US 10-37% vs Vietnam 5-35%. Use FEIE for DN income exclusion.

By Daniel, Founder of CountryTaxCalc

Daniel has spent 5+ years researching tax systems across 95+ countries and all US states to make tax comparison accessible to everyone. For corrections, contact us.

Last Updated: April 2026

The Big Picture

๐Ÿฆ… USA

10-37% + state

Progressive Federal

Federal 10-37% + state taxes

๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam

5-35%

Progressive

5-35% progressive (7 brackets)

Typical Annual Savings

At $100,000 income:

Use FEIE to exclude $126,500

That is Vietnam emerging DN destination back in your pocket!

Tax Savings by Income Level

IncomeUS TaxVN TaxSavings10-Year
$100,000 $12,908 federal + state$17,500 Vietnam (35% top)Use FEIE to exclude from USFEIE saves $129K federal over 10yrs
๐Ÿ’ก

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USA Pros and Cons

โœ… Pros

  • US passport freedom
  • SS/Medicare benefits
  • Dollar strength
  • Consumer protections

โŒ Cons

  • Citizenship-based taxation
  • Federal 10-37% + state
  • FBAR/FATCA burden
  • Global compliance

Vietnam Pros and Cons

โœ… Pros

  • Very low cost of living
  • Growing DN community
  • Modern infrastructure Saigon/Hanoi
  • Street food culture

โŒ Cons

  • US expats still owe IRS
  • 35% top tax rate
  • Visa complexity
  • Language barrier

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do US digital nomads in Vietnam pay tax?

Vietnam: 5-35% if tax resident (183+ days). US: owe IRS globally BUT use FEIE to exclude $126.5K. Above that, owe US federal tax + FBAR reporting.

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