I JUST LIVE HERE I DON'T OWE ANYTHING TO ANYONE

Almost everyone who moved to Vietnam and is not officially employed thinks so, but this is not entirely true.

In Vietnam, there's a simple rule: if you live in the country for more than six months (183 days or more per year), you're formally considered a "local" for tax purposes. It doesn't matter whether you're employed or not.

A Vietnamese resident is taxed on all income: renting out an apartment in Russia, remote salary, transfers, and dividends. However, without local employment, no one withholds taxes automatically, and that's good news.

But here's what you really need to keep in mind :

Visa extensions are stored in the database: agencies resolve your issues, but the state creates a clear record of your continuous presence here.

A bank account highlights your transactions: open a card at a local bank for convenience, but immediately become financially visible to the system.

Large purchases require legalization: when you decide to obtain a residence permit (TRC) or register a bike/car in your own name, you will be officially asked to provide a legal source of income, and tax issues may arise.

None of this means the IRS will come tomorrow, but it's better to understand the rules before the system starts tightening the screws.

"But I already pay taxes in Russia!"
There is a double taxation agreement between Russia and Vietnam. It does credit taxes paid in Russia. But this credit, not exemption.
This is where the main trap lies. In Russia, you pay 6% (as an individual entrepreneur) or 13-15% (personal income tax). But in Vietnam, the progressive tax rate is from 5% to 35%If the Vietnamese tax rate for your income level is, say, 20%, then the difference (those same 7-14%) must be legally paid into the Vietnamese budget.Paying taxes in Russia does not in itself eliminate your obligation to report to the Vietnamese tax authorities if you become a local resident.

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