Vietnam (VN)
Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.
Leaving Vietnam
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
3 months before: give lease notice (check terms), notify employer for work permit cancellation, begin BHXH lump-sum application if eligible, sort children's school withdrawal (often semester-based, check refund policy). 2 months before: begin tax finalisation or confirm employer will file, notify bank, arrange international transfers, arrange pet export if applicable. 1 month before: cancel internet and utility accounts (per notice requirements), arrange shipping of household goods (Santa Fe, Crown, Asian Tigers), begin international health insurance or policy conversion. 1 week before: withdraw/transfer remaining cash, cancel or convert SIM, ensure all documents (housing, tax, BHXH) are filed and collected. Departure day: hand over keys with photographic documentation, get receipt from landlord, keep departure stamp evidence for tax records.
Deregistration
There is no formal mandatory deregistration process for most foreign residents departing Vietnam. However, several practical steps are required: (1) Notify your landlord per lease terms (typically 30–60 days notice). (2) Request cancellation of your Temporary Residence Card (TRC) at the Immigration Department if you hold one — technically required but not always enforced. (3) Inform your employer to cancel Work Permit via DOLISA — mandatory; your employer is legally responsible. (4) Notify local People's Committee of your departure if you have formal KT3/temporary residence registration. (5) Cancel your SIM after all banking, tax and immigration tasks using it are complete.
Tax clearance
If you have been a Vietnam tax resident (183+ days in tax year), you must complete your annual PIT finalisation (quyết toán thuế) before departure or ensure your employer files on your behalf. The annual PIT deadline is 31 March of the following year (e-filing: 9 April) — if leaving mid-year, you can file early. PIT rates: 5–35% progressive on Vietnam-source income; non-residents: 20% flat on Vietnam-source income. Personal deduction: VND 11,000,000/month. Dependent deduction: VND 4,400,000/month per qualified dependent. Request a tax clearance letter (giấy xác nhận hoàn thành nghĩa vụ thuế) from the General Department of Taxation (GDT — gdt.gov.vn) if needed for your home country or next destination. Outstanding PIT liabilities typically arise from annual reconciliation — employer withholding on monthly salary may differ from the annual tax owed. BHXH social insurance: upon leaving Vietnam, foreign employees may claim a lump-sum pension payout (hưởng BHXH một lần). 10% PIT withholding applies to the lump-sum amount before payment.
Pension portability
Vietnam's Bảo Hiểm Xã Hội (BHXH — Social Insurance) pension system allows foreign employees who contributed to BHXH to apply for a lump-sum benefit payout when leaving permanently or when work permit expires and is not renewed. Lump-sum calculation (2026 rates): first 5 years of contribution: 1.5× average monthly contributory salary × years; each year beyond 5: 2× average salary. Example: 3 years at average VND 25,000,000/month = VND 112,500,000 (≈ USD 4,400). Example: 5 years at VND 30,000,000/month = VND 225,000,000 (≈ USD 8,800). 10% PIT withheld at source before payment. Apply at the provincial BHXH office: processing 5 working days. Required: BHXH book, work permit (expired copy), passport, form Mẫu 14-HSB, Vietnamese bank account details. Vietnam does not have totalisation agreements with the USA, UK, Germany, France, Australia, or Canada — Vietnamese BHXH contributions do not count toward home-country pension entitlements.
Health insurance
BHYT (health insurance) automatically terminates when your Vietnamese work contract ends and contributions cease. You will lose access to public hospitals at subsidised rates immediately. International private health insurance: check your policy termination date and whether coverage continues for 30–90 days after departure to cover repatriation or transition. If you are leaving with a medical condition being treated in Vietnam, ensure you have documentation (discharge summary, prescription, test results) in English for your next destination's healthcare providers. Cancel or convert private international health insurance policies according to your insurer's procedures.
Bank account
Vietnamese bank accounts can remain open after departure — useful if you have ongoing rental income, investment returns or business income from Vietnam. However, inactive accounts may incur maintenance fees and be subject to periodic KYC review by the bank. If no ongoing Vietnam income: close the account in person (recommended) or give Power of Attorney to a trusted person. Bank account closure: bring passport, account documents, and any bank cards. Withdraw all funds or transfer abroad before closing. Keep the account closure receipt. For HSBC and Standard Chartered: international transfer before closure is seamless. Note: Vietnamese banks have daily international transfer limits — may need multiple days for large balances.
Utilities
Cancel electricity, water and internet accounts by giving notice and allowing final meter readings. VNPT, Viettel and FPT internet: cancel 30 days before departure (may vary by contract). Electricity and water: managed by landlord in most rental situations — ensure final bill is settled and deposits returned. LPG gas cylinders: return to the gas supplier or include in lease handover. Building/condo service fees: settle all outstanding amounts before departure — some condos withhold deposit return until all fees are cleared.
Rental contract
Most Vietnamese leases require 30–60 days written notice of early termination or end-of-lease departure. Check your specific lease terms. Common issues at departure: (1) Landlord claims for damage — photograph everything before handing over keys; keep photographic evidence from move-in. (2) Outstanding utility bills — get final readings and receipts. (3) Deposit return: landlord must return the deposit within 30 days of departure under general civil law principles, but enforcement is informal — a good relationship and clean exit is the most reliable route. (4) Registered temporary residence removal: ask landlord to deregister your temporary residence at the local People's Committee.
Leaving the Country
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