Send Money to Vietnam: USD/EUR→VND, SWIFT & Bank Codes — The Practical Guide

Quick answer

Vietnam-bound transfers are straightforward if you decide where conversion to VND happens and keep details exact. Most international wires arrive via SWIFT to a Vietnamese bank, then either credit in USD/EUR or convert to VND for local use. Your real price is fee plus FX; timing depends on bank cut-offs and how clean your payment looks.

What makes the Vietnam corridor specific

Recipients often provide an account number, the bank name, a SWIFT/BIC, and sometimes a bank/branch code. Vietnamese banks are strict about spelling the account holder’s name exactly as on file. Short references post faster than narratives, and early-day submissions tend to land sooner—especially around local holidays like Tết.

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Top-5 routes (choose what fits your case)

1) USD/EUR → recipient’s foreign-currency account, convert on arrival. You send a major currency; the receiving bank converts to VND for local spending. Advantage: simple cross-border leg and bank-quoted conversion. Ask for the net VND expected after fees.

2) Pre-convert to VND, then send (where supported). Some corridors allow you to send VND directly. If available, pre-convert at a transparent rate and pay in VND—this maximizes certainty of the net amount on account. Confirm acceptance with the recipient’s bank first.

3) SWIFT USD with predictable charges (SHA/OUR) and clean references. When you can’t pre-convert, pay in USD. Choose charge type per agreement (sender/recipient/shared), keep the reference short, and submit before cut-offs to avoid an extra business day.

4) One clean inbound → multiple local payouts. Fund a single inbound credit, then the recipient allocates domestically the same day (taxes, suppliers, salaries). Fewer cross-border wires, lower total cost, less admin.

5) Time-critical credits. Send in the morning, avoid late Friday for Monday deadlines, and attach standard proof in the same email thread. Consistent wording across messages speeds reconciliation.

Costs that actually matter

Your true cost is not only the fee. It is fee plus the gap between the market FX and the rate used. If you send USD/EUR and convert on arrival, the rate is the main lever; for same-currency credits (USD→USD), the fee dominates. Decide before you send which option guarantees the net amount needed in VND.

Timing & predictability

Posting depends on cut-offs, routine screening and how clean your message looks. Short references and exact beneficiary data reduce manual review. Plan around Vietnamese and origin-country bank holidays; the week of Tết is particularly busy. If timing is critical, choose routes with earlier value dates and submit in the morning.

Recipient details checklist (Vietnam)

Beneficiary legal name (as on the account); account number; bank name; branch (if required); SWIFT/BIC; bank/branch code (if requested by your bank); currency to receive (USD/EUR or VND); and a short purpose line that mirrors the paperwork. Copy spelling and diacritics carefully—small mismatches can trigger a hold.

Common pitfalls — and simple fixes

Long narratives in the reference. They slow posting. Fix: keep it short and exact.

Unplanned FX. Mid-route conversions create surprises. Fix: decide where conversion happens and note the expected net VND.

Late submissions. End-of-day wires roll into the next business day. Fix: send in the morning and avoid pre-holiday edges.

Name/IBAN-style mismatches. Vietnam uses account numbers (not IBAN). Fix: use the format your bank requests and the beneficiary’s official name.

Reusable scenarios

Paying a supplier or contractor. If their invoice is in USD, pay USD via SWIFT and agree how any conversion to VND will be handled. Share proof as soon as you submit.

Supporting family or tuition. If the recipient spends in VND, either pre-convert or ask their bank to convert on arrival and confirm the net VND expected.

Project deposits or retainers. One clean inbound in USD/EUR with a short purpose line; the recipient distributes domestically the same day according to plan.

One-page checklist (save it)

1) Choose currency and where FX happens. 2) Confirm all-in price (fee + rate). 3) Validate beneficiary data and SWIFT. 4) Keep the reference short. 5) Send early and share proof in the same thread.

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Why work with us

VelesClub Int., together with our partner UNIBROKER, focuses on clear routes, transparent pricing and timing that fits your plan—so Vietnam-bound transfers land cleanly and on time.