Vietnam will introduce a stricter system for supervising anti-money laundering activities in the banking and financial sector from December 1, 2026. The new rules were issued by the State Bank of Vietnam and are designed to improve financial monitoring, identify suspicious activity earlier and strengthen the government’s ability to control risks across the banking system.
The regulation establishes a more structured approach to supervising financial institutions and other organisations that are required to report transactions under the country’s anti-money laundering laws. It combines ordinary compliance checks with risk-based supervision, meaning authorities will consider both whether institutions follow legal requirements and how exposed they may be to money laundering.
Under the new framework, supervision will take place through three main stages. Authorities will first collect, organise and process documents, information and relevant data. They will then carry out compliance and risk-based assessments before preparing reports and recommending measures to address any problems discovered during the process.
Compliance supervision will examine whether financial institutions follow reporting requirements, maintain appropriate internal anti-money laundering procedures and respond to instructions from competent state agencies. Banks and other supervised organisations will also be expected to maintain systems that allow them to provide information when requested by regulators.
Risk-based supervision will examine several different areas. These include the size and structure of an organisation, the types of customers it serves, the products and services it offers, the channels through which transactions take place and the geographical areas in which it operates. Authorities will also assess the quality of management systems and the measures used to control financial risks.
The State Bank will use methods established by its governor to evaluate and rank the money laundering risks associated with supervised institutions. This approach is intended to help regulators focus their attention on organisations or activities that present higher levels of risk rather than relying only on routine checks.
The rules also establish a process for dealing with weaknesses. When supervisors identify problems or potential risks, they can issue recommendations and warnings. Financial institutions must respond promptly, explain the problems and prepare plans to correct them. If an organisation fails to take sufficient action, it may face administrative fines under existing regulations.
The new framework also clarifies the responsibilities of different units within the central bank and the organisations under supervision. Better coordination and information sharing are expected to make the monitoring process more consistent and effective.
The changes come as Vietnam continues to expand digital banking, electronic payments and online financial services. These developments create new opportunities for customers and businesses, but they also require stronger protection against the misuse of financial systems.
The introduction of the new rules is therefore an important step in strengthening Vietnam’s financial supervision. Their effectiveness will depend on how well banks implement the requirements, how quickly regulators identify emerging risks and whether enforcement remains consistent across the sector.
