Vietnam — Tax: Wealth Tax

Why this matters

Foreign residents planning estate transfers to family in Vietnam (or receiving property from Vietnamese relatives) need to budget for the 10% PIT on gifts/inheritances of real estate, shares, or vehicles — it is often overlooked because Vietnam is popularly described as having 'no inheritance tax'.

Key facts

• No net-wealth tax in Vietnam (PwC).
• Inheritances and gifts are taxed at 10% of the value above VND 20 million per receipt, for residents and non-residents (Law 109/2025/QH15, effective 1 July 2026; the earlier law used VND 10 million).
• Real estate inherited or gifted between spouses, biological parents and children, adoptive parents and children, parents-in-law and children-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren, and biological siblings is exempt.
• Inheritances and gifts from anyone outside those relationships are taxable.

Steps

1. Check whether the relationship is exempt — Confirm whether the giver or deceased falls in an exempt relationship for real estate (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, in-law parent or child, sibling).
2. Calculate the tax — For non-exempt receipts, work out 10% of the value above VND 20 million for each inheritance or gift received.

Costs

• Inheritance/gift tax (outside exempt relationships): 10% of value above VND 20,000,000 per receipt

Common mistakes

• Assuming Vietnam has no inheritance or gift tax at all — it applies at 10% above VND 20 million outside the exempt real-estate relationships.
• Not documenting the family relationship, which can lose an otherwise-exempt real estate transfer its exemption.

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