If you are a foreigner living in Da Nang and looking to open a Vietnamese bank account with a 90-day visa, the answer is more complicated than simply choosing the bank with the biggest name.
The most important thing to understand is that opening a bank account, getting a debit card, receiving international transfers, and accessing all banking services are not necessarily the same thing for foreigners.
For someone with a 90-day tourist visa, Timo by BVBank is currently one of the most practical options to investigate first. For longer-term residents, however, the best choice can be very different.
Here is a comparison of the main banks that foreigners and expats should consider in Vietnam.
1. Timo by BVBank
Best for: Foreigners with a short-term visa
Rating for a 90-day visa: 9/10
If you are staying in Da Nang for around three months, Timo is probably the first bank I would check.
Timo specifically provides information for foreign customers and states that foreigners with a valid three-month visa can open an account, subject to its current requirements.
For foreigners, you should expect to provide your original passport, valid immigration documentation and a Vietnamese mobile number/SIM registered in your name.
One important detail is that the services available to foreigners depend on the remaining validity of their immigration documentation. A short-term visa does not automatically give you access to every banking product, particularly physical debit-card services.
Timo is particularly useful for:
- Everyday VND payments
- Domestic transfers
- QR payments
- Paying rent and bills
- Restaurants and shopping
- Managing everyday expenses in Vietnam
- Expats who are testing life in Da Nang before committing to a longer stay
The biggest advantage is that Timo is relatively straightforward for foreigners compared with some traditional Vietnamese banks.
Verdict: For a 90-day visa, Timo would be my first option to investigate.
2. HSBC Vietnam
Best for: International banking and long-term residents
Rating for a 90-day visa: 6/10
HSBC is a strong choice if you already have an HSBC relationship overseas or regularly deal with international currencies and transfers.
HSBC Vietnam offers current accounts, international transfers, foreign-currency services and online/mobile banking.
The problem for someone with only a 90-day visa is residency requirements.
HSBC has significantly stricter requirements for certain services available to foreign customers. In particular, debit-card eligibility can require substantially longer remaining residency validity than a standard 90-day tourist visa.
That makes HSBC less attractive if your main goal is simply:
“I have a 90-day visa and want a Vietnamese bank account and debit card.”
HSBC becomes much more interesting if you have:
- A long-term visa
- Temporary residence card
- Employment in Vietnam
- Significant international banking requirements
- Existing HSBC accounts in other countries
- Regular international transfers
Verdict: Excellent international bank, but not my first choice for a foreigner with only a 90-day tourist visa.
3. Techcombank
Best for: Digital banking and long-term expats
Rating for long-term residents: 9/10
Techcombank is one of the Vietnamese banks I would seriously consider if you are planning to stay in Vietnam for the longer term.
It has a strong digital banking platform, a large domestic customer base and a wide range of personal and business banking services.
For foreigners, however, the important factor is your immigration status.
A long-term resident, employee, business owner or foreigner with appropriate residence documentation is in a much stronger position than someone arriving with only a short tourist visa.
Techcombank can be particularly attractive for:
- Long-term expats
- Digital nomads with appropriate residency
- Employees receiving salary in Vietnam
- Entrepreneurs
- Business owners
- People who want a modern Vietnamese banking app
Verdict: One of my preferred Vietnamese banks for long-term residents, but not necessarily the easiest option for a 90-day tourist.
4. Vietcombank
Best for: Traditional Vietnamese banking and international transfers
Rating for long-term residents: 8.5/10
Vietcombank is one of Vietnam’s largest and most established banks.
It has a huge domestic network and is widely used for salary payments, domestic transfers, foreign currency and international banking.
For foreigners planning to live in Vietnam for several years, Vietcombank is definitely worth considering.
The downside is that the process can be less straightforward for foreigners on short-term tourist visas.
The old advice that a foreigner can simply walk into any Vietnamese bank with a passport and open an account is increasingly unreliable. Requirements depend on your visa, remaining residency validity, purpose of the account and the services you want.
Best for:
- Long-term residents
- Employees in Vietnam
- International transfers
- Foreign currency
- Business owners
- Traditional banking services
Verdict: Very strong bank for long-term residents, but not my first choice for a 90-day tourist.
5. ACB
Best for: All-round banking for expats
Rating: 8/10
ACB is another Vietnamese bank worth considering if you are establishing yourself in Vietnam.
It offers personal banking, foreign-currency services, transfers and other services that can be useful to expats and business owners.
