How to Send Money From Australia to Vietnam

Money from Australia to Vietnam can land in a bank account, a mobile wallet such as MoMo, or at a counter for cash pickup. Some providers will even deliver cash to the door. The right choice depends on what your family can use and on how many dong arrive after the exchange rate and fees.

This guide covers each way to send, what to know about the currency your family receives, what pushes the price up and how long transfers take. We checked every figure on this page on 29 October 2026.

RemitHome.net.au is an independent guide run by Dominet BV. We're not a bank or a money transfer business, we don't send money for anyone, and we're not registered with AUSTRAC because we don't provide remittance services. No link on this site is an affiliate link right now. If that changes, we'll say so in our affiliate disclosure, and it won't change what we write. This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Providers named on this page are examples we checked, not recommendations.

Before you start

You'll need:

• Your own ID. Registered providers in Australia must identify you. AUSTRAC says that if a remittance business doesn't ask for ID, it's probably not registered.
• The recipient's full name as it appears on their ID.
• For a bank deposit: the bank's name and the account number. Western Union also asks for the purpose of the transfer.
• For a wallet: the mobile number registered to the wallet.
• For cash pickup or home delivery: the recipient's name, address and city.

Ways to send money to Vietnam

Moneysmart, run by ASIC, describes two main routes from Australia: your bank, or a money transfer business. In Vietnam, Vietcombank's remittance handbook says money from overseas can come through banks, post offices or licensed companies, and that banks are the most common channel.

Bank transfer from your Australian bank

Your bank sends the money through SWIFT, usually set up in online banking. This suits larger transfers into a Vietnamese bank account. Ask the bank for its exchange rate, its fee, which currency it will send, and whether the receiving bank or a bank in between may take a fee.

Online money transfer providers

Online providers let you pay in Australian dollars and choose how your family receives the money. As listed on 29 October 2026:

• Western Union lists bank accounts, MoMo wallets, cash pickup at more than 9,800 agent locations in Vietnam, and cash home delivery in AUD or USD through DongA.
• Remitly lists cash pickup, bank deposit and mobile wallets, naming MoMo, ViettelMoney and ZaloPay among its delivery partners.
• Wise pays into Vietnamese bank accounts and asks for the recipient's full name, bank name and account number.

Cash pickup

Cash pickup suits recipients without a bank account, or anyone who wants cash the same day. Vietcombank's handbook lists collecting at the counter as one of three common ways to receive a remittance through a bank, alongside payment into an account and delivery to the home. Ask your provider what the recipient must bring, which normally includes ID matching the name you entered and the transfer reference.

Mobile wallets

Vietnamese wallets let the money arrive on your recipient's phone. Remitly lists MoMo, ViettelMoney and ZaloPay, and Western Union lists MoMo. The name you enter must match the wallet holder. Check the provider's app for any wallet limits before you send a large amount.

Home delivery

Some providers offer cash delivered to the recipient's home. Western Union says its home delivery in Vietnam pays out in AUD or USD through DongA. If your family needs dong, they'd have to exchange the cash afterwards, so compare that against a bank deposit or wallet in dong.

Dong or foreign currency?

Vietcombank's handbook says recipients can choose to take a remittance in dong or in foreign currency. It also says that under Vietnamese law both Vietnamese individuals and foreigners living and working legally in Vietnam can receive remittances.

Which currency arrives depends on the provider and the delivery method. The online providers we checked show the amount your recipient gets in dong for bank and wallet delivery, while a bank-to-bank SWIFT transfer may arrive in Australian or US dollars for the receiving bank to convert. If foreign currency arrives, the receiving bank applies its own exchange rate, which adds a second conversion cost.

We couldn't load the State Bank of Vietnam's English pages on 29 October 2026, so this guide doesn't state Vietnam's regulator-level rules on receiving foreign currency. Your recipient's bank can confirm the current rules.

What affects the cost

Moneysmart says providers choose their own exchange rate and charge fees, and the cost depends on how much you send, where and how. For Vietnam:

1. The exchange rate margin against the mid-market AUD to VND rate. With large dong amounts, a small margin is easy to miss, so compare the final dong figure.
2. The transfer fee, flat, a percentage or both.
3. How you pay. Cards can cost more than bank transfer or PayID.
4. The delivery method. Wallet, bank, cash pickup and home delivery can each be priced differently.
5. A second conversion if foreign currency arrives and is changed into dong in Vietnam.

Our fees and exchange rate margins guide shows how to combine these into one number. Moneysmart points to SaverAsia for independent comparisons from Australia to Asian countries, including Vietnam.

How long it takes

Moneysmart says transfers can be instant or take up to five business days. As stated on providers' pages on 29 October 2026:

• Western Union: bank transfers should arrive within one banking day and can be real time with certain banks, while cash pickup can be ready in minutes.
• Wise: once it receives and converts your money, it usually takes 1 working day to reach the recipient's bank account, and conversion can take up to 2 working days.

Your first transfer may take longer while ID checks are done. Public holidays such as Tết in Vietnam can slow bank and counter payouts.

Limits

Providers set their own limits. As at 29 October 2026:

• Western Union gives a maximum daily limit of AUD 19,000 when paying by PayID, with your own limit depending on the service and your history.
• Wise says you can send up to VND 490 million per transfer.
• Remitly says its limits vary by verification, delivery method and destination.

If you pay a provider $10,000 or more in cash in Australia, it reports the payment to AUSTRAC as a threshold transaction. That's routine, but splitting cash payments to avoid the report is a criminal offence.

Check the provider and watch for scams

Money transfer businesses in Australia must be registered with AUSTRAC. Search the Remittance Sector Register before using one, and read our AUSTRAC guide for what else to check.

Informal services that collect cash in Australia and pay out in Vietnam without registration are illegal. AUSTRAC says running an unregistered remittance service can lead to a fine of up to $420,000, up to 7 years in prison, or both. Scamwatch also warns never to transfer money for someone else, because it may be money laundering.

For other countries and the basics that apply to every transfer, see our guides home page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send money from Australia to a MoMo wallet?

Yes, through providers that offer it. As listed on 29 October 2026, Western Union and Remitly both include MoMo. The name you enter must match the wallet holder.

Will my family receive dong or Australian dollars?

It depends on the provider and delivery method. The online providers we checked show dong amounts for bank and wallet delivery. Some home delivery services pay AUD or USD, and SWIFT transfers can arrive in foreign currency for the bank to convert.

How long does it take to send money to Vietnam?

From minutes for cash pickup to a few working days for some bank transfers. Wise says bank deposits usually take 1 working day after conversion.

Is it legal to use an informal money service to send money to Vietnam?

Not if it isn't registered with AUSTRAC. Running an unregistered remittance business in Australia is an offence, and you have little protection if the money goes missing.

How do I compare the cost?

Enter the same AUD amount with your bank and two or three registered providers, and compare the dong received after all fees. SaverAsia gives an independent snapshot.