Investing in US Stocks in Vietnam 2025: The Comprehensive Guide for Beginner Investors

Want to participate in the US stock market but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place. In 2025, buying US stocks in Vietnam has become easier than ever thanks to the development of modern trading platforms. Let’s explore the world’s largest stock market and learn how to get involved.

The US stock market is a massive platform with over 6,300 securities from domestic and international companies. It is not only the largest market by market capitalization but also home to groundbreaking corporations like Apple, tech giants, and countless profit opportunities you can’t find anywhere else.

Why Should Investors Buy US Stocks?

Diverse Companies and Great Opportunities

Compared to the Vietnamese stock market, the US market offers a diverse list of companies with unlimited growth potential. NYSE and NASDAQ are two of the largest exchanges by market cap, providing the best profit opportunities worldwide.

You can own shares from leading global growth companies like Facebook, Amazon, Apple, or Google without being a US citizen. This is a significant advantage for foreign investors.

Superior Returns

Consider these figures: the S&P 500 index — representing the US stock market — has increased more than 39% since May 2018. In comparison, the VNIndex has only decreased about 9%, making this difference impossible to ignore.

Even more impressive, the Nasdaq index has surged more than 64% thanks to the explosive growth of tech stocks. This clearly demonstrates the investment potential in the US market.

Risk Reduction Through Diversification

If you only invest entirely in Vietnam, you expose yourself to domestic economic fluctuations, exchange rate pressures, and global economic challenges. By owning US stocks, you diversify risk and create a more balanced investment portfolio.

Top US Stocks to Consider Today

Note: Stock prices are constantly changing. The above information is for reference only at the current time.

Main Ways to Buy US Stocks in Vietnam

To directly trade on NYSE or NASDAQ, you need US citizenship — an obstacle for foreign investors. However, derivative tools open two main pathways:

Path 1: ETF Investment Funds

An (Exchange Traded Fund) (ETF) is a fund that tracks the movement of a reference index, such as a stock index. It functions both as an investment fund and trades like a regular stock on major global exchanges.

Advantages of choosing ETFs:

• Diversify your portfolio at low cost
• No need to understand each individual stock in detail
• Minimize market manipulation impact by investing in a basket of securities

Some popular US index ETFs include: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)…

Path 2: CFD Contracts for Difference

CFD (Contract for Difference) allows you to buy US stocks in Vietnam by trading on price differences rather than owning the actual shares. You do not hold the underlying asset but bet on the price movement direction.

Advantages of CFDs:

• More flexible than ETFs, profiting from both rising and falling prices
• Higher leverage allows controlling larger positions with less capital
• Access to global markets from a single platform
• Ability to short sell (short selling)
• Trade outside standard working hours
• Usually lower trading costs

You can trade indices like NAS100, SPX500, as well as individual stocks like AAPL, AMZN, GOOG, FB, TSLA…

Four Basic Trading Steps

Step 1: Choose a Reputable Trading Platform

Selecting a regulated and reputable broker is crucial, as it directly affects your profitability. Ensure your chosen platform:

• Is regulated by international oversight agencies
• Offers comprehensive trading tools
• Has competitive fees
• Provides reliable customer support

Step 2: Find Trading Opportunities

Use platform analysis tools — technical charts, economic calendars, news — to identify the best times to buy and sell. Understanding upcoming economic events helps you make informed decisions.

Step 3: Deposit Margin Funds

Before trading, you need to deposit funds into your account. The minimum amount usually starts from $50 and up, depending on the platform. If you’re a beginner, start with a small capital and low leverage to get familiar with the market.

Many platforms offer demo accounts with virtual money to practice before risking real funds.

Step 4: Execute Buy/Sell Orders

You can:

• Open a long position when expecting prices to rise
• Open a short position when expecting prices to fall

Step 5: Manage Your Positions Actively

Since CFDs use leverage, profits and losses are amplified. Regularly monitor your positions, take profits when targets are reached, and cut losses to minimize potential risks.

