Short answer: Sending money from Vietnam to support elderly parents living abroad is entirely lawful and permitted under foreign exchange regulations — provided it goes through a bank licensed for foreign exchange business and you can prove the source of funds. In parallel, if you are a taxpayer in Vietnam, check whether you can register your parents as dependents for the family circumstance deduction — a tax benefit many people overlook.
1. Why supporting your parents is a permitted purpose
The 2005 Foreign Exchange Ordinance (amended in 2013) allows individuals to remit foreign currency abroad for legitimate needs. Supporting one’s parents — whether they live in Vietnam or abroad — is among the most legitimate and transparent purposes. Unlike complex commercial transactions, this purpose is rarely questioned on legitimacy, but the source-of-funds check is not relaxed: the bank must still verify that the money you send has a lawful origin.
In practice, this is a one-way transfer (no goods or services in return), so banks place it in the category requiring careful source verification. Preparing well from the start means the money reaches your parents on time instead of stalling in review.
2. The document file to prepare before visiting the bank
Each bank has its own forms, but you will generally need two groups of documents:
Group 1 — Proving the relationship and purpose:
– Documents proving the parent–child relationship (your birth certificate or equivalent civil status papers);
– Your parents’ overseas account details (bank name, account number, SWIFT/BIC code);
– If available, papers showing your parents’ need for support (advanced age, living or medical costs) — not mandatory at every bank, but they make the file more convincing.
Group 2 — Proving the source of funds:
– Your labor contract and payroll slips or salary account statements in Vietnam;
– Personal income tax filings or finalizations (if any);
– If the funds come from years of savings, account statements showing the accumulation history.
Practical tip: if you send a stable amount every month, agree the streamlined process with the bank from the first transfer — many banks accept the already-reviewed master file plus confirmation for subsequent transfers.
3. Don’t miss the tax benefit: registering parents as dependents
Many people focus only on “sending the money” and forget they may reduce their own tax bill through the dependent deduction. Under Personal Income Tax Law 109/2025/QH15 (effective 1 July 2026):
- Family circumstance deduction for the taxpayer: VND 15.5 million per month;
- Deduction for each dependent: VND 6.2 million per month.
Parents — including biological parents and parents-in-law under detailed rules — may be registered as dependents if they meet conditions on age, income and working capacity. Detailed conditions and registration procedures follow the guiding instruments in force at the time you file, so confirm your case with your company’s HR department or the tax authority before declaring.
Important: these are two independent procedures — the remittance (a foreign exchange procedure through the bank) and the dependent registration (a tax procedure). Doing both well keeps the money lawful in your parents’ hands and optimizes your own tax position.
4. Special situations to watch
- Parents are foreigners who never lived in Vietnam: this does not affect your right to remit — the bank only cares about your purpose and your source of funds.
- Sending a large lump sum (e.g. for surgery or a house for your parents): prepare the source-of-funds file more thoroughly, because larger amounts face deeper review. Attach translated medical papers or sale contracts where relevant.
- Asking someone else to transfer on your behalf: as a rule, the transferor must be the lawful owner of the funds. Having another person transfer in their name when the money is yours may lead the bank to refuse because the transferor does not match the fund owner — do it yourself.
- Charitable and humanitarian contributions: donations to licensed charitable organizations may be deductible when computing personal income tax — another channel worth considering when you want to help the wider community.
Key legal bases
- Foreign Exchange Ordinance 28/2005/PL-UBTVQH11 (amended 2013; consolidated 07/VBHN-VPQH) — individuals may remit foreign currency abroad through licensed credit institutions for lawful purposes.
- Decree 70/2014/ND-CP — detailing implementation of the Foreign Exchange Ordinance.
- Personal Income Tax Law 109/2025/QH15 (effective 1 July 2026) — family circumstance deductions: VND 15.5 million/month for the taxpayer; VND 6.2 million/month per dependent; charitable and humanitarian contributions deductible.
- Decree 253/2026/ND-CP (effective 1 July 2026) — detailed guidance on the Personal Income Tax Law.
Frequently asked questions
1. I am a foreigner working in Vietnam — do I need a special permit to send money home to my parents?
No special permit is needed. You only need to go through a bank licensed for foreign exchange business and present documents proving the parent–child relationship and a lawful source of funds. This is a lawful one-way transfer purpose permitted by law.
2. My parents are over 70 — can I claim the dependent deduction?
Possibly, if the dependent conditions are met. The deduction is VND 6.2 million per month per dependent under PIT Law 109/2025/QH15 (effective 1 July 2026). Detailed conditions (age, income, supporting papers) follow the guiding instruments — confirm with the tax authority or HR before filing.
3. I want to send a large amount for my parent’s surgery — will the bank make it difficult?
The bank is not making things difficult; it is performing its mandatory review. For large amounts, prepare translated medical papers (surgery indication, cost estimate) plus a complete source-of-funds file. The clearer the file, the faster the review.
4. Both my spouse and I support our respective parents — who registers the deduction?
Each dependent may only be counted for one taxpayer in the same tax period. Spouses must agree who registers, to avoid duplicate claims — duplicates may trigger adjustment and back-tax collection by the tax authority.
5. Can I authorize my brother in Vietnam to transfer the money to our parents for me?
Not advisable. The transferor must prove lawful ownership of the funds. If the money is yours but your brother transfers in his name, the bank may refuse because the transferor does not match the fund owner. Handle the transfer yourself at the bank.
6. Besides sending money directly, is there a tax-advantaged way to help?
Yes. Contributions to licensed charitable and humanitarian organizations may be deductible for personal income tax. That is a channel for helping the wider community, distinct from your direct duty to support your own parents — you can combine both depending on your circumstances.
Note: this article provides general legal information current at the time of writing and does not replace advice for your specific case. Dependent conditions and registration procedures follow the guiding instruments in force at filing time.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council
