HANOI, Vietnam – Starting today, November 1, 2025, Vietnam has implemented a significant new financial regulation aimed at combating illicit cash flows. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the nation's central bank, now mandates that all domestic electronic fund transfers valued at 500 million VND (approximately $20,000 USD) or more must be automatically reported to state authorities.
This new directive is a cornerstone of a new "Circular" (Circular 27) that provides detailed guidance for Vietnam's Law on Anti-Money Laundering (AML). The move signals a major escalation in the government's efforts to increase financial transparency and crack down on "dirty money."
A Direct Response to Global Pressure
This policy is not a standalone initiative. It is seen by experts as a direct and crucial action in Vietnam's campaign to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) "grey list."
The FATF, the global anti-money laundering watchdog, placed Vietnam on its list of "jurisdictions under increased monitoring" in 2023, citing significant gaps in its AML and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CFT) regime.
By implementing this clear, high-value transaction threshold, the SBV is demonstrating concrete progress to the FATF. The goal is to prove that Vietnam has the tools and the political will to supervise its financial system, which has been seen as vulnerable to money laundering from corruption, online gambling, and other illicit activities.
Key Details of the New Regulation
The new circular clarifies reporting responsibilities for all financial institutions in Vietnam. The key takeaways include:
Domestic Threshold: The 500 million VND threshold applies specifically to electronic transfers within Vietnam.
International Threshold: The circular also reinforces reporting requirements for international transfers, which remain at a lower threshold (reportedly $1,000 USD or its equivalent) to monitor foreign currency flows.
The "Why": The stated purpose is to provide authorities with the data needed to detect and disrupt large-scale, suspicious transaction networks, tax evasion, and the financing of criminal operations.
Impact on Banks and Businesses
For Vietnam's commercial banks and financial technology (Fintech) firms, this new rule represents a significant new compliance burden. They must ensure their core banking and payment systems are now calibrated to automatically flag, collect, and report these transactions to the SBV's Anti-Money Laundering Department.
For corporations and high-net-worth individuals, the move signals a new era of scrutiny. While legitimate large transactions (such as real estate purchases or business investments) are routine, they will now be automatically logged and available for review by financial investigators, making it significantly more difficult to disguise the proceeds of crime.
Thế Anh
CaliToday.Net