Circular 39/2026/TT-NHNN dated August 5, 2026, amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 16/2014/TT-NHNN guiding the use of foreign currency and Vietnamese Dong accounts of residents and non-residents at permitted banks

STATE BANK OF VIETNAM
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness
No.: 39/2026/TT-NHNN Hanoi, August 05, 2026

CIRCULAR
Amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 16/2014/TT-NHNN guiding the use of foreign currency accounts and Vietnamese Dong accounts of residents and non-residents at permitted banks

Pursuant to the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam No. 46/2010/QH12; Pursuant to the Law on Credit Institutions No. 32/2024/QH15, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 96/2025/QH15; Pursuant to the Ordinance on Foreign Exchange No. 28/2005/PL-UBTVQH11, as amended and supplemented by Ordinance No. 06/2013/UBTVQH13; Pursuant to Decree No. 70/2014/NĐ-CP of the Government detailing the implementation of certain articles of the Ordinance on Foreign Exchange and the Ordinance amending and supplementing certain articles of the Ordinance on Foreign Exchange; Pursuant to Decree No. 26/2025/NĐ-CP of the Government defining the functions, duties, powers, and organizational structure of the State Bank of Vietnam, as amended and supplemented by Decree No. 198/2026/NĐ-CP; At the request of the Director of the Foreign Exchange Management Department; The Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam hereby issues the Circular amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 16/2014/TT-NHNN guiding the use of foreign currency accounts and Vietnamese Dong accounts of residents and non-residents at permitted banks.

Article 1. Addition of Article 2a after Article 2

"Article 2a. Principles for the use of foreign currency accounts and Vietnamese Dong accounts of non-residents being foreign credit institutions opened at permitted banks

1. Non-residents being foreign credit institutions are allowed to use foreign currency accounts and Vietnamese Dong accounts at permitted banks to carry out the following transactions:
   a) International payments and money transfers serving the customers of that foreign credit institution, in accordance with a written agreement between the permitted bank and the foreign credit institution; b) Receipt and payment transactions as prescribed in Article 5 and Article 7 of this Circular.

2. The use of accounts and other contents shall be implemented in accordance with a written agreement between the permitted bank and the foreign credit institution, based on compliance with the provisions of Vietnamese law."

Article 2. Amendment and supplementation of Article 9

"Article 9. Responsibilities of permitted credit institutions and residents, non-residents being organizations and individuals

1. Permitted credit institutions have the responsibility to:
   a) Implement and guide customers to implement the provisions of this Circular; b) Prescribe, check, and retain documents and vouchers appropriate to actual transactions to ensure that foreign exchange services are provided for the correct purpose and in compliance with legal provisions; c) Bear responsibility for the provision of payment and money transfer services through accounts of non-residents being foreign credit institutions opened at the permitted credit institution itself, and comply with relevant legal provisions on non-cash payments, foreign exchange management, this Circular, and other related provisions; d) Fully implement legal provisions on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing of weapons of mass destruction.

2. Other related organizations and individuals have the responsibility to:
   a) Strictly implement the provisions of this Circular; b) Present documents and vouchers as prescribed by the permitted credit institution when carrying out foreign exchange transactions and bear legal responsibility for the authenticity of the documents and vouchers presented to the permitted credit institution; c) Fully comply with legal provisions on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing of weapons of mass destruction."

Article 3. Amendment and supplementation of Clause 2, Article 11

"2. Heads of relevant units under the State Bank of Vietnam and permitted credit institutions shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular."

Article 4. Implementation Provisions

This Circular takes effect from September 19, 2026.

Article 5. Organization of Implementation

Heads of relevant units under the State Bank of Vietnam, credit institutions, branches of foreign banks, and related organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

Where distributed:

• Leadership of SBV;
• Government Office;
• Ministry of Justice (for inspection);
• Heads of units under SBV;
• Commercial banks;
• Branches of foreign banks;
• Official Gazette;
• Electronic portal of SBV;
• Store: Office, Foreign Exchange Management, PC (03b).

GOVERNOR