Who sends money from South Korea to Vietnam
Common senders: workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS), marriage migrants and international students.
About this corridor
Vietnamese workers and marriage migrants are among the largest foreign communities in Korea. Small-amount remittance businesses compete with banks on this route, often with delivery to Vietnamese bank accounts within minutes.
Worked example: sending 1,000,000 KRW
Using the ExchangeRate-API rate on 2026-10-08, 1 KRW = 19.3738 VND, our estimate model gives these results for sending 1,000,000 KRW:
| Provider | Est. fee | Est. received | Total cost vs mid-market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | 7,339 KRW | 19,231,572 VND | 142,178 VND |
| Revolut | 3,000 KRW | 19,219,051 VND | 154,699 VND |
| Remitly | 0 KRW | 19,141,265 VND | 232,485 VND |
| Western Union | 6,693 KRW | 18,859,191 VND | 514,559 VND |
| Bank wire (typical) | 26,774 KRW | 18,383,666 VND | 990,084 VND |
In this example Wise delivers roughly 847,906 VND more than a typical bank wire. Rates move daily and providers change pricing, so treat this as an illustration from our model; the live calculator above and the provider's own quote are what count. See how we estimate.
Sending to Vietnam: what to know
- Payout options: bank account (e.g. Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank) and, on some providers, cash pickup or home delivery.
- Bank delivery to major Vietnamese banks is widely supported and often arrives the same day.
- Home cash delivery exists in parts of Vietnam but usually costs more than a bank deposit.
Rules and limits
In South Korea: In Korea, overseas remittances go through banks or registered small-amount overseas remittance businesses under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. Since January 2026 you can send up to USD 100,000 a year without supporting documents, counted across all banks and remittance businesses combined; above that, you need documents showing the purpose.
In Vietnam: Inward remittances to individuals in Vietnam are generally exempt from personal income tax. Recipients can receive VND, or foreign currency through authorised banks, under State Bank of Vietnam rules.
How to pick the cheapest option
- Compare the amount received, not the fee. "Zero fee" offers usually hide their cost in the rate. How markups work.
- Small amounts: watch fixed fees. Large amounts: watch the markup.
- Avoid intermediary deductions. SWIFT wires can lose $10–30 in transit. Why.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to send money from South Korea to Vietnam?
It depends on the amount and the day's pricing. This page calculates, at today's mid-market rate, how much VND each provider delivers for 1,000,000 KRW; the top row is currently the cheapest by our estimate.
How much more does a bank wire cost for 1,000,000 KRW?
Using the reference rate on 2026-10-08, our model puts the gap at about 847,906 VND versus the cheapest option. Rates and pricing change daily.
How can my recipient in Vietnam receive the money?
Common payout options are bank account (e.g. Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank) and, on some providers, cash pickup or home delivery. Availability differs by provider, so check before you send.
How long does it take?
Digital services usually take minutes to 1–2 business days; bank wires often take 2–5 business days.
Sources
- Yonhap News: Korea's USD 100,000 document-free remittance limit across all institutions from 2026 (Ministry of Economy and Finance announcement)
- Official Gazette of Vietnam: Law on Personal Income Tax No. 109/2025/QH15 (remittance income exempt)
Official pages checked on