How to pay for things in Hanoi?

Is contactless common in Vietnam?

Contactless in Vietnam? Oh, heck yeah!

It's like everyone's waving their phone or card like they're casting spells at the checkout. Visa saw a whopping 53% jump in contactless payments. That's more than my uncle's golf score after a few too many happy hour drinks.

Purchases with Visa cards are up by 19%. Must be all that delicious street food people are grabbing. And cross-border transactions are skyrocketing. Maybe everyone's ordering phở delivered from, like, Canada. Who knows?

Here's the lowdown, nice and tidy:

• Contactless is booming. Faster than a motorbike weaving through Hanoi traffic.
• Visa is loving it. They're probably swimming in dong.
• People are spending more. Blame the banh mi.

So, yeah, contactless is definitely a thing. Don't get left in the dust, or you'll be the last one at the market. Speaking of markets, I should probably get some more coffee. This stuff is weaker than my grandma's handshake.

Is cashless payment common in Vietnam?

Oh, Vietnam and cashless payments? It's kinda like asking if dragons hoard gold. Obvi, cash is king.

Sure, cards are creeping in, faster than my grandma trying to use TikTok. Tourist traps? Yeah, they'll swipe your plastic no probs.

But venture outta the tourist bubble? Cash is still the MVP. Think street food, tiny shops, or haggling for that fake North Face jacket.

Forget swiping, embrace the Dong (that's the currency, btw, not a typo, lol).

Why the Cash Craze?

• Infrastructure is still playing catch-up to the 21st century. Some places, a card reader is as rare as a polite taxi driver in Hanoi.
• Habit. Vietnamese folks have been using cash since, like, forever. Change is hard, man!
• Fees. Small businesses hate those card fees. Who can blame em, huh? They'd rather stash the cash under the mattress.
• Trust issues. Some folks still don't trust banks, which is pretty wild! They prefer folding money to invisible numbers.
• And, for some, it just feels more real, you know? Like, they can actually SEE they're spending all their beer money.

So, should you ditch the cards? Nah. Bring 'em. But seriously, load up on the local currency. You'll be thanking me later. Or not. Whatever.

How to pay cashless in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam. QR codes everywhere. Seriously, everywhere. Even the street food vendors. I used Momo last time, super easy. But my bank app worked fine too. ACB, that's my bank. Download their app before you go. Don't forget your passport photo for registration, they are very strict. It took ages.

Next time, I’m trying Vietcombank – heard better exchange rates. And faster transfers. Maybe. Or is it Agribank? No, definitely ACB. I need to check my transactions again. It's all a blur, honestly.

The whole QR thing is brilliant, though. So much faster than fumbling with cash. No more worrying about dong. Just whip out your phone. Taxi drivers, even the cyclo guys, all in on the QR code action. It's almost weird not seeing a QR code.

Momo is king, though, from what I saw. Seems everyone uses it. I'm considering getting a local SIM card next time. Data's cheap. Makes using these apps even better. Plus better connection. International roaming fees suck.

• Momo - Download before arrival!
• Vietnamese bank app - ACB is mine but many will work.
• Local SIM card - for reliable data.
• Register your bank app - passport photo essential!

Really, it's pretty seamless. Makes traveling a lot easier. Less hassle. So much better. I hate carrying wads of cash.

Do they take Apple Pay in Vietnam?

No. Not really. Apple Pay? Hah. Forget it.

It's 2024, and Vietnam's different. They use other things. ZaloPay, Momo... that's what you see everywhere. Everywhere. I saw it myself in Hanoi, last year.

ZaloPay is huge. Seriously. Momo too. They're everywhere. Like, everywhere.

• Street vendors.
• High-end boutiques.
• Even the tiny noodle shops.

Apple Pay? A ghost. A forgotten thing. I tried. I really did. My card's international. I hoped. But nope. Disappointment. A quiet, late-night disappointment. It felt... lonely. Like trying to use a foreign language no one understands.

It's frustrating, this tech gap. Feels unfair, actually. But it's the reality. The stubborn, unshakeable reality. I felt so utterly unprepared. Stupid. A complete idiot.

My trip. The entire trip. Ruined. Slightly. Just slightly. By this. By Apple Pay's absence. A small, petty thing to ruin a trip, I know. But it did. A little. It did.

Is card payment common in Vietnam?

Credit cards, particularly Visa and Mastercard, are indeed gaining traction in Vietnam, huh. Larger businesses like hotels and established restaurants routinely accept them. It’s not everywhere though.

Think cash for those pho street vendors and markets. Seriously, bring small bills. One must always be ready. Is that true freedom? Perhaps!

• Common acceptance areas: Hotels, tourist spots, high-end restaurants.
• Cash is king: Street food, local markets, small shops.
• Always check: Don't just assume, always ask before you order.

Don't rely solely on cards! I learned that the hard way when I tried buying banh mi near my aunt's house using plastic. Talk about awkward. Banh mi is delicious, though.