Routes open in Vietnam
| Route | Max credits | Who qualifies | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate Founders | $1,000 | Self-funded, no institutional funding, live website | Apply online in the Activate console |
| Activate via a Provider | Up to $100,000 | Backed by an accelerator, VC or incubator in the Activate network | Get an organization ID from your provider |
| AWS Lift | Up to $83,500 | SMBs spending under $750/month on AWS, never in Activate. Paid in 7 tranches over 12 months. Confirmed; dates not given. | Through AWS's local team |
| AWS Startup Ramp | Credits (amount not stated) | Startups under $10M revenue serving public-sector customers. Expanded 2021; current status unknown. | Through AWS's local team |
| AWS Generative AI Accelerator | Up to $1,000,000 | Early-stage generative AI startups, 10-week program. 2025 round closed; 2026 round not checked. Lead. | Through AWS's local team |
| Local accelerator or VC | Varies | Accepted into a local program | Apply to the program; credits follow |
| Our partner match | Same as AWS | Any stage; we suggest the best route | Use the credit check on this page |
Amounts are the maximums AWS advertises; approval is never guaranteed. Source: AWS Activate terms
Who qualifies from Vietnam
- Your company is usually under 10 years old and hasn't had Activate credits before.
- You have a live company website, and you sign up with an email on that domain.
- For the $100,000 tier, you're backed by an Activate Provider and haven't raised a Series B yet.
- Company in Vietnam: apply with it directly. Company abroad (for example a US Delaware company): apply with whichever entity owns the AWS account. No company yet: start with Founders once your website is live.
Region, latency and data rules
- Data protection law
- PDPL Law 91/2025 (from 1 Jan 2026)
- Must data stay in-country?
- Some data must be stored in Vietnam
- Regulator
- Check with the local data protection authority
What your credits buy here
A typical early-stage stack (a few small servers, a managed database, storage and traffic) costs about $600/month in ap-southeast-1, or about $660 with 10% VAT paid in cash.
$1,000
1.7
months
$5,000
8.3
months
$25,000
42
months
$100,000
99
months
Estimates. Credits usually expire after 12 to 24 months, so large amounts rarely last their full length.
Startups like you
Local accelerators
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs in Vietnam worth asking about AWS credits.
VIISA
Ho Chi Minh City · Accelerator
Ask the provider
Startup Vietnam Foundation
Hanoi · Non-profit
Ask the provider
Check with each program that it's a current Activate Provider before you rely on it.
Notable local investors and funds
Investors, accelerators and government funds active in Vietnam. If one backs you, ask whether they can give you an Activate Provider code.
Grants, non-dilutive funding and R&D tax credits
Money you can stack on top of AWS credits in Vietnam.
- Equity
Decree 20/2026
Innovative startups get 2 years of CIT exemption then 50% off for 4 years, plus investor and expert PIT relief [1].
Setting up a local company
- Common startup entity
- LLC (Công ty TNHH) or JSC
- Minimum share capital
- Paid-in minimum capital required for a domestic LLC: No; for a foreign-owned LLC: Yes (World Bank B-READY 2025)
- Time and cost to register
- Domestic LLC: 7 days, VND 100,000; foreign-owned LLC: 27 days, VND 100,000 (B-READY 2025, expert median)
- Online registration
- Fully electronic registration: Yes (B-READY 2025)
Capital and registration figures are from the World Bank (Doing Business 2020 / B-READY 2025). Check the registry for current rules.
What's different in Vietnam
- Billing entity
- AWS Inc.
- Currency
- USD
- Tax AWS adds
- 10% VAT B2C (from Jul 2025). Not covered by credits.
- Payments and verification
- Most international Visa and Mastercard cards work. Make sure foreign and online payments are switched on before you sign up.
Credits don't cover taxes. Source: AWS Promotional Credit terms
Paying the AWS bill from Vietnam
- Use a card that allows international recurring payments, or a multi-currency business card.
- Enter your VAT or tax number in the AWS console so tax is handled correctly.
- Credits don't cover tax, so a small cash charge can appear even while credits last.
Startup scene
1
unicorn
MoMo ($2.27B)
Startup sectors
Main economic sectors
Unicorn data: CB Insights, as of 2 October 2026. Sectors: CIA World Factbook.
Startup visa
Vietnam has no dedicated startup visa. Founders usually use a general work or business residence permit.
AWS events and community in Vietnam
Sources for Vietnam (13)
- 1. https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnam-incentives-private-sector-growth-decree-20-2026.html/
- 2. https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/localzones/locations/
- 3. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/global-infrastructure/latest/regions/aws-regions.html
- 4. https://aws.amazon.com/legal/aws-contracting-party/
- 5. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/supported-aws-currencies
- 6. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/accepted-payment-methods
- 7. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/vietnam/
- 8. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/apac-vat-rates/
- 9. https://aws.amazon.com/awscredits/
- 10. https://www.dlapiperdataprotection.com/index.html?t=law&c=VN
- 11. https://builder.aws.com/community/user-groups
- 12. https://aws.amazon.com/events/cloud-days/
- 13. https://aws.amazon.com/events/community-day/
Research current as of 2 October 2026. Not legal or tax advice.
Questions
Is AWS Activate available in Vietnam?
Yes. AWS takes sign-ups from Vietnam, and the AWS Activate terms don't exclude it.
How much in AWS credits can a startup in Vietnam get?
Self-funded teams usually start with $1,000 from Activate Founders. Teams backed by an Activate Provider can get up to $200,000.
Do I need a company registered in Vietnam?
No. You can apply with a Vietnam company, a company registered abroad (for example a US Delaware company), or as an early team with a live website. Use the entity that owns the AWS account.
Do AWS credits cover VAT in Vietnam?
No. Credits don't cover taxes, so any VAT (10%) is charged to your card.
What's the closest AWS region to Vietnam?
ap-southeast-1 in Singapore. Typical latency is about 40–150 ms.
Can I apply without an accelerator or VC?
Yes. Activate Founders is open to self-funded startups. A partner can also point you to other routes.
Will using a partner change how much I get?
No. The credits come from AWS on the same terms. A partner just helps you find the right route and prepare the application.
Find your best route from Vietnam
Answer four questions and we'll match you with a partner who knows Vietnam. Free, and the credits are the same as going direct.
Cloud Credits is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Amazon Web Services. AWS and AWS Activate are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Data last checked 2 October 2026; check AWS for current terms.