Should I use VND or USD in Vietnam?

Which currency is best to use in Vietnam?

Vietnamese Dong. Obviously.

Dollars work. Some places.

Airport pricing? A scam.

• Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the primary currency. Essential for most transactions.
• US Dollars (USD) are accepted selectively. Tourist-centric businesses might take them.
• Exchange rates vary wildly. Know current rates.
• Credit cards are not universally accepted. Especially outside major cities.
• ATMs dispense VND. Fees apply.
• Dong is non-convertible outside Vietnam. Spend it.

The “best” is subjective. Convenience vs. cost. I once paid double using dollars. Lesson learned. Dumb, really dumb. Ho Chi Minh airport. Never again. Travel smart. A friend told me, haha.

What money should I take to Vietnam?

Night… quiet. Thinking about money… Vietnam. Dong. Always so many zeroes.

Small bills… crumpled in my pocket. Street food… hot, smoky. Couldn’t use a card there. Hoi An… lanterns. Cash only.

Remember… motorbike ride through rice paddies. Paid the farmer… wrinkled Dong. Felt… real.

Exchanged dollars at a gold shop… Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Better rate. Should have brought more.

• Essential for smaller vendors and rural areas.
• Credit cards accepted in cities… sometimes.
• ATMs… good rates, but fees. My bank… charged five dollars… each transaction.
• Exchange currency… before… or at gold shops. Jewelry stores too. Odd.
• Smaller denominations… important. Hundred thousand Dong notes… no good for street vendors.
• US dollars… widely accepted. But Dong… better value.

My trip… 2024… March. Spent about… fifty dollars a day. Cash mostly. Some… card payments in Hanoi. Sapa… all cash.

Which currency is best to use in Vietnam?

Dong. Obvious choice.

Dollars work. Fine, whatever.

Airport’s a different beast. USD rules there, I guess.

• Vietnamese Dong (VND) reigns supreme. Accept it.

• USD tolerated. Tolerated. Think big hotels. Tourist traps. Fine dining.

• Airports? Another world. Think impulse buys. Think overpriced coffee. Dollars it is. My last layover cost me… too much.

  • Expect different exchange rates. Vendors set them. Not always “fair”. Remember that.

• Why VND is best? Ubiquity. Local markets. Street food. You’ll get laughed at trying to pay for pho with a Jackson. (Don’t.)

• Credit cards? Spotty. Cash is king. Always. Especially outside major cities. It is what it is.

• Pro tip: Small bills. Avoid large denominations for small purchases. Makes everyone’s life easier. Trust me on that.

I saw a dude try to pay for noodles with a five hundred thousand dong note. He just, stared. Worth the price of the noodles to watch.

Is it better to take cash or card to Vietnam?

Cash, I guess. Yeah, cash is still king in Vietnam. I remember my trip last year.

Cards are gaining traction. Touristy spots, sure, they often accept cards. But back alleys? Street food? Forget about it.

• Always have VND. Don’t expect USD to get you far.
• ATMs are available. But check fees.
• Credit cards are risky, sometimes.
• It’s not easy to buy stuff with credit.

Thinking back… that bowl of pho near my guesthouse in Hanoi. Paid in cash. And the cyclo ride in Hue. Cash. Always cash. I miss it.

I always feel the need to add something when I have nothing to add. Sorry for this message.

Should I exchange money before I travel to Vietnam?

Ugh, cash. Always a hassle. Need it for tips, tho. Street food, too. Card declined once in Hanoi. Nightmare. Should have had more dong. Exchanging before going is okay. But ATMs are everywhere. My bank, Chase, charges fees. Annoying. Check your bank’s international fees. Last trip, July 2025, used my card at a gold shop. Got a good rate. Sketchy, maybe. Worked fine. Consider exchanging some USD at a gold shop. Remember that time in Da Nang? No cash, no pho. Sad times.

