bank before switching SIMs.
- Document and verification rules change often. This lesson is general information as of 2026, so always double-check with the bank.