A US company, from Vietnam.
Stripe still does not support businesses registered in Vietnam directly, full stop, which is why Stripe's own resources point Vietnamese founders toward forming a US LLC first. Since July 2025, Decree 117 also has Vietnamese e-commerce platforms withholding tax automatically on every sale, before a seller sees the money.
What's included
- LLC or C-Corp filed in the state you choose, in 1-2 business days
- EIN from the IRS with no SSN required
- Registered agent and a US business address
- Operating agreement and your stamped formation certificate
- The domain, if you still need one, at the price you keep renewing at
- Bookkeeping and US tax filing when the company starts trading
What it costs
Plus the state filing fee, paid straight through to the Secretary of State. Wyoming $100, New Mexico $50, Delaware $110 with a $300 annual franchise tax on top.
What Vietnamese guides skip
Stripe access is the direct reason to form the LLC, not a side benefit
Stripe does not currently support directly registered businesses in Vietnam. A US LLC is the documented route Stripe itself points founders toward. Payoneer works well for Vietnamese freelancers already, but it is not a substitute for a real Stripe merchant account once you are billing seriously.
SBV rules require foreign income to route through a licensed bank, and outward investment needs registration
Under the Ordinance on Foreign Exchange (2005, amended 2013) and Decree 70/2014, current transactions between residents and non-residents must go through a licensed Vietnamese credit institution rather than sit offshore. Forming or investing in a foreign company separately falls under Decree 83/2015 and SBV Circular 12/2016, which require registering the outward investment and using a designated capital account. None of this blocks formation, but plan for it before assuming profit sits wherever you like.
Decree 117 changed how individual sellers get taxed, not whether they owe tax
Vietnam has always taxed residents on worldwide income under the Personal Income Tax Law. What changed from July 2025 is that e-commerce platforms with payment functions now withhold VAT and personal income tax automatically at the point of each transaction. Income received directly from foreign clients outside a Vietnamese platform still requires self-declaration.
Can you actually open a US bank account?
The honest answer, which is more than most providers will give you.
What actually works for Vietnamese founders
- Payoneer is fully available, with a dedicated registration path for individuals without a business licence.
- PayPal works for international payments, though a 3-4% FX markup and a fixed withdrawal fee apply when cashing out to a Vietnamese bank.
- Stripe becomes usable once the LLC has its EIN, which is the entire reason to form one from Vietnam.
What to know before you rely on it
- Mercury does not accept Vietnam. It is explicitly named on Mercury's own published prohibited-countries list.
- We cannot confirm Relay's position on Vietnam from any official source. Apply and verify directly rather than assuming either way.
- Wise will not open an account for a Vietnamese resident, though it can still receive transfers sent to a Vietnamese bank account from elsewhere.
- The EIN takes 4-6 weeks for non-US founders, and most payment tools need it before they fully activate.
Why we say this out loud. Every competitor advertises a US bank account as though it were part of the package. It is not, for anyone, and pretending otherwise just moves the disappointment to after you have paid. Form the company for the entity, the EIN and the ability to take Stripe payments. Treat the bank account as a separate application with a real chance of rejection.
Real platforms this comes up against
Everything else your US company needs
EIN without an SSN
The step that stalls most non-US founders. We run the SS-4 process end to end.
Form 5472 and US filings
Foreign-owned LLCs file every year even at zero income. The penalty for missing it is $25,000.
Form the company
LLC or C-Corp in any of the 50 states, with the EIN and registered agent included.
Founders from other countries
Exchange control, your SARS position, and the honest answer on US banking.
CBN currency rules, Stripe access, and which banks actually work.
BoG licensing rules, GRA filing, and the Stripe-Paystack workaround.
PayPal's 2026 freeze wave, CBK's no exchange controls, and the KRA position.
PayPal's 8% conversion tax, CBE forex rules, and the zero-rated VAT on exports.
BIR registration, remittance limits, and Mercury vs Relay.
SBP rules, why PayPal is not the answer, and what is.
PayPal's announced-but-not-live access, CBSL's 2026 repatriation rules, and IRD's new freelancer tax.
Bangladesh Bank's 2026 forex overhaul, the IT tax exemption, and Mercury's ban.
Why Stripe is invite-only, Mercury's ban, and the DHE repatriation rules.
The 100% tax deduction that still needs a foreign bank, and why Stripe still says no.
The cepo cambiario after 2025, why Stripe still won't onboard you, and the LEC.
The 9x IOF shock, why Stripe needs a CNPJ, and the Carne-Leao filing.
The ATO LLC classification trap, CFC rules, and the DTA.
IRD's foreign investment fund rules and the US-NZ DTA.
How this works. NameMarshal is not a law firm or an accountancy practice, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice. Company formation, EIN and registered agent services here are fulfilled by our formation partner doola. Foreign-owned US LLCs generally have to file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year, even with no income, and the penalty for missing it is steep. Ask us and we will point you at someone licensed to handle it.