Which local bank should expats open an account and card with in Nha Trang, Vietnam?

Opening a bank account in Vietnam may only require an entry stamp in the passport (no special visa mark needed) — that's enough for in-country payments. From personal experience: cards were opened at BIDV and Vietcombank with a 3-month visa, requiring a passport with visa stamp, a phone number registered in your name, and about 20 minutes.

Note that banks in Vietnam close for a lunch break — roughly from 11:30 to 13:00 or 13:30 — so you won't be able to open an account during that window.

In practice, approval for a foreigner’s bank account can depend not only on the bank, but also on the specific branch or staff member: one person may be approved while another is refused at the same bank. If one branch rejects you, it’s worth trying another branch.

Card limits and terms can differ noticeably depending on the bank and the specific card type, so it’s worth checking the details for the exact bank and product before opening one.

Opening a local Vietnamese bank card is the most practical solution for buying airline tickets and making online payments. You'll need a valid visa and a local Vietnamese phone number. The process is relatively straightforward.

With a valid visa and a Vietnamese SIM card, opening a bank account is fairly easy. Unlike in some countries, there aren't major differences between banks here — most offer similar terms and conditions.

If you need a CNY (Chinese yuan) card, it's worth checking directly with individual banks, as not all Vietnamese banks offer multi-currency accounts in yuan. Visiting a few branches in person is the best approach.