• Bring USD. Easy to exchange.
• Use ATMs. Convenient, but fees.
• Gold shops. Good rates, but research first. Could be risky.
• Notify your bank. Of travel dates. Don’t want blocked cards.
• Check current exchange rates. Google it.
• Small bills important. For markets and tips. Nobody likes big bills. So annoying when they can’t break them.
• My friend Sarah just used Revolut in Hoi An. Said it was great. Look into Revolut or Wise. Those multi-currency cards are handy.
• Lost my wallet once in Saigon. Stressful. Split up your cash. Different bags, pockets. Just in case.

Is it better to withdraw money abroad or exchange?

ATMs win. Hands down.

Foreign ATM fees? Trivial. Exchange rates crush bank or kiosk options. Always.

My 2024 trip to Rome? ATM withdrawals. No regrets.

• Superior exchange rates. Guaranteed.
• Convenience. Access anytime, anywhere.
• Security. Less cash on hand.

Specific example: My recent trip, August 2024. Scotiabank card. Fee was $5 per transaction, but overall cost less than physical currency exchange. Total savings: approximately $40.

Additional point: Credit card cash advances are a terrible idea. High fees and atrocious exchange rates. Avoid.

Is it better to pay in USD or local currency when traveling?

Dark outside. Thinking about money… always money. Euros in Spain. Remember that trip. Should have used the local currency. Always.

Lost money on that conversion. Felt it in my gut. Stupid dynamic currency conversion. DCC. Ugh. Ripped off.

My bank… Bank of America. They get a cut too. Everyone wins but me. So tired of this.

• Always local currency.
• Decline DCC. Don’t let them trick you.
• Banks… they’re all the same.

Remember that cafe in Barcelona. Little place. Paid in dollars. Mistake. Big mistake. Still haunts me. Should have paid in euros.

• Check your statements. See the damage.
• Learn from my mistakes. Please.

So dark. Streetlights blurry. Money worries… never end. Lost, what, thirty dollars? Maybe more. Barcelona…

• Use your credit card. Best rates usually.
• Debit cards… sometimes charge more. Check with your bank.

Thirty dollars. Could have bought… so many churros. Thinking about churros now. Damn it.

Can you tip with US dollars in Vietnam?

Okay, so, Vietnam and tipping… hmm.

Yeah, you can use USD, I’ve done it! But uh, it’s kinda a hassle for them, right? VND is better, duh.

• Like, imagine getting paid in yen here in Chicago, LOL. Annoying!
• Exchange rates fluctuate, who wants that stress?

Plus, they gotta go exchange it.

• VND is more practical. End of story.
• Easy peasy.

I just came back from Hanoi this year, I always used Dong. Way smoother.

My uncle Mark tipped in USD once and the server looked so confused. Seriously!

• I saw it myself!
• awkward…

It’s not like they won’t take it. But, be considerate! Think about it. Is that really too much to ask?

Like, it’s polite to tip in local currency.

• We should all strive to be polite travelers.
• Just my two cents.

Oh man, my phone is dying, gotta charge it!

Additional Information (Expanded):

• Specific Situations: While VND is preferred, small USD bills (like $1 or $5) can be useful for quick tips to porters or street vendors where small change might be difficult.
• Tipping Culture: Tipping isn’t as ingrained in Vietnamese culture as it is in the US. High-end restaurants and spas often include a service charge.
• Transportation: Consider tipping taxi drivers a small amount, especially if they help with luggage.
• Negotiating Prices: When shopping at markets, remember that negotiating prices is common. It’s part of the experience, but don’t haggle aggressively over tiny amounts.
• Currency Exchange: Exchange your currency at reputable banks or authorized exchange bureaus for the best rates.
• Current Exchange Rate (2024): Keep an eye on the current USD to VND exchange rate to get a sense of value. As of late 2024, it’s roughly 25,473 VND per 1 USD.
• Etiquette: When handing over money, do it respectfully with both hands.
• Rounding Up: Simply rounding up the bill is appreciated for smaller services.
• Tour Guides: Tipping tour guides is customary and a nice way to show appreciation for their service.
• Spas and Salons: A tip of 5-10% is appropriate if a service charge isn’t already included.