I just realized that in recent years, investing in U.S. stocks from Vietnam has become much easier than before. If you’re also considering how to buy foreign stocks to diversify your portfolio, the U.S. market is definitely a choice worth considering.

Honestly, the main reason I switched to U.S. stocks is because the return rates are vastly different. The S&P 500 has increased by more than 39% from May 2018 to now, while the VNIndex is down 9%. Nasdaq has even risen by 64% thanks to the tech stock boom. That’s a fairly large gap you can’t ignore.

The U.S. market also offers a list of massive companies—more than 6,300 stock tickers between NYSE and NASDAQ. You can own shares from big names like Apple, Amazon, Tesla, or Google. With that kind of variety, learning how to buy foreign stocks becomes more appealing than simply sticking with the Vietnamese market.

But the issue is that individual investors from abroad can’t open accounts directly at NYSE or NASDAQ. Instead, we have two main options.

First is ETF funds. These funds, such as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) or SPDR S&P 500 EFT (SPY), allow you to invest in a basket of stocks without having to choose each one individually. The benefits are easy diversification, low costs, and you don’t need to deeply understand every specific company. If you’re the kind of long-term investor, ETFs are a good fit.

Second is CFD—Contracts for Difference. Learning how to buy foreign stocks through CFD lets you trade individual tickers without having to buy the entire basket like you would with an ETF. You can profit from both rising and falling prices, use leverage, and trade outside regular hours. However, you don’t actually own the stocks—you’re only betting on price movements. Risk is higher, but profits can also be higher if you know what you’re doing.

I’ve seen many people start with blue-chip stocks like Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), or Alphabet (GOOGL). These have lower PE ratios than Tesla or Amazon, so they’re less risky for beginners. There’s also NVIDIA and AMD for those interested in technology, or JPMorgan Chase if you prefer the financial sector.

To get started with how to buy foreign stocks, the first step is choosing a reputable trading platform. This is very important because it directly affects your returns. Then, equip yourself with basic knowledge—learn about key indices such as the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq Composite so you can understand how the market works.

If your capital is still limited, you can use leverage to control a larger amount of money. But be careful, because leverage can also magnify losses. I recommend starting with a small amount of capital and low leverage until you’re familiar with things.

You should also spend some time learning before putting real money in. Many platforms offer demo accounts with virtual funds so you can practice. Once you’re confident, make a careful financial plan and start with an amount you can afford to lose.

Overall, learning how to buy foreign stocks today isn’t as difficult as it used to be. Whether you choose ETFs or CFDs, the key is to understand what you’re doing and be ready to accept the risks. The U.S. market has many opportunities, but it also requires careful preparation. Wishing you successful trading!