{"id":228,"date":"2022-04-28T04:30:21","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T04:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modtour.travelerwp.com\/?p=228"},"modified":"2026-03-24T09:41:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T02:41:03","slug":"money-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/money-cost.html","title":{"rendered":"Money & Cost"},"content":{"rendered":"

Currency in Vietnam<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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The currency issued by the\u00a0Vietnam State Bank<\/strong>\u00a0is the dong (abbreviated “d” or VND), which is used uniformly throughout the country. No\u00a0coins are used.<\/strong>\u00a0There are presently bank notes in circulation in dominations of :\u00a02000dong, 5000dong, 10.000dong, 20.000dong, 50.000dong<\/strong>….500.000\u0111ong<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong>\u00a0Vietnam uses colon \u201c,\u201d as decimal symbol and \u201c.\u201d in digit grouping (opposite to the US standards).\u00a0Cheques issued in Vietnam include VND\u00a0500,000 and 1000,000<\/strong>\u00a0– mostly used for commercial transaction in the South.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span> Cotton notes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Exchange money\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Exchange rate is virtually quoted everywhere now:\u00a0banks, newspapers, internet<\/strong>, etc. You can check it any time at\u00a0http:\/\/www.xe.com<\/strong>. Money is easily exchanged\u00a0at the airport, hotel reception, official exchange bureaus or banks<\/strong>\u00a0and all its transactional branches in big towns and cities. Thanks to low valuations of dong compared with other major currencies, it is extremely exciting to find yourself a dong millionaire in such an instant.<\/span><\/div>\n
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In small towns and remote areas<\/strong>, however, these facilities are currently limited or none. On heading to these places, hence, you should consider stocking up a bit more dong but not too much as you may have less chance to pour it. Particularly, there is\u00a0no official exchange service in border crossings<\/strong>\u00a0other than\u00a0black market<\/strong>\u00a0which must be dealt with high alertness. Miscalculation and fake money\u00a0may cost you a lot.<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Generally, all major currencies can be converted into dong without any hassle but\u00a0American dollar is normally much more preferred.<\/strong>\u00a0It is wise to cash\u00a0your traveler cheques<\/strong>\u00a0into US dollar in Vietcombank or other major local banks before jumping into anywhere. You\u00a0may be charged 0.5 to 2% commission for this<\/strong>, still much lower than in black market.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Also, it is important to make sure that any note you take do not have any tear or look too worn, as it is possible to pass them to no one again. Legally,\u00a0you are not allowed to bring the dong out of Vietnam<\/strong>. Actually, you have nothing to do with it. Thus, when you end up with a considerable amount of dong,\u00a0reconvert it into US dollars<\/strong>\u00a0before leaving unless you find something to pour on.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span> The polyme notes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Method of payment\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
The most popular method of payment in\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>\u00a0is directly\u00a0by cash\u00a0<\/strong>(both in dong and dollar), albeit the situation is changing gradually. More and\u00a0more restaurants, hotels, shopping malls<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0supermarkets<\/strong>\u00a0accept\u00a0credit cards<\/strong>\u00a0(mainly Visa, Master Card, JBC and American Express). Traveler\u2019s cheques are cashed only in major banks in\u00a0Ha Noi\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Ho Chi Minh City<\/strong>.<\/span><\/div>\n
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ATM<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
It is strongly recommended<\/strong>\u00a0that you\u00a0do not equip yourself with lots of cash, neither dollar nor dong<\/strong>. In\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>\u00a0now, it is much easier for you to access your money almost everywhere and any time in\u00a0Hanoi<\/strong>,\u00a0Saigon<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0other major cities<\/strong>\u00a0through an extensive\u00a0ATM network<\/strong>. It is, therefore, important to check whether your credit card company has any\u00a0ATM access in Vietnam<\/strong>\u00a0in advance. Holders of\u00a0Mastercard or Visa can refer to these websites for details:<\/span><\/div>\n
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http:\/\/www.mastercard.com\/us\/personal\/en\/cardholderservices<\/span><\/div>\n
http:\/\/visa.via.infonow.net\/locator\/global<\/span><\/div>\n
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If you are going to\u00a0spend some months in Vietnam<\/strong>, it\u2019s great to arrange for an account ownership with major local banks. This costs you almost none of time, money and effort, yet does give you enormous utilities.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Cost\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Traveling costs varying from dirt cheap to sky-priced are almost nowhere to be seen but\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>. Whatever your budget is, Vietnam has something to offer. Hence, your desired taste and comfort will decide where your money goes. It is, however, important to make sure you are shrewd in saying goodbye to your hard-earned income though not everyone wants to rip you off. The following tips will help you to be smart at spending money, yet first things first – you should know the generic costs for common goods and services beforehand.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Eating and drinking<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Vietnam<\/strong>, to most connoisseurs, is a real paradise. Dining out here always\u00a0offers top value for money<\/strong>. Strolling around any town and city, you will easily come across a\u00a0host of street stalls<\/strong>\u00a0where\u00a0delicious and unique dishes<\/strong>\u00a0can be served for\u00a0between US$0.50 and US$1<\/strong>.\u00a0A decent meal<\/strong>\u00a0in small cafeterias may cost you\u00a0around US$2 to US$3<\/strong>. In a-bit-larger restaurants, well-liked by local gastronome, a meal with several superbly -prepared dishes and drinks will\u00a0get you a bill of US$ 5 to US$10 or more<\/strong>.<\/span><\/div>\n
