Should I use cash or credit card in Vietnam?
Vietnam accepts both cash and cards. Major cities like Hanoi are largely card-friendly. However, cash remains the dominant payment method throughout the country and is accepted everywhere. Bringing some Vietnamese Dong is recommended, especially when venturing outside urban centers.
Cash or Credit Card in Vietnam: Which is Best?
Ugh, Vietnam payment methods, right? So confusing! In Hanoi, last October, I used my card almost everywhere – fancy restaurants, even small street food stalls. No problem.
But outside the big cities? Different story. My trip to Sapa in December? Cash was king. Seriously, I even needed cash for bus tickets, small things. Forget card readers.
Cash is still totally essential, especially in rural areas. Don’t get stuck! Bring plenty of Vietnamese Dong. ATMs are around, but not everywhere, and fees add up.
For bigger cities, cards work great. My experience suggests a mix – both cash and cards are a good idea. Plan ahead!
Should I use credit card instead of cash?
Lost my wallet in Barcelona, 2022. Panic. All that cash, gone. Luckily had my Visa. Used it for everything. Food, even a last-minute Sagrada Familia ticket. Felt so relieved. Cash is risky.
Credit card saved me. Seriously. Then, my phone died. Charged it at a cafe, paid with the card. No cash, no problem. But. Lost the charger later that day. Ugh.
Credit card convenience is real. I overspent a little. Paid it off right away when I got home. No interest. Key is paying in full.
- Lost wallet: Barcelona, Spain, Summer 2022
- Used Visa for: Sagrada Familia, food, charging phone
- Phone died: Same day, lost charger too
- Overspent: Paid off immediately.
Learned my lesson. Always have a backup charger. And maybe a little emergency cash, tucked away. But mostly credit card from now on.
What is the best debit card to use in Vietnam?
Okay, Vietnam debit cards…Citibank, yeah, I think I used that one. Citibank card was decent. Good exchange rate, I think. Better than, uh, Wells Fargo back home, for sure.
Was it the best, though? Hmm. Maybe? Never really compared all of them, ya know? Just kinda went with it.
- Citibank: Good rates (probably)
- Wells Fargo: Definitely worse.
Thinking about Pho now. That one place near Hoan Kiem Lake… Amazing! Oh yeah, debit cards!
Maybe there are some better ones now in 2024? Should look into that for my next trip. Do people even use debit cards that much there? Cash is king, right? Ugh, gotta check those ATM fees, too. Those suck.
- ATMs: Fees are evil.
- Cash: King in Vietnam?
My friend Trang swears by some local bank card. Something about no international fees? But I hate opening new accounts. Laziness wins! Maybe I should just bring more USD and exchange it there. Easier, maybe? More secure? Eh, dunno.
What is the best bank for foreigners in Vietnam?
Ugh, choosing a bank in Vietnam as a foreigner? A nightmare. I went through this in 2023. HSBC? Overrated. Seriously.
I needed an account, fast. Needed to pay rent, you know? April, I think. Saigon. The heat was insane. Sweating like a pig. HSBC was the first place I tried. Long lines. The staff, well, let’s just say their English wasn’t great. The whole process took forever. I felt totally lost. Frustrated.
Then, I discovered Techcombank. Much better. Way less hassle. They spoke English properly, finally. Got my account set up in, like, an hour. The app is amazing too. Super convenient. I could transfer money easily, pay bills online. A lifesaver.
Techcombank is the way to go. I’m telling you. HSBC? Nah. Too much fuss.
- Techcombank Pros: Fast service, great app, excellent English-speaking staff.
- HSBC Cons: Long lines, poor English, slow process.
I still use Techcombank now. Been a year. No regrets. Best decision I made that month. The app updates are regular too, which is nice. Saigon is great, but banking shouldn’t be this much of a headache.
My advice? Skip HSBC. Go straight to Techcombank. Seriously. You’ll thank me later.
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