Explore US Trading Platforms: NYSE and NASDAQ

( New York Stock Exchange )NYSE(

Founded on May 17, 1792, NYSE started with three government bonds and two bank stocks. As the first stock exchange in the US, the oldest and largest US companies are listed here.

Foreign companies can also list on NYSE if they comply with SEC regulations.

In 1888, NYSE recorded a milestone of trading one million shares in a single day. By 2022, this number reached 5 billion shares. Currently, NYSE operates from Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm )US time###.

According to Statista, NYSE’s market capitalization in mid-2022 was nearly $24.6 trillion.

( NASDAQ Stock Market )

NASDAQ is the second-largest US market by capitalization. Established on February 8, 1971, it is known as the world’s first electronic stock exchange.

Initially, NASDAQ was just a “quote system” without actual electronic trading. Over time, it evolved into an automated order-matching stock market by adding trade reporting and volume data.

Listing requirements on NASDAQ are less strict than NYSE, so it often features many small-cap stocks or companies without US headquarters. For this reason, NASDAQ is often considered a “tech exchange” with many startups and high-risk, high-reward companies.

Three US Stock Indices You Should Know

( S&P 500 Index )Standard & Poor’s 500(

The S&P 500 index comprises 500 of the top US companies. These companies are selected mainly based on market capitalization, but other factors like liquidity, free float, industry, financial health, and trading history are also considered.

These companies account for about 80% of the total US stock market value. The S&P 500 is a reliable indicator of the overall US stock market trend.

The S&P 500 uses a market-cap weighted method, meaning each stock’s contribution is proportional to its total market value. If the total market value of all 500 companies drops by 10%, the index also declines by 10%.

) Dow Jones Industrial Average ###DJIA###

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is one of the oldest, most famous, and widely used indices worldwide. It consists of 30 of the largest and most influential US companies.

DJIA represents about a quarter of the total value of the US stock market. Unlike the S&P 500, Dow is constructed based on a price-weighted method, so high-priced stocks have a stronger impact on the index.

Dow is known for its blue-chip companies with a history of stable and long-term dividend payments. Its movements reflect investor expectations about earnings and risks of major corporations but do not represent small-cap, tech, or international stocks.

( Nasdaq Composite Index )

The Nasdaq Composite index is a market-cap weighted index of all stocks traded on Nasdaq, including many non-US companies. However, most are technology stocks.

It also includes stocks from other sectors such as finance, industrials, insurance, and transportation. Nasdaq Composite covers both large and small companies, but unlike Dow and S&P 500, it contains many speculative small-cap stocks.

Therefore, its movements often reflect the performance of the tech sector and investor sentiment toward speculative stocks more clearly than other indices.

Preparing to Start Investing in US Stocks

1. Choose a Reputable Broker

A broker plays a key role, directly affecting your potential profits. Take time to research your options thoroughly.

( 2. Equip Yourself with In-Depth Knowledge

Regardless of where you invest, you must acquire deep market knowledge to develop suitable strategies. Many platforms offer demo accounts with virtual money to familiarize you with trading without risking real capital. This is a great opportunity to learn before investing real funds.

) 3. Develop a Detailed Financial Plan

Once confident, plan your spending carefully. If your initial capital is small, you can leverage ###leverage### to control larger positions. Remember, leverage is a double-edged sword — it can amplify both gains and losses.

Next Step: Buy Foreign Stocks

Buying US stocks in Vietnam is no longer a distant dream. With technological advancements and modern trading platforms, anyone can participate in one of the most developed financial markets in the world.

If you are a long-term investor seeking stability, ETFs are a suitable choice. If you accept higher risks and want higher returns, CFD trading might be your path.

Whatever your choice, ensure that:

• You understand the tools and strategies thoroughly
• You select a reputable broker
• You prepare appropriate financial resources
• You adhere to disciplined risk management

Smart investing is not about getting rich quickly but about building sustainable wealth over time. Wishing you success on your investment journey!