Objectives: the authors examined current payment practices to clinical research participants in Vietnam to make recommendations for clinical research investigators and ethics committee members. Methods: Cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire. A diverse sample of clinical investigators and ethics committee members were selected. Results: Reimbursement practice is highly variable between and within research institutions. Where the payment occurs, it is largely monetary and it is for travel expenses and compensation for times taking part into trials. Most of the research institutions do not have any guidances or policies on amounts and mechanism for reimbursement for research participants. Ethics committees were reported to be often involved in decision making around. Conclusions: Payment to clinical research participants vary in Vietnam. Ethics committees have an important role in developing guidelines in this area. Specific guidelines are needed considering local policies and regulations, payment models and their application in diverse settings, types and levels of reimbursement, and the l'rationale for diverse payment practices in different settings.