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If you are a do-it-yourself follower, spending some times to grasp\u00a0Vietnamese cookery<\/strong>\u00a0is also remarkably exciting.\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>\u00a0offers everything you need to be an excellent cook.\u00a0Vietnamese produce<\/strong>\u00a0such as\u00a0rice<\/strong>,\u00a0beans<\/strong>,\u00a0vegetables<\/strong>,\u00a0herbs<\/strong>,\u00a0chicken<\/strong>,\u00a0fish<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0fruit<\/strong>\u00a0are almost first rate in the world. You can load them up in a nearby supermarket but really, part of\u00a0living in Vietnam<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is to do things in the Vietnamese way. Surfing the streets or markets in early mornings, you will find thousands of vendors who sell all fresh food at cheap price and even give you some extra things as a social experience. With a bit bartering, a bit talking and a bit laughing, life here is much more wonderful.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Traveling\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
If you keep moving from place to place by air, then airfares will make up a lion share in your traveling cost. Thanks to ongoing downward trend, domestic flights in\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>\u00a0are now a bit cheaper.\u00a0A one-way ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is between US$80 and US$150.<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Trains offer great value for independent travelers to cover long distance of\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>\u00a0with little money. A sleeper on the fastest\u00a0Unification Express (S1) from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh<\/strong>\u00a0costs you around US$40 and US$90<\/strong>. For more details, please\u00a0click here<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0contact us<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Bus travel<\/strong>\u00a0is also a good choice for\u00a0tight budget<\/strong><\/a>. While fares of public buses between major destinations are fixed, traveling by bus to most distant areas means bargain. For instance, you may be asked\u00a0US$60<\/strong>\u00a0or more for a\u00a0trip from Hanoi to Saigon<\/strong>\u00a0while the normal cost for locals is around\u00a0US$30<\/strong>. If you want to be completely independent and flexible, consider renting a car (with a driver, of course) and a guide if deemed necessary. Rental costs may vary considerably, depending on your journey, but usually\u00a0US$50 for around-town<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0US$90<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0more for along-country<\/strong>. A guide adds up\u00a0between US$20 and US$40<\/strong>, depending on destination and trip duration. To get the best rates please do not hesitate to\u00a0contact us<\/a>\u00a0at anytime.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Accommodation<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Accommodation is none of matter in\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>. Just make sure not to hesitate to negotiate for a discount in low season. You should look for more details in \u201cVietnam Hotels<\/strong><\/a>“.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Souvenirs\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
You may be frequently overcharged with these items, so be smart at bargaining.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Useful information\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Tipping:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0This practice is not very popular in\u00a0Vietnam<\/strong>, yet highly-appreciated. Usually,\u00a0big hotels and restaurants include a service charge of 5-10%<\/strong>\u00a0in the bills already though it is unsure if that money goes to the employees. It is, then, up to you whether to tip or not.\u00a0If you feel satisfied with the service<\/strong>, let well-done jobs be rewarded, maybe\u00a0around US$ 3-5 or more<\/strong>, depending on your budget. A\u00a0small gift is also honored<\/strong>, a pack of foreign-brand\u00a0cigarettes for men; postcards, souvenirs or cosmetic items (reasonably priced of course) for women, etc.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Whom you ought to tip?\u00a0Drivers<\/strong>,\u00a0guides<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0someone who cleans your room<\/strong>\u00a0should come first in the list since they spend much time and effort with you. A small donation to the pagoda you visit is also commonly expected, nearly all pagodas place contribution boxes for this purpose.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Remarks:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Best currency to take:\u00a0USA dollars<\/strong>. Cash can be used at many places. The exchange rate is better than for other currencies.\u00a0The rate and T\/C commission varies slightly between banks and cities. Not much difference in rate between T\/C & cash. The rate is slightly higher for larger notes. When price is quoted in US$, you can pay in dollar or Vietnamese Dong. Sometime paying in VD is better because of the exchange rate they use.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Black market:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Money changers on street. Slightly higher than bank rates.<\/span><\/div>\n
T\/C com:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Varies slightly between Banks. normally 2% (Vietcombank 1%) min$2<\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vietnam\u2019s currency is dong issued by State Bank of Vietnam. Abbreviated form: \u201cVND\u201d before the amount or \u201cd\u201d after the amount.
\nSmall denominations include VND 200; 500; 1000; 2000; 5000 in both coin and paper notes though coin is more popular. Bigger denominations include VND 10,000; 20,000; 50,000; 100,000; 200,000; 500,000 in both polymer and normal paper notes….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[56,63,64],"class_list":["post-228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-before-you-go","tag-before-you-go","tag-currency","tag-money"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10587,"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions\/10587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/10309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amitysmiletravel.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}