Do buses in Vietnam take card?

Do places in Vietnam accept card?

Vietnam? Credit cards? Honey, it’s a mixed bag, like a bowl of pho with a surprise durian inside.

Big hotels? Yeah, they’ll take your plastic. Think fancy five-star joints in Hanoi. Those places are practically swimming in credit card transactions. They’ve probably got a dedicated employee whose sole job is approving Visa purchases.

Smaller joints? It’s a crapshoot. Last time I was in Hoi An, I tried to pay for a ridiculously overpriced bowl of bun cha with my AmEx. The owner looked at me like I’d offered him a used sock. Cash is king, my friend. Cash is king. Seriously, I’m still traumatized.

• High-end places: Generally yes. Think fancy restaurants in big cities.
• Street food: Absolutely not. Bring cash. Seriously.
• Smaller shops? Maybe. They might look at you funny. You’ll be better off with Dong.
• My experience in 2023: I nearly had a meltdown trying to use my card at a charming little cafe in Sapa.

So, bring cash. Lots of it. And maybe a spare pair of socks, just in case. You never know when you might need to barter. Also, my cousin Brenda got charged extra fees. It sucked.

I swear, the whole experience gave me indigestion, worse than that time I ate questionable street food in Nha Trang. Think exploding chili peppers in a volcano of regret. My stomach still aches thinking about it. My advice? Cash. Just cash.

Do places in Vietnam take credit cards?

Plastic fantastic? Vietnam’s getting there. Think Visa, Mastercard – the usual suspects. Street food? Cash is king. Haggling’s half the fun anyway. Like trying to buy a motorbike with Monopoly money. But your fancy hotel? Card’s cool. Same goes for those delightful tailor shops. You know, the ones where you emerge looking suspiciously like a Bond villain. Restaurants? Definitely. Unless you plan on paying with pho. Even spas. Because who doesn’t love a post-massage credit card swipe? It’s like buying relaxation on loan.

• Credit cards widely accepted in:
  • Hotels (because who carries wads of Dong for that?)
  • Tour operators (they appreciate not lugging cash around temples)
  • Boutiques (silk pajamas? Charge it!)
  • Restaurants (even the fancy ones)
  • Grocery stores (stock up on those exotic fruits)
  • Spas (massage your worries, and your wallet)
• Cash still reigns supreme for:
  • Street vendors (imagine paying for banh mi with a platinum card. The look on their face…)
  • Small purchases (like that questionable durian candy. Best to limit the financial damage.)
• Pro-tip: Carry some Dong. It’s like having a secret weapon. And always, always, check with the establishment. Because surprises are fun, unless they involve unexpected ATM fees. My trip to Hoi An in ’23, almost got derailed by this. Ended up bartering a lightly used travel guide for a bowl of cao lầu. Don’t recommend it.

How common is credit card in Vietnam?

150. 6 million…wow.

That’s…alot of cards, right?

Cards in circulation in Vietnam, I mean.

Over 150 million credit, debit, whatever, at the end of March 2024.

It’s grown compared to last year. It was 3.29% higher, that’s what the State Bank of Vietnam’s Payment Department said.

That number just… sits there.

A tiny bit bigger than the year before.

I remember when my grandma used to hide cash. She distrusted banks.

Now, millions of cards.

• Data Source: State Bank of Vietnam’s Payment Department report in March 2024
• Specific Statistic: Over 150.6 million bank cards in circulation
• Percentage Change: 3.29% increase compared to 2023
• Personal Reflection: A contrast between older generations’ cash preference and today’s digital payment options is a little sad.
• Important point: Le Anh Dung is the deputy director.

Are credit cards widely used in Vietnam?

Credit cards see increasing use in Vietnam, though cash is king, still. Acceptance blossoms in urban hubs and tourist hotspots.

• Major establishments readily accept them. Hotels, fancy restaurants, larger supermarkets, that sort of thing, are pretty reliable.
• Smaller businesses lag behind. Think local markets, mom-and-pop shops. Cash often reigns supreme. It kinda reminds you of when my grandpa only used checks – a different era.

The rise of digital payment adoption is something to consider. It’s a gradual shift, but you never know when cash might truly become secondary. I mean, who really uses checks anymore? This adoption might also encourage wider card acceptance. The landscape is changing, yet traditional habits die hard, especially regarding personal finance.

Which credit cards are accepted in Vietnam?

Visa’s ubiquitous in Vietnam. ATMs gobble them up readily. Mastercard and JCB are fairly common too. Discover and Amex? Not so much. Funny how these plastic rectangles hold so much power. Stick to major cities for wider acceptance. Smaller towns, cash is king.

• Visa: Your safest bet. Works practically everywhere. Even used my Visa debit at a tiny coffee shop near Ha Long Bay last summer.
• Mastercard: Pretty reliable. Growing in popularity. Almost on par with Visa these days.
• JCB: Surprisingly well-accepted, given its Japanese origins. Reflects the growing Japanese tourism in Vietnam, I suppose.
• American Express (Amex): Limited acceptance. Upscale hotels and restaurants, mostly. My Amex Platinum got rejected at a street food stall in Hanoi. Lesson learned.
• Discover: Rarely seen. Wouldn’t rely on it. Bring a backup.

ATM withdrawal limits vary. Typically 2-10 million VND. International banks tend to have higher limits. Think HSBC or Citibank. Checked my Citibank account balance after a big withdrawal in Da Nang last year. Quite a shock. Fees vary too. Check with your bank. It’s always something, isn’t it? The ebb and flow of global finance.