In this article
Accountants at FDI companies rarely lack technical skill; what they often lack is the precise word when explaining matters to a regional CFO. This article compiles 60 accounting terms in Vietnamese and English used every day, grouped into 4 topics, with sample sentences for emails. The list was selected by the accounting team at ACCA Consulting Vietnam from real work with FDI clients.
1. How to use this accounting glossary
Some Vietnamese concepts have no exact English equivalent, for example "tạm nộp thuế TNDN" or "hoá đơn điện tử có mã" (e-invoice with a tax authority code). For such terms, the safe approach is to use a descriptive English name followed by the Vietnamese abbreviation in brackets on first use, for example provisional CIT payment (tạm nộp TNDN). Once the company has settled on a translation, use it consistently in every report.
- Tax15 từ
- Financial statements15 từ
- Banking, receivables & payables15 từ
- Payroll, insurance15 từ
Number of terms selected for this article.
View as table
| Tax | 15 từ |
| Financial statements | 15 từ |
| Banking, receivables & payables | 15 từ |
| Payroll, insurance | 15 từ |
2. Tax (Thuế)
| Vietnamese | English | Short note |
|---|---|---|
| Thuế giá trị gia tăng (GTGT) | Value Added Tax (VAT) | Rates of 0%, 5%, 10% |
| Thuế thu nhập doanh nghiệp (TNDN) | Corporate Income Tax (CIT) | Standard rate 20% |
| Thuế thu nhập cá nhân (TNCN) | Personal Income Tax (PIT) | Withheld by the company when paying salaries |
| Thuế nhà thầu | Foreign Contractor Tax (FCT) | When paying foreign organizations |
| Tờ khai thuế | Tax return | Monthly or quarterly |
| Kỳ tính thuế | Tax period | Month, quarter or year |
| Tạm nộp thuế TNDN | Provisional CIT payment | Quarterly, no quarterly return filed |
| Quyết toán thuế | Tax finalization / annual tax return | Due on the last day of the 3rd month after the financial year-end |
| Thuế GTGT đầu vào được khấu trừ | Deductible input VAT | Requires valid documents |
| Chi phí được trừ | Deductible expense | Meets the conditions of the CIT law |
| Chi phí không được trừ | Non-deductible expense | Added back at finalization |
| Tiền chậm nộp | Late payment interest | 0.03% per day on the late tax amount |
| Hoá đơn điện tử | E-invoice | Mandatory for enterprises |
| Mã số thuế | Tax code / Tax ID | Shown on all tax filings and invoices |
| Giao dịch liên kết | Related-party transaction | Must be declared at CIT finalization |
Sample sentence:"The provisional CIT payment for Q3 has been made on 28 October, ahead of the deadline on 30 October." (Đã tạm nộp TNDN quý 3 ngày 28/10, trước hạn 30/10.)
3. Financial statements (Báo cáo tài chính)
| Vietnamese | English | Short note |
|---|---|---|
| Báo cáo tài chính | Financial statements | FDI companies require an annual audit |
| Bảng cân đối kế toán | Balance sheet / Statement of financial position | Assets, liabilities, equity |
| Báo cáo kết quả kinh doanh | Income statement / P&L | Revenue, expenses, profit |
| Báo cáo lưu chuyển tiền tệ | Cash flow statement | Cash flows from 3 activities |
| Thuyết minh báo cáo tài chính | Notes to the financial statements | Detailed explanation of the figures |
| Bảng cân đối số phát sinh | Trial balance (TB) | Checks balances before preparing financial statements |
| Sổ cái | General ledger (GL) | Summary by account |
| Bút toán điều chỉnh | Adjusting entry | Recorded at period-end |
| Trích trước chi phí | Accrual / accrued expense | Expense incurred but not yet invoiced |
| Chi phí trả trước | Prepaid expense | Amortized over time |
| Khấu hao | Depreciation | Tangible fixed assets |
| Dự phòng | Provision / allowance | Doubtful debts, inventory write-downs |
| Lợi nhuận chưa phân phối | Retained earnings | Accumulated over the years |
| Chuẩn mực kế toán Việt Nam | Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS) | Differs from IFRS in many respects |
| Ý kiến kiểm toán | Audit opinion | Unqualified, qualified… |
Sample sentence:"We have booked an accrual of VND 45 million for September utilities, as the invoice will only be issued next month." (Đã trích trước 45 triệu tiền điện nước tháng 9 vì hoá đơn tháng sau mới xuất.)