ACB can be particularly interesting for people who expect to stay in Vietnam beyond the initial tourist period.
As with the other Vietnamese banks, however, do not assume that a 90-day visa automatically qualifies you for every account and banking service.
Your visa status and remaining validity matter.
Best for:
- Long-term expats
- Business owners
- Foreign-currency banking
- International transfers
- Everyday Vietnamese banking
Verdict: A solid option for established residents, but Timo is more straightforward for the short-term visitor.
6. VPBank
Best for: Entrepreneurs and business banking
Rating: 8/10
VPBank is worth considering if you are not simply visiting Vietnam but are planning to build a business or establish a longer-term financial presence here.
It has a large Vietnamese customer base and offers both personal and business banking products.
For an expat entrepreneur in Da Nang, VPBank can become more interesting once you have the appropriate long-term residency and business documentation.
For someone arriving with only a 90-day tourist visa, I would still investigate Timo first.
Best for:
- Entrepreneurs
- Business owners
- Long-term expats
- Personal and business banking
- Vietnamese companies and international businesses
Verdict: A good long-term option, but not the simplest short-term solution.
7. BIDV
Best for: Traditional banking and domestic network
Rating: 7.5/10
BIDV is one of Vietnam’s major state-owned banks and has a very large domestic network.
It can be a strong choice for people who work and live in Vietnam permanently.
For foreigners, however, short-term tourist visas can make the process more complicated.
BIDV makes more sense if you have:
- Long-term residency
- Employment in Vietnam
- Salary payments
- A Vietnamese company
- Business activities
- Regular domestic banking requirements
Verdict: Strong traditional Vietnamese bank, but not the easiest option for a short-term foreign visitor.
8. Shinhan Bank Vietnam
Best for: International and Korean business connections
Rating: 8/10
Shinhan Bank is particularly interesting for people working with Korean companies or other international businesses in Vietnam.
It provides international banking services and can be a good choice for employees and business owners who have an established relationship with the bank.
For the average expat who simply needs an account to pay rent, restaurants, utilities and everyday expenses in Da Nang, however, there are simpler options.
Verdict: A good international bank, particularly for business customers, but not my first recommendation for a 90-day tourist.
Best Banks in Vietnam for Foreigners: My Ranking
| Bank | 90-Day Visa | Long-Term Expat | International Banking | Everyday Banking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timo / BVBank | 9/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| HSBC | 6/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| Techcombank | 5/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Vietcombank | 5/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| ACB | 5/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| VPBank | 5/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| BIDV | 5/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Shinhan Bank | 5/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 7/10 |
These ratings are practical recommendations rather than official bank ratings. Banking eligibility can depend heavily on your visa type, remaining visa validity, employment status, residence documentation and the specific services you request.
So Which Bank Should You Choose in Da Nang?
If you have a 90-day tourist visa and simply need a Vietnamese bank account for everyday life, I would start with:
1. Timo by BVBank
If you have a long-term visa or temporary residence card, I would compare:
2. Techcombank
3. Vietcombank
4. ACB
5. VPBank
6. HSBC
If you are primarily concerned with international banking and moving money between countries, HSBC becomes much more interesting.
If you are starting a business in Vietnam, I would look closely at Vietcombank, Techcombank, ACB and VPBank rather than choosing purely based on convenience.
One Important Point for Expats
Do not choose a Vietnamese bank solely because somebody on Facebook says:
“I opened an account there with my passport.”
That may have been true two years ago, in another branch, under different immigration rules, with a different visa and for a completely different banking product.
For foreigners in Vietnam, there are several separate questions:
Can I open an account?
Can I receive money into it?
Can I make international transfers?
Can I get a Vietnamese debit card?
Can I use QR payments?
How long will the account remain fully operational if my visa expires?
Those are not necessarily the same thing.
For someone coming to Da Nang to travel, live, work remotely, start a business or build a new life in Vietnam, the right bank depends heavily on how long you intend to stay and what you need the account for.
Final Recommendation
For a 90-day visa in Da Nang, I would start with Timo by BVBank.
For a long-term expat, I would compare Techcombank, Vietcombank, ACB, VPBank, HSBC and Timo.
For international banking, HSBC deserves serious consideration.
For business banking, compare Vietcombank, Techcombank, ACB and VPBank based on your specific business and residency situation.
And before visiting a branch, check the bank’s current requirements. Vietnamese banking rules for foreigners can change, and the requirements in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang may not always be implemented identically.
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