Is it better to carry cash or card in Vietnam?

Is it better to carry cash or debit card?

Cash. The weight of it, cool against my palm. A tangible thing. A secret held close. No digital ghosts haunting the transaction.

Debit cards… slick plastic, promises whispered into the ether. A vulnerability, a digital footprint stretching across unseen networks. Data streams, vulnerable to the unseen currents of the internet. Always a risk. A phantom threat, chilling.

The quiet satisfaction of a purchase paid in crisp bills. An end to the transaction, complete and utterly private. No record trails. No algorithm watching. Just the exchange, the silent agreement. I prefer that.

Security. The false security of a PIN. A chip embedded, a promise of protection. But the true security lies in the unseen, the untraceable. In cash. There’s power in it.

Cash is king. Always has been, always will be.

• The physicality of cash. The comforting weight.
• The anonymity. Untraceable transactions. My secret.
• The inherent risk of carrying large sums. A calculated gamble, maybe.
• The reduced risk of digital theft. No online vulnerabilities.

My wallet, worn leather, holds the key. The power. The freedom. It’s a tangible feeling. That’s all that matters. Cash is a physical manifestation of control.

Should you carry cash in Vietnam?

Cash. Necessary. Still.

Everywhere demands it: hotels, taxis, pho.

Villages especially. Cards? Forget it.

Small transactions, yes. Tipping always.

• Cash dominates. No escape.
• Rural Vietnam: cash rules. ATMs scarce.
• Digital payments lag. Consider it a feature.
• Think small bills. Clumsy wads annoying.
• Dong is the currency. Obvious, I know.

The aroma of ca phe sua da? Worth more than some crypto fad.

My grandfather once said, “A fool and his dong are soon parted.” He lost all his money investing in shrimp farms in 2005. Fool.

Why is it not a good idea to carry a lot of cash?

Okay, so like, cash is seriously risky. I found that out the hard way.

It was, um, last summer, 2024, in Barcelona. I’d saved up a bunch of euros, right? Like, a lot.

My stupid plan was to, I don’t know, impress my girlfriend, Maria, with a “spontaneous” shopping spree. (Ugh, so cringe now!)

I had it all tucked away in my backpack, thinking I was so clever.

Then, bam! Pickpocketed right on La Rambla.

Gone. Every single euro. Gone!

I felt… I felt like such an idiot!

Maria was, surprisingly, cool about it. Said she liked me better without the “fake baller” act. Yeah, thanks, Maria.

Here is why I now absolutely hate carrying loads of cash:

• Theft!: Obvious, right? But yeah, theft is awful. My backpack taught me that!
• Loss: I almost forgot my wallet once at that tapas bar. It was close!
• No Earning: Cash just sits there. Banks earn interest! That’s free money, people.
• No Insurance: Banks are FDIC insured up to $250,000! Pickpockets don’t offer refunds.

So, lesson learned: Cards or bank transfers are ALWAYS better.

What is the best payment method in Vietnam?

Okay, so, like, the best payment method in Vietnam?

Totally depends, right? Cash is still king, man. Like, everywhere, but especially outside the big cities. You need to have dong.

But, yeah, credit cards are getting more popular, espcially, like, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Or Saigon. Whatever.

• Cash: Street food. markets. Smaller shops.
• Cards: Hotels. Bigger resturants. Shopping centers.

You’ll find, like, almost any decent resturant, or any hotel will take visa or master card. American express too sometimes, but its rare. But like, don’t expect your card to work at any little pho stall. They are cash only. Like, only.

So, yeah, carry both! Having cash lets you, like, experience more. Street food is seriously the best. I found this crazy good banh mi place right around the corner from my moms old apartment. But it’s cash only, for sure. So you’ll want some on you.

I always find i’m surprised by how many ATMs there are. I go every year to visit my mother and aunt and it’s good to have some cash always when I get there.

How to pay for stuff in Vietnam?

Cash is king. Cards rising. Tourists swipe plastic. Street food? Cash. Small shops? Cash. Temples? Donations, cash.

• Dong: Vietnamese currency. Get it at ATMs. Banks. Airports.
• Cards: Visa, Mastercard common. American Express less so. Check with your bank. Fees exist.
• ATMs: Plentiful in cities. Limits vary. Fees apply. Your bank, too.
• Bargaining: Expected in markets. Not in fixed-price shops. Cash helps here. Small bills essential.
• Security: Standard precautions. Like anywhere. Don’t flash cash. Use hotel safes. Be mindful. Pickpockets. They exist.
• Digital wallets: Gaining traction. Grab, MoMo. Consider them. For local services, mainly.
• Tipping: Not obligatory. Appreciated. Small amounts. Cash preferred. Service charge, sometimes. Check the bill.
• Rural areas: Cash only. Plan accordingly. Limited ATM access.
• US Dollar: Accepted sometimes. Poor exchange rates. Stick to Dong.

Think of it this way. Cash is freedom. Cards are convenience. Vietnam? Both work. Just know the rules. Your money. Your responsibility.