4. Banking and receivables/payables (Ngân hàng & công nợ)
| Vietnamese | English | Short note |
|---|---|---|
| Tài khoản vốn đầu tư trực tiếp | Direct investment capital account (DICA) | Receives foreign capital contributions |
| Sổ phụ ngân hàng | Bank statement | Reconciled monthly |
| Đối chiếu ngân hàng | Bank reconciliation | Matching the books to the bank statement |
| Uỷ nhiệm chi | Payment order | Bank payment document |
| Phải thu khách hàng | Accounts receivable (AR) | Aging tracked |
| Phải trả người bán | Accounts payable (AP) | Tracked invoice by invoice |
| Bảng tuổi nợ | Aging report | Grouped by days overdue |
| Biên bản đối chiếu công nợ | Debt confirmation | Often requested by auditors |
| Tạm ứng | Advance to employee | Must be settled with supporting documents |
| Ứng trước cho người bán | Prepayment to supplier | Non-monetary item |
| Vay công ty mẹ | Intercompany loan | Track exchange rates and interest |
| Chênh lệch tỷ giá | Foreign exchange (FX) difference | Realized and revaluation |
| Tỷ giá giao dịch thực tế | Actual transaction rate | Per bank documents |
| Thanh toán không dùng tiền mặt | Non-cash payment | Required for invoices of VND 5 million or more to deduct VAT |
| Phí chuyển tiền | Bank charges | Expensed as incurred |
Sample sentence:"The intercompany loan balance has been revalued at the year-end rate, resulting in an unrealized FX loss of VND 80 million." See the calculation in exchange differences in FDI companies.
5. Payroll and insurance (Lương & bảo hiểm)
| Vietnamese | English | Short note |
|---|---|---|
| Bảng lương | Payroll sheet | Approved before payday |
| Lương gộp | Gross salary | Before tax and insurance |
| Lương thực nhận | Net salary | After deductions |
| Quy đổi lương net sang gross | Gross-up | Common for foreign experts |
| Bảo hiểm xã hội | Social insurance (SI) | Employer 17.5%, employee 8% |
| Bảo hiểm y tế | Health insurance (HI) | Employer 3%, employee 1.5% |
| Bảo hiểm thất nghiệp | Unemployment insurance (UI) | 1% each |
| Giảm trừ gia cảnh | Family deduction | Personal deduction VND 15.5 million/month from 2026 |
| Người phụ thuộc | Dependant | VND 6.2 million/month per dependant |
| Thu nhập chịu thuế | Taxable income | Before deductions |
| Cư trú thuế | Tax residency | Determines how PIT is calculated |
| Giấy phép lao động | Work permit | For foreign employees |
| Phụ cấp | Allowance | Check which ones are taxable |
| Thưởng | Bonus | Included in income for the month paid |
| Phiếu lương | Payslip | Sent to each employee |
Sample sentence:"From the 2026 tax period, the personal deduction has increased to VND 15.5 million per month, so the net pay of most local staff will slightly increase."
6. Writing reporting emails to the group
- 1Conclusion first
State the key results: profit, cash flow, taxes paid.
- 2Key figures
A short table against budget and the previous month.
- 3Explain variances
One sentence per major movement, using the agreed terminology.
- 4Upcoming deadlines
List due dates for returns, provisional payments and the audit.
- 5Items for approval
State clearly who needs to approve what, and by when.
FAQ
Should "hoá đơn GTGT" be translated as "VAT invoice" or "red invoice"?
"VAT invoice" or "e-invoice" is more accurate. "Red invoice" is an old term from the days of paper invoices with a red copy; some people still use it, but it can be misleading.
Do you need the international ACCA qualification to use these terms?
No. Note that the international ACCA qualification (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is not related to the legal entity ACCA Consulting Vietnam.
How should "quyết toán thuế" be explained to foreigners?
Use "annual tax finalization" and explain that it is the annual return that determines the final tax liability.
How can the whole accounting team keep terminology consistent?
Keep a shared glossary, update it when new terms appear, and use it for report templates and voucher descriptions in the software.
Bilingual reporting for FDI companies
ACCA Consulting Vietnam keeps bilingual books and prepares monthly reports for the group. Contact our accounting services team in Ho Chi Minh City for advice.
Free consultationZaloWhatsApp
