Crypto Taxes in Vietnam: 2026 Guide

Crypto Taxes in Vietnam: The Complete 2026 Guide

 

Quick Summary

Vietnam’s crypto tax treatment is still developing. Historically, Vietnam has had no crypto-specific tax law and cryptocurrency is not recognized as a lawful means of payment. In 2025, Vietnam moved toward tighter oversight through a government-led pilot/licensing approach for crypto-asset markets, alongside discussions on how crypto transactions should be taxed. In practice, taxpayers should assume that crypto-related profits or income can be taxed under general rules (personal income tax, corporate income tax, and potentially VAT), especially when activities look business-like or involve professional services.

 

For record-keeping and fair-market-value snapshots (useful for converting to VND at transaction time), many users reference price pages such as BTC price.

 

How Vietnam Classifies Cryptocurrency for Tax Purposes

 

Crypto Is Not Legal Tender (Payments Are Restricted)

Vietnam has repeatedly maintained that “virtual currencies” are not a lawful payment instrument. That means paying for goods and services directly with crypto can carry legal and compliance risk, even if people still hold and trade crypto informally.

 

Crypto as an “Asset” for Emerging Market Rules

Vietnam has been moving toward an “asset market” approach (licensing/oversight for exchanges and market participants). This does not automatically create a single, simple “crypto tax” rule, but it signals that tax and reporting rules may become more standardized over time.

 

Key Legal / Official Framework (Practical View)

For taxation and compliance, Vietnam’s approach typically ties back to:

 

• Ministry of Finance (MOF) policy work and regulatory updates for digital economy and asset markets
• General tax rules (personal income tax, corporate income tax, and VAT concepts) applied by substance
• Official legal text portals for tracking decrees, circulars, and resolutions

 

Taxable Crypto Events in Vietnam

 

1. Selling Crypto for Fiat (VND)

If you sell crypto and realize a profit, Vietnam may treat this as taxable income under general rules—especially if the activity is frequent, organized, or connected to a business.

 

2. Trading Crypto for Crypto

Crypto-to-crypto swaps can create a “realized gain” conceptually, because you dispose of one asset and acquire another. Where Vietnam’s tax rules are unclear, taxpayers should still track VND values at the time of each trade to support any future reporting requirement.

 

3. Spending Crypto on Goods or Services

Because crypto payments are restricted as a payment method, spending crypto can be a compliance risk. From a tax perspective, if authorities treat this as a disposal of an asset, any gain could be considered taxable under general income principles.

 

4. Receiving Crypto as Income (Salary, Freelance, Services)

If you receive crypto as compensation (employment income, contractor/freelance fees, business revenue), it is generally safest to treat the VND value at receipt as taxable income under personal or corporate income tax rules.

 

5. Mining, Staking, Rewards, and “Yield”

Vietnam has not historically provided clear, crypto-specific rules for staking/mining taxation. However, rewards may be treated as taxable income if they represent an economic benefit and can be valued. If activities are systematic and profit-seeking (e.g., organized mining), they may be treated as business income.

 

Crypto Tax Rates in Vietnam

 

Individuals: Personal Income Tax (PIT)

Vietnam’s PIT generally applies to taxable income at progressive rates (depending on residency and income category). Where crypto income is treated as employment or service income, PIT concepts may apply based on standard rules rather than a special crypto rate.

 

Companies: Corporate Income Tax (CIT)

If a company earns crypto-related income (exchange services, trading as a business, digital asset services, mining as an enterprise), profits are generally taxed under standard CIT rules.

 

VAT Considerations (Context-Dependent)

VAT treatment can be complex. Where crypto is treated as a “service” or where a business provides taxable services and receives crypto as consideration, VAT analysis may arise. Vietnam’s broader VAT reforms and digital economy focus make documentation especially important.

 

Transitional Policy Signals

Vietnam’s 2025 policy direction suggests that, while dedicated crypto tax rules are still evolving, authorities may apply interim approaches (for example, treating certain market transactions similarly to other regulated asset categories until crypto-specific rules are issued).

 

Reporting Requirements for Crypto in Vietnam

 

Current Reality: Documentation Matters More Than Forms

Because crypto-specific reporting has historically been unclear, the practical priority is maintaining strong records that can support a tax position if questioned by authorities.

 

What Records to Keep

Maintain the following for every transaction:

 

• Date/time of acquisition and disposal
• Asset type and quantity
• VND value at the time of the transaction (and source used for pricing)
• Fees (exchange fees, network fees)
• Exchange statements and wallet histories
• Contracts/invoices if crypto was received for services

 

How Crypto Losses Are Treated in Vietnam

 

Loss Treatment Is Unclear (Plan Conservatively)

Vietnam has not historically offered a clear, crypto-specific loss-offset framework. If crypto activity is treated as business income, standard business expense/loss concepts may apply—but this is highly fact-dependent. Keep full documentation of cost basis and disposal values to support any loss position.

 

Special Cases: NFTs, Airdrops, and DeFi

 

NFTs

NFTs may be treated as digital assets in practice. If you earn income from NFT creation, royalties, or frequent trading, it may be more likely to be treated as taxable business/service income.

 

Airdrops

Airdrops may be taxable if received in exchange for promotional actions, services, or participation that resembles compensation. Track the VND value on the day you gain control of the tokens.

 

DeFi

DeFi activity (swaps, liquidity provision, lending, yield) can generate multiple “income-like” events. Even where local rules are unclear, it’s best practice to treat rewards and realized gains as potentially taxable and keep detailed transaction logs.

 

How to Prepare Crypto Taxes in Vietnam

 

1) Decide Whether You Look Like an “Investor” or a “Business”

If your activity is frequent, organized, or you provide services for profit, it is more likely to be treated as taxable income/business activity. Occasional, passive holding is typically easier to defend (but still needs records).

 

2) Convert Everything to VND at Transaction Time

Vietnam tax analysis is VND-based. Pick a consistent valuation method (exchange spot price, major index price, etc.) and apply it consistently.

 

3) Use Tools to Consolidate Wallets and Exchanges

Even if you don’t file a “crypto schedule” today, having audit-ready transaction exports is essential—especially as Vietnam’s licensing and oversight regime develops.

 

Penalties and Compliance Risks

 

Vietnam’s regulatory environment can involve more than just tax exposure—especially where crypto is used as a payment method or where funds movement is unclear. Failure to explain income sources can create tax and compliance issues. Keeping complete documentation and using conservative reporting positions reduces risk.

 

Conclusion

 

Vietnam’s crypto tax environment is transitioning from uncertainty toward tighter regulation and market oversight. Until a dedicated crypto tax regime is fully implemented, taxpayers should assume that crypto profits and crypto-derived income can be taxed under general PIT/CIT/VAT concepts, especially when activity is business-like. Strong record-keeping in VND is the most important step for staying compliant as rules evolve.

 

References / Sources

 

• AHK Vietnam – Crypto tax uncertainty & VAT context
• Vietnam Briefing – Licensing regime for cryptocurrency exchanges
• Vietnam MOF Legal Portal (VBPL) – Official legal documents
• Ministry of Finance (Vietnam) – Official site
• Lexology – Vietnam: prohibition on crypto payments (legal context)
• LuatVietnam – Government resolution and interim tax-policy signals