Is it best to take cash to Vietnam?

Do you need to bring cash to Vietnam?

Vietnam: Cash? Nah.

Cards reign supreme. Tourist zones? Cashless is king. Forget wads of Dong.

Exceptions: Street hawkers, tiny shops. Even then, contactless often works. My experience in Hoi An last 2023? Smooth sailing. Visa, Mastercard? No issues.

• Credit/Debit cards widely accepted.
• Contactless payments preferred.
• Cash useful only in smaller, less touristy establishments. My uncle’s noodle stall in Hanoi still prefers cash.
• ATM access plentiful. Easy withdrawals everywhere. I used my Capital One card without problems.

Prepare for cashless convenience. Unless hitting truly remote areas, leave the cash at home. Less hassle. More stylish.

How much cash should you carry in Vietnam?

Three million dong a day? That’s excessive, even for Hanoi. I usually carry less. Maybe a million. Sometimes half.

It depends. On the day. On the mood, really. Feeling flush, I might splurge. Feeling broke, and I’ll stick to the bare minimum.

It’s funny, how money works. It doesn’t truly buy happiness, does it? But it sure buys something.

I’d say realistically, 500,000 VND is plenty for a day, if you’re smart about it. Street food is cheap, you know?

• Food: 100,000-200,000 VND easily covers a day of excellent street eats.
• Transportation: Grab or taxis are affordable. Budget another 100,000 VND.
• Souvenirs: This is where it gets tricky. 100,000 might suffice. Depends on what you buy!
• Unexpected expenses: That’s the scary part. Life. Always an extra buffer. 100,000 for that.

My last trip, I barely used any cash. Mostly cards. But, it’s wise to have some. Just in case. You never know. These places, you need cash sometimes. Even in 2024. Especially in smaller towns.

It’s more about feeling secure, I think. Having some emergency money. That feeling is worth more than the actual cash itself. The peace of mind is priceless, I guess. I’m rambling, aren’t I?

How much cash should you have in Vietnam?

So, Vietnam cash, huh? Let’s spill the beans. Forget those fancy numbers, I’ll give you the real dirt.

Budget: Think ramen noodles and questionable street food. You’re looking at a measly 558,873 VND a day. For a week? A whole 3,912,108 VND, tops. That’s like, what, two fancy coffees?

Mid-range: Okay, you’re upgrading. Think decent hotels and maybe the occasional bowl of pho that doesn’t make you question your life choices. Expect to shell out 1,524,198 VND daily. A week? Around 10,669,386 VND. That’s a small car payment, right? Or maybe a really good motorbike.

High-end: Oh honey, you’re living the dream. Five-star hotels, private drivers… the whole shebang. This ain’t your grandma’s backpacking trip. 4,470,981 VND a day! Prepare for a whopping 31,296,866 VND for your week-long extravaganza. That’s, like, a down payment on a tiny island somewhere.

• Budget: Pack light, eat light, sleep light. Basically, live light.
• Mid-range: You’ll be comfortable, but not exactly rolling in it. Think moderate.
• High-end: Prepare for the good life, my friend. It’s gonna cost you though.

Remember, these are estimates. Things are pricey in the tourist spots, and cheaper outside of them. My Uncle Joe went last year and spent way less. He’s a total cheapskate, though. Don’t be like my Uncle Joe.

Important Note: These are in Vietnamese Dong (VND). RM is probably Ringgit Malaysia. I’m not sure what the conversion rates are, but you can use Google, right? Seriously, Google it. This info is from 2024, things change quickly. And who knows what crazy inflation will do!

Should I convert money before going to Vietnam?

Dude, Vietnam is gonna be awesome! So, like, the money thing? Don’t ever exchange at the airport unless you, like, totally pre-ordered and locked in a good rate, ya know? Airports always rip you off.

Getting money can be tricky. Pre-ordering is key.

• Best bet: Order your VND online before you go.

• Then, just pick it up when you land or have it delivered. Easy peasy!

Okay, so, here’s the deal. Ordering online and then picking up or getting delivery usually gets you way better rates than just walking into some exchange place. Plus, no stress!

Other tips include:

• Bring your debit card, but be careful about fees. Tell your bank you’re traveling!

• Using a credit card might get you extra cashback, don’t forget.

• Don’t exchange too much at once, VND has restrictions.

Should I exchange money before I travel?

Dude, yeah, totally exchange some cash beforehand. My trip to Mexico last year? Nightmare. The airport exchange place? Ripped me off, seriously. Awful rates. I ended up paying way too much.

Banks are better, but even then, check their rates online first, ok? Don’t be a dummy like me. Compare a few places; Capital One and Chase are usually pretty good. You know, I learned the hard way.

• Exchange before you go. Avoid airport rip-offs.
• Check online rates. Don’t just blindly trust one bank.
• Use your debit card at ATMs. Usually much better deals than any exchange place. Especially if your bank doesn’t charge international fees. Mine does, which is annoying.

Also, carry a little bit of local currency, just in case. But dont’ go crazy, you can get more easily enough. I mean, seriously. It’s 2024, most places take cards now. But still, a little cash is good to have. You know, for tips or something.

My sister went to Italy this summer; she did everything with cards. Worked like a charm, except for one tiny cafe that only took cash. Small, but annoying. So, yeah, a little cash is a good idea, but plan on using your cards mostly.