How to Get Money Out of Shopee Wallet in Vietnam as a Foreigner

To get money out of Shopee Wallet in Vietnam as a foreigner, you need a Vietnamese bank account - Timo or Techcombank work best for expats. Shopee refunds go to your wallet, but foreigners can't link international cards. The workaround: open a Vietnamese bank account (30 min), link it to Shopee Wallet via the app, then withdraw to your bank. Living in Da Nang? You'll need a Vietnamese bank account anyway.

Why Shopee Traps Your Money

When you return a COD (Cash on Delivery) item on Shopee, the refund doesn't go back to your card. It goes into your Shopee Wallet—a holding account that's theoretically "yours" but practically impossible to access if you're not Vietnamese.

Shopee's system assumes:

• You have a Vietnamese bank account
• You can open a wallet on the Shopee app (which requires Vietnamese ID verification)
• You'll use that wallet to spend on Shopee again

If you're a foreigner, none of this works. You can't verify your ID the way they need. You can't link a foreign credit card. And you're left with money you can't touch.

The Workaround That Actually Works

The solution involves three steps, and it requires a Vietnamese bank account—specifically, one that works with Shopee's wallet system.

Step 1: Get a Vietnamese Bank Account (If You Don't Have One)

If you're serious about living in Da Nang, you need a Vietnamese bank account anyway. Here's the quick version:

• Go to any major bank: Vietcombank, Techcombank, ACB, or VietinBank
• Bring your passport and a local address (your rental)
• Open a basic savings account (takes 20-30 minutes)
• You'll get a debit card and online banking access
• Popular option for expats: Timo (a mobile-first banking app that works with Vietnamese accounts)

Most banks give you instant card activation and immediate online banking. This is key—you need to be able to access your account info before Shopee will let you withdraw.

Step 2: Open Your Shopee Wallet on the App (Use a Friend's Phone)

This is where most people get stuck. Shopee Wallet can only be created on the Shopee mobile app—not the website. And the app requires Vietnamese ID verification for foreigners to proceed.

Workaround: If you can't verify, ask a friend with a Vietnamese phone to let you log into their Shopee app using your credentials. This is safe and commonly done:

• Give them your Shopee email/phone and password
• They log in on their phone
• Go to Wallet settings and enable wallet access
• Add your Vietnamese bank account details (routing number, account number, account holder name)
• Log out and you're done

Once the wallet is activated, you can manage it from the website.

Step 3: Link Your Vietnamese Bank Account and Withdraw

Once your wallet is activated and your Vietnamese bank account is linked, the withdrawal is straightforward:

• Log into Shopee (website or app)
• Go to Wallet → Withdrawal Settings
• Your bank account should now appear as an option
• Request withdrawal (usually instant, sometimes takes a few hours)
• Money hits your Vietnamese bank account
• Use Timo or your bank's app to check your balance

The withdrawal typically happens within minutes. I've seen it as fast as 5 minutes, sometimes up to a few hours during off-peak times.

What If You Don't Have a Vietnamese Bank Account?

You have limited options:

Option 1: Spend it on Shopee

Use the wallet money to buy things you need. It's Shopee credit, after all. Not ideal if you needed the cash, but it works.

Option 2: Get a friend to withdraw for you

If a Vietnamese friend has their own Shopee account, technically you could send them the money via the app's transfer feature, and they withdraw it to their account. They'd then give you cash. (This creates a trust issue and isn't officially supported, so do this at your own risk.)

Option 3: Open a Vietnamese bank account

This is the legit solution. It takes 30 minutes and gives you access to your money plus a functioning banking relationship in Vietnam.

The Timo Workaround for Refunds

Several expats in Da Nang have had success with Timo specifically. Timo is a Vietnamese mobile banking app that's easier to set up than traditional banks and works smoothly with Shopee's wallet system. If you already have Timo (or can open an account), that's the fastest path to accessing your wallet money.

Important Notes

ID requirements: When adding your bank account to Shopee's wallet, it asks for ID information. Foreign passport numbers work fine here—you don't need a Vietnamese ID.

This isn't a scam: Shopee's wallet system is legitimate. You're not losing money; it's just held in a system designed for Vietnamese banking. The workaround isn't exploiting Shopee—it's using the system as intended, just through a slightly different path.

Timing: If you're only in Vietnam for a few weeks, this might not be worth the effort. But if you're staying any length of time, opening a Vietnamese bank account is essential anyway.

The Real Lesson

Shopee's wallet trap is a perfect example of how Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms are built for locals first, foreigners second. It's not malicious—it's just pragmatic. They assume everyone using their platform has a Vietnamese bank account.

As an expat, you have to work around these assumptions. Opening a Vietnamese bank account isn't just for Shopee refunds. You'll need it for:

• Getting paid if you work remotely and want to cash out
• Paying rent without huge transfer fees
• Building a credit history in Vietnam
• Accessing local services that require banking

Do it early. Your future self will thank you.

Related Vietnam Expat Guides

Living in Vietnam? These guides help:

• Da Nang Expat Guide
• Banking and Financial Services in Da Nang
• More Vietnam Guides