Is grab in Vietnam cash or card?

Do you pay cash for Grab Vietnam?

Hanoi, sweltering July 2024. Sticky. Motorbikes everywhere. Needed a Grab to escape the heat. Phung Hung street, specifically. Cash. Always cash. Driver seemed surprised I didn’t use a card. Handed him 100,000 dong. Too much. Change fumbled. Hot, sweaty hands. Awkward. Finally got it sorted. Air conditioning blasting in the car. Bliss. Grab drivers, though. Always trying to chat. Didn’t feel like it. Just wanted to get back to my hotel. The Rex. Expensive but worth it.

• Cash is king, still. Especially outside big cities.
• Cards and e-wallets accepted. More common in tourist areas.
• Drivers prefer cash. Tips.
• Download Grab app. Essential for Vietnam travel. Seriously.
• Have small bills ready. Makes things easier. So much easier.
• Learn some basic Vietnamese phrases. Helps. “Cảm ơn” (Thank you) goes a long way.

Traffic insane. Think I’ll just walk next time. Maybe. Probably not. Too hot.

Should you use cash or card in Vietnam?

Cash is king in Vietnam. Seriously.

• The vast majority of transactions occur with physical currency. Think local eateries, bustling markets… they live and breathe dong.
• While card usage is creeping in, particularly at larger hotels and tourist spots, it’s still limited. Plastic isn’t everywhere yet.
• ATMs are readily available in urban areas, dispensing local currency like water from a tap.
• So, load up on dong! It beats scrambling for change, right?
• Consider the daily exchange rate before you go. Currency fluctuations add spice to life, don’t they?

Why is cash so prevalent? Perhaps it’s the deeply ingrained cultural preference. The informality of small businesses contributes too. Plus, the infrastructure for widespread card acceptance is still developing. Or maybe, people want to keep things simple. After all, who needs complicated stuff?

Tips for managing cash:

• Withdraw larger amounts: This cuts down on ATM fees, which can sneak up on you.
• Keep smaller denominations handy: Useful for negotiating bargains and avoiding awkward change issues.
• Be aware of your surroundings: Exercise caution when handling cash, especially in crowded areas. Like, duh?
• Consider bringing a money belt, oh yeah, for extra security. You know, just in case.

In some ways, Vietnam’s cash culture reminds me of my grandpa and his distrust of anything digital. He always said, “If you can’t hold it, you don’t own it!” Food for thought, eh?

Does Grab Vietnam take cash?

Yeah, Grab Vietnam takes cash, absolutely. But you know what? Paying cash is sooo last year.

I figured out the best hack after moving to Saigon four years ago. Linking my credit card to Grab.

Specifically, my no foreign transaction fee credit card. BOOM! Instant life upgrade.

My wife and I both hooked up our accounts. Makes splitting rides easy, right? Plus, I don’t have to scramble for small bills all the time.

It worked pretty flawlessly, to be honest. Until…

Here’s the kicker: Moca, the payment processor for Grab, adds a 4% surcharge for foreign cards. Dang it!

Even with the Moca surcharge, it’s still better than dealing with ATMs all the time, you know? Small price to pay for the convenience. Seriously.

So yeah, cash works, but link your card, man. Trust me. Just be aware of that sneaky 4%.

Pro-tip: Find a local with a Vietnamese bank account to help you load GrabPay! No fees then!

What is the best way to use money in Vietnam?

Okay, so Vietnam, right? You gotta get dong. Lots and lots of dong. Hotels do exchanges, sure, but the rates are, like, totally jacked up. Avoid those. Tourist traps are worse, even! Seriously, stick to banks. Banks are your best bet. They give you the best rates. You’ll thank me later.

I always use ATMs. Way easier. My Capital One card, for example, has no foreign transaction fees. That’s a huge saver. Plus, you get better rates than any exchange. Don’t carry huge amounts of cash, though. It’s a bit dodgy there, yeah?

Here’s the deal:

• ATMs: Best for getting dong. Seriously.
• Banks: Good rates, but slightly less convenient.
• Hotels/Tourist areas: Rip-offs. Don’t.
• Credit Cards: Useful in bigger places, but not everywhere. Some places may not take them.

I found using my debit card worked great last year, 2023, but always check with your bank about fees before you go. I also used Grab for everything. Grab is, like, the Uber of Vietnam. For food and getting around, it’s amazing. Super cheap too.

My friend got screwed over changing money at a hotel. Lost, like, a ton of cash. Don’t be like him. Be smart. Use the ATMs, man. It’s the easiest.

Should I use Dong or USD in Vietnam?

VND. Always.

USD exchanges are rigged. You’ll overpay.

Local currency is king. Shops price in VND.

• Avoid USD.
• Carry VND.
• Expect unfavorable USD rates. My trip in 2023 confirmed this. Shady business.
• Prepare for haggling. It’s the norm.

Stick to Dong. Trust me. I learned this the hard way in Hanoi last year. My bank’s rate was far better. Never again.