Foreigners may bring cash into Vietnam, but amounts above the declaration threshold must be declared to customs — and serious breaches can lead to criminal proceedings. A Chinese businessman is under investigation after authorities at Lao Cai International Border Gate allegedly found him carrying VND355 million, about US$13,700, into Vietnam without making the required declaration. Border guards and customs officers stopped Zhao Fuyi on September 3. Authorities said he intended to deposit the money into his Vietnamese bank account to pay for goods and workers connected with his cross-border vegetable trade. The cash was confirmed as genuine, and the case remains under investigation. Declaration is required above set thresholdsVietnam does not impose a blanket ban on bringing cash into the country. However, travellers entering or leaving Vietnam must declare foreign currency exceeding US$5,000, or Vietnamese dong exceeding VND15 million. These figures are declaration thresholds, rather than caps on the cash a person can carry. Declaring money does not automatically mean it will be taxed or confiscated. A declaration is also required where a traveller carries up to US$5,000 in foreign currency but intends to deposit it into a foreign-currency payment account at a Vietnamese bank. Customs certification is needed in that situation. Fines can rise quicklyUnder Decree No. 169/2026/ND-CP, which took effect on July 1, failing to declare, or declaring cash incorrectly, can result in administrative penalties. For undeclared cash worth VND100 million or more, the stated fine ranges from VND10 million to VND20 million. Penalties also apply where the declared amount exceeds the amount actually carried, with fines rising according to the value of the difference. The rules are intended to give authorities oversight of cash movements at the border, rather than to prevent legitimate travellers from carrying funds. When prosecution becomes possibleFailure to declare cash does not automatically make a case criminal. Prosecution may follow if authorities determine that the conduct amounts to illegally transporting currency across the border under Article 189 of Vietnam’s Criminal Code. The law provides escalating penalties according to the value involved. For amounts from VND300 million to under VND500 million, the range cited by the source includes fines from VND200 million to VND1 billion, or prison terms of two to five years. The VND355 million involved in the Lao Cai case falls within that bracket. What it means for foreigners in VietnamAnyone arriving with cash above US$5,000 or VND15 million should declare it accurately at customs and retain the relevant paperwork. Travellers planning to deposit foreign currency into a Vietnamese bank account should check declaration requirements before travelling. This is practical information, not legal advice; where significant sums are involved, professional advice is sensible. September 9.2026
