Bitcoin in Vietnam: rules, tax and how it's priced
In Vietnam bitcoin is usually quoted as the price of 1 BTC in dong (₫). The figure runs to billions of dong, and many traders also think in USDT, a dollar stablecoin. The figures on this page are the international BTC/USD price converted at today's USD/VND exchange rate. They are before exchange fees, spreads and any local premium, so peer-to-peer and local quotes can differ.
Is bitcoin legal in Vietnam?
Vietnam lets you own crypto assets but bans using them to pay. The State Bank of Vietnam has long said that issuing, supplying or using bitcoin as a means of payment is prohibited. The dong is the only legal tender, and paying with crypto can lead to fines or criminal charges. Since 1 January 2026, the Law on Digital Technology Industry has given digital assets, including crypto assets, a legal basis as property. Government Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP of 9 September 2025 set up a five-year pilot for licensed crypto markets, supervised by the Ministry of Finance. All offering and trading in the pilot must be in dong.
Licensed exchanges: where the pilot stands
Under the pilot, an exchange operator must be a Vietnamese company with at least VND 10,000 billion in charter capital. Foreign ownership is capped at 49%, and the operator needs Level 4 information-security certification. Applications opened on 20 January 2026. By late August 2026, five applicants had passed the initial review, but no exchange licence had been issued. Decree 284/2026/ND-CP took effect on 1 September 2026. It sets fines for unlicensed crypto services, and for Vietnamese users of up to VND 50 million for trading outside a licensed provider. That user requirement only applies six months after the first licence is granted.
How is crypto taxed in Vietnam?
Ministry of Finance Circular 32/2026/TT-BTC taxes crypto the way Vietnam taxes share trades. An individual pays personal income tax of 0.1% of the value of each transfer made through a crypto service provider, whatever their residency. The tax is on the transaction value, not the profit, so it applies even if you sell at a loss. The licensed provider withholds it. Press reports say this tax applies from 1 July 2026 under the amended Personal Income Tax Law. Crypto transfers are not subject to VAT. Vietnamese companies pay 20% corporate income tax on net crypto gains. How the tax applies to trades on foreign platforms and peer-to-peer deals still awaits guidance.
How people buy bitcoin in Vietnam today
Until the first domestic exchanges are licensed, most Vietnamese trading happens on international platforms or peer to peer, often by swapping dong for USDT before buying bitcoin. This is about to change. Once a licensed Vietnamese exchange opens, investors will have six months to move their trading onto licensed platforms, and offshore exchanges may stop serving Vietnamese users. Buyers can still keep coins in a personal wallet. Because P2P rates move with local demand for dollars, the dong price you see locally can differ from the converted international price on this page.
Legal and tax information last reviewed October 2026. Crypto rules change quickly — check with the regulator or tax authority, or a qualified adviser, before acting. This is not tax, legal or investment advice.