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Published on 28 August 20253 mins

Send money to Vietnam: cross-border payment guide for Hong Kong businesses

Airwallex Editorial Team

Send money to Vietnam: cross-border payment guide for Hong Kong businesses

Vietnam has rapidly emerged as a fast-growing market for Hong Kong companies. Whether you're paying suppliers, sourcing materials, or managing local partners, transferring money ‌quickly and reliably has become a competitive necessity.

Businesses still relying on traditional bank wire transfers often fall short on speed, cost, and flexibility.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the common ways to send money to Vietnam, highlight the difficulties associated with conventional methods, and show how Airwallex helps Hong Kong businesses streamline payments, reduce costs, and stay in control of cash flow. 

Avoid fees with local payment rails.

Start with an Airwallex Business Account

Why do businesses need to send money to Vietnam?

Over the past decade, Vietnam's rapid growth in manufacturing and technology has created huge opportunities. For Hong Kong businesses, this means needing to make payments for several reasons, including:

  • Manufacturing and sourcing: Vietnam is a manufacturing powerhouse, thanks to its lower labour costs and strategic location. It's a go-to hub for Hong Kong companies looking to produce goods or source materials, making regular payments for goods and processing fees a core process of their business.

  • Outsourcing services: As Vietnam's talent pool grows rapidly in areas like IT, design, and customer support, Hong Kong startups and SMEs are increasingly tapping into this expertise, making cross-border payments a regular operational task.

  • Market expansion: As Vietnam’s consumer base expands, more Hong Kong brands are establishing a presence there. This requires handling everyday local expenses from afar, such as paying salaries, renting office space, and settling with suppliers.

Whether your business is B2B or B2C, a fast and cost-effective way to send money to Vietnam will save you time and resources.

Common ways to transfer money to Vietnam

When it comes to sending a cross-border payment, Hong Kong businesses typically have these three main options:

  • Traditional bank transfers (SWIFT)

  • International remittance providers (e.g. Western Union)

  • All-in-one financial platforms (e.g. Airwallex)

While all of these methods are viable, they differ greatly in speed, cost, exchange rates, and overall effectiveness.

Limitations associated with conventional bank transfers

Many businesses still rely on their banks for international transfers. However, in today’s fast-paced environment, this approach is no longer as competitive as it once was.

  • Higher fees: Traditional bank wire transfers often have fees that appear straightforward. However, payments routed through the SWIFT network can pass through multiple intermediary banks, each taking a small slice that quietly erodes the final amount your recipient receives.

  • Lack of transparency in exchange rates: Banks typically build hidden margins into their foreign exchange rates. This means a seemingly decent rate can mask a profit cushion, which becomes an extra cost for you.

  • Slow settlement times: Funds passing through multiple intermediaries can take 2–5 business days to arrive. If you miss the cut-off time or send money before a public holiday, delays can stretch even longer, potentially straining relationships with your suppliers.

  • Cumbersome process: Many banks still require multiple forms and in-person visits during branch hours, which limits flexibility for busy businesses.

For companies handling frequent, high-value, or multi-currency payments, these inefficiencies directly impact cash flow and day-to-day operations.

Why Airwallex is more cost-effective when sending money to Vietnam

As an all-in-one financial platform, Airwallex offers fast, secure, and cost-effective international transfers. Compared with traditional methods, Airwallex gives businesses a competitive edge when paying into Vietnam:

  • Competitive FX rates: Airwallex offers foreign exchange rates from as low as interbank rates +0.2%, with fully transparent service fees. This helps businesses significantly reduce unnecessary costs.

  • Faster settlement: 95% of cross-border transfers can arrive on the same day, avoiding the long payment delays that could risk trading partnerships.

  • Fully online experience: The entire process, from account opening to making a payment, is managed online. You can initiate a payment anytime from your phone, with no queues or printed forms, saving you time and effort.

  • One account, multiple currencies: Go beyond HKD and VND. You can transfer money in over 90 currencies from the same account, giving your business the flexibility to manage global funds from a single platform.

With these advantages, Hong Kong businesses can complete cross-border payments at a lower cost and with greater efficiency, which is ideal for companies that make regular payments to partners in Vietnam.

How to Send Money to Vietnam with Airwallex

Sending money to Vietnam with Airwallex is straightforward and can be done in just a few simple steps.

  1. Open an Airwallex account: You can open an Airwallex account online 24/7, with approval in as fast as 48 hours.

  2. Initiate your transfer: Log in to your account, select an existing beneficiary or add a new one, and enter the payment currency and amount.

  3. Review rates and fees: With Airwallex, you see the rate and fees straight away, so there are no surprises when you send money.

For Hong Kong companies looking to send money to Vietnam, Airwallex offers a smoother, more efficient route. The platform cuts down on delays and hidden costs, whether you're making one-off payments or handling a high volume of transactions. If your business works with Vietnamese partners, it may be time to upgrade your payment solution. With Airwallex, you can unlock greater flexibility in cash flow and expand your business with confidence.

Get fast international transfers at low cost

Frequently asked questions

1. How long does it take to transfer money to Vietnam?

With Airwallex, transfers to Vietnam can typically be completed on the same day, much faster than the 2–5 business days required by traditional bank transfers.

2. What are the costs for sending money to Vietnam with Airwallex?

Airwallex offers a transparent pricing model with competitive costs for sending money to Vietnam. Account opening is free with no monthly fees, and transfers via local payment rails incur zero cross-border transaction fees.

3. Is there a limit on transfer amounts?

Airwallex supports both large and small transfers, with no minimum transaction amount. Businesses can set payment amounts flexibly according to their needs, while still complying with Hong Kong and Vietnam’s regulatory requirements.

4. What payout methods are available for Vietnam?

Currently, Airwallex supports transfers directly to local Vietnamese bank accounts via NAPAS.

View this article in another region:Hong Kong SAR - 繁體中文

Airwallex Editorial Team

Airwallex’s Editorial Team is a global collective of business finance and fintech writers based in Australia, Asia, North America, and Europe. With deep expertise spanning finance, technology, payments, startups, and SMEs, the team collaborates closely with experts, including the Airwallex Product team and industry leaders to produce this content.

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