Best Crypto Cards in Vietnam (2026)

The SBV (Ngan hang Nha nuoc Viet Nam, State Bank of Vietnam) does not recognize crypto as legal tender or a lawful means of payment. Using crypto for direct payments is banned under Decree 80/2016 and subsequent regulations.

However, crypto ownership and trading are not banned. The Vietnamese government has been exploring a crypto regulatory framework since 2020, with the Ministry of Finance tasked with developing comprehensive legislation. As of early 2026, no specific crypto licensing framework exists.

Crypto cards settle in VND through Visa/Mastercard, making the transaction indistinguishable from a normal card payment from the merchant's perspective. Bybit, OKX, Bitget, and Crypto.com serve Vietnamese users through APAC entities.

Crypto ownership is legal. The payment ban applies to direct crypto-to-merchant transactions, not Visa/Mastercard card spending.

Vietnam does not have a specific crypto tax framework. General tax principles apply, but enforcement on individual crypto transactions has been minimal. Personal income tax (PIT) on capital gains is generally 20% for securities, but crypto is not explicitly classified.

Example: You bought 0.01 BTC at VND 5,000,000 and spend it when it is worth VND 25,000,000. The VND 20,000,000 gain has no specific tax treatment under current law. If classified as personal income, PIT could apply at progressive rates up to 35%.

The Ministry of Finance is developing crypto tax legislation. Future regulations may include reporting requirements and specific rates. Keep records of all transactions in case retroactive reporting is required.

Stablecoin spending simplifies compliance regardless of future legislation. If tax law is enacted with retroactive provisions, USDC transactions generate minimal gains and clean audit trails.

Vietnamese crypto card applications require a CMND (Chung minh nhan dan, old-format 9-digit ID) or CCCD (Can cuoc cong dan, new-format 12-digit citizen ID with chip) for citizens, or passport plus visa/residence card for foreign residents.

Proof of Vietnamese address via utility bill (hoa don dien/nuoc), bank statement (sao ke tai khoan), or household registration book (so ho khau). International APAC issuers may require passport verification for Vietnamese residents.

Physical cards ship to Vietnamese addresses within 7-14 business days. Virtual cards are available immediately for Apple Pay and Google Pay use.

No Specific Tax = Spend Freely (For Now)

Vietnam's lack of specific crypto tax legislation means card spending is in a regulatory gray area. While this could change, current enforcement on individual crypto transactions is minimal. Stablecoin funding is recommended as a hedge against future retroactive legislation, but there is no immediate tax penalty for spending appreciated crypto.

Card Selection by Use Case

• Bitget (8% cashback, free): Best all-around card, zero FX fee critical for VND users
• Bybit (up to 10% VIP): Best for high-volume Bybit traders
• KAST (2% cashback, free): Best no-fee starter card
• Crypto.com (up to 5%): Best for lounge access at SGN (Tan Son Nhat) and HAN (Noi Bai)

Spending Scenario: VND 10,000,000/month (~$400)

VND 9,600,000/year is significant: that covers 2+ months of groceries or 40+ pho meals in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. With no specific tax, all cashback is effectively retained.

FX Is Critical for VND Users

VND is one of Asia's weaker currencies. Every transaction through a USD-settled card involves FX conversion. Cards with 0% FX fees save 2-3% per transaction versus Vietcombank or BIDV debit cards. On VND 10,000,000/month, that is VND 2,400,000-3,600,000/year in FX savings.

Local Payment Infrastructure

Card acceptance is growing in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Modern restaurants, malls (Vincom, Aeon), hotels, and tourist areas accept Visa/Mastercard contactless. MoMo and ZaloPay dominate mobile payments (app-only). However, Vietnam remains heavily cash-dependent: street food vendors, markets (Ben Thanh, Dong Xuan), xe om, and many small shops accept only cash. Carry VND alongside your crypto card. Apple Pay adoption is growing.

APAC exchange cards: Bybit (up to 10% VIP), OKX (5%), Bitget (8%), and Crypto.com (up to 5%) serve Vietnamese users through their APAC entities.

Globally available: KAST, xPlace, and RedotPay may be accessible under worldwide coverage. For Vietnamese users, globally available cards are often the easiest entry point.

Domestic platforms: Vietnam has no formally licensed crypto exchanges. Remitano, VNDC, and various P2P platforms serve the Vietnamese market. The government is developing a licensing framework but no exchanges are officially regulated yet.

Self-custody options: Bleap (2%, free) and Tria (up to 6%) offer self-custody spending for Vietnamese users wanting wallet control.