> Typically you’d need some sort of long-term visa.

You only need a six month visa so it's not that bad. You need a year visa to get a bank card though, but that's not such a big deal since everywhere uses QR code payments here, and you can even withdraw cash from ATMs using the app. I only ever use my Vietnamese bank card for Spotify since that gets me a nice discount.

The big problem is that, whatever type of visa you have, if it expires for some reason then your account gets locked. Hasn't happened to me so I don't know how quick/strict they are. But the rules are changing so quickly here - both for visas and for banking - that I don't feel secure keeping any amount of money beyond my daily needs in my Vietnamese bank.

Right, but how many people get 6+ visas in Vietnam? Those are typically work visas.

I doubt there have been 68M foreigners who have opened bank accounts in Vietnam.