I don't believe it is possible, neither in Vietnam nor Thailand, for a traveller/visitor/tourist to open a bank account while here under such a visa. If wrong, I'm happy to be corrected on this by other members with knowledge to the contrary. - @Aidan in HCMC
Timo Bank keeps being mentioned on F.B. with the main restriction being that you don't get a debit card (but I believe you get a straight ATM card).
Apparently there is the ability to pay merchants in Vietnam (transfer) using a QR code (through the app, I believe).
Vietnam has gotten really restrictive on all bank accounts within the last year, with one of those controls being that every time you get a new visa after a border run you need to immediately go to the bank and update your account.
One of the quickest ways to make a transfer into Vietnam is to have a foreign exchange (FOREX) account, and I believe a foreigner can open one of those at the banks that provide the service without qualifying for an actual Vi峄噒 Nam 膽峄搉g bank account.
If you get a FOREX account, the foreign currency is not exchanged into the local currency until you actually want to withdraw it from the bank.
At that point there is a bank fee for doing so
Otherwise, my banks are getting very cautious about accepting wire transfers into my Vi峄噒 Nam 膽峄搉g accouns, in that they are not allowed to be done automatically.
So if I do a US dollar wire transfer into my Agribank Vi峄噒 Nam 膽峄搉g account, I have to call the branch in H峄檌 An (where I opened my account) in order for them to give it manual approval.
I'm frequently seeing the complaint about Timo (and other banks allowing tourists to open limited accounts) that their clearance process often takes a full week.
As for ATM withdrawals from the Canadian Bank, I would just make sure that you (the OP) have the best possible ATM card.
Ideally one that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees or separate ATM withdrawal fees and also either immediately refunds or rebates the Vietnam Bank ATM fee. Also, no foreign exchange fee so that the money that you get out of the ATM here is the mid-market rate for CAD/VND conversion.
Here in 膼脿 N岷祅g, I've started making my monthly withdrawals at VP Bank. I'm able to withdraw 鈧�20 Million VN膼 in one pull, and multiple pulls are allowed up to the limit of my own ATM debit card.
I recently withdrew 鈧�50 Million VN膼 during one visit to the ATM (20 million x 2 and 10 million x 1)
they don't do a journal entry on your receipt for any ATM charge, but it seems to me they aren't charging one which is the rumor here.
it's really not important to me since my bank rebates all ATM fees at the end of the month.
