Not an ordinary operating account
A DICA is the bank account used to route permitted foreign-direct-investment capital flows in Vietnam. It is not the company's ordinary operating account. Foreign-invested companies must use a DICA for capital contributions, certain equity transfers, foreign-loan flows, profit remittances, and capital repatriation.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Account holder | Eligible foreign-invested enterprise, or certain foreign investors directly implementing BCC/PPP projects |
| Bank | One licensed bank in Vietnam |
| Foreign-currency account | One DICA for each foreign currency used for capital contribution |
| VND DICA | May be opened at the same bank for VND-denominated direct-investment transactions |
| Opening point | Coordinate opening with the investment and enterprise documents and the bank's KYC process |
| Operating account | Maintain separate VND and foreign-currency operating accounts for ordinary business receipts and expenses |
| Records | Preserve bank advices, SWIFT messages, contribution confirmations, ownership records, loan documents, and remittance approvals |
Under Circular 06/2019/TT-NHNN, an investor generally opens only one DICA in each relevant foreign currency at one authorized bank; if capital is contributed in VND, a corresponding VND DICA may be opened at that bank.
Transactions that should use the DICA
- Initial charter-capital contribution.
- Additional charter-capital contribution.
- Other registered direct-investment capital.
- Equity or capital-purchase payments where the transaction falls within the direct-investment rules.
- Disbursement of qualifying medium- or long-term offshore loans.
- Certain funds connected with bond or other direct-investment financing.
- Remittance of distributed profits or dividends.
- Repayment of qualifying offshore-loan principal, interest, and fees.
- Repatriation of capital after a permitted transfer, reduction, liquidation, or dissolution.
- Transfer of lawful investment income to the foreign investor.
- Purchase of foreign currency for an approved outbound remittance.
Ordinary operating transactions — Vietnamese customer receipts, payroll, rent and utilities, VAT payments, routine imports and exports, and domestic working-capital expenses — should generally be processed through normal operating accounts, not the DICA. Separating capital flows from operating cash helps the bank and tax authorities verify the company's investment history and remittance rights.
Capital-contribution controls
- The investor's name matches the investment and enterprise records.
- The beneficiary is the correct Vietnamese company or investment vehicle.
- The payment is sent to the correct DICA, not an employee or ordinary operating account.
- The payment currency matches the registered contribution and DICA setup.
- The remittance reference identifies the investment or capital contribution.
- The amount and timing match the registered capital and investment schedule.
- The bank issues evidence of receipt and contribution.
- The company updates its accounting and ownership records.
Do not treat money sent to a Vietnamese operating account, personal account, or unrelated group-company account as automatically valid capital contribution. Correcting a misdirected contribution can require bank explanations, amended records, and potentially an application to regularize the investment.
Profit remittance checklist
Before remitting profits abroad, the company should generally confirm:
- The profits are lawfully distributable and the relevant financial year and tax obligations are complete.
- Accumulated losses have been addressed and financial statements and tax filings support the distributable amount.
- The investor has obtained the necessary corporate approval.
- The bank has received the remittance dossier and the payment is routed through the DICA.
- Withholding tax and other tax consequences have been reviewed.
A profitable income statement alone does not necessarily mean that the company can immediately remit cash. Retained losses, unpaid taxes, incomplete financial statements, or unresolved investment records can delay the transfer. These bank-account checks sit alongside the company's separate investment reporting obligations to its licensing authority.
Foreign loans and equity transfers
Medium- and long-term offshore loans may require separate registration with the State Bank of Vietnam and should be coordinated with the DICA. Similarly, an equity transfer involves more than moving money between shareholders. Check:
- Foreign-investment approval or registration, and tax on the transfer.
- Capital-account routing and updated member or shareholder records.
- Beneficial-owner information and ERC or investment-record amendments.
- Whether the buyer's foreign ownership triggers market-access review.
2026 watchpoint
Circular 03/2025/TT-NHNN amended the foreign-exchange framework and introduced the "indirect investment account" terminology for certain indirect-investment transactions. It also provided a transition period for entities that newly became subject to DICA requirements, ending June 16, 2026. Companies should recheck whether an existing account is correctly classified, particularly after a share acquisition, ownership change, restructuring, or change in foreign-control status.
The DICA should be opened and tested before the first capital transfer. A bank account opened after funds are sent cannot reliably cure an improperly routed contribution.