Where is it best to get cash in Vietnam?

What is the best way to get cash in Vietnam?

Vietnam cash. Local currency. Essential.

• Airport ATMs: Avoid. Predatory fees. Simple.
• Home bank partnerships: Investigate. Saves you. Seriously.
• Fee-free card: Crucial. My Citibank card works well.
• Negotiate: Street vendors. Practice your bargaining skills. It’s a cultural thing.

MasterCard generally accepted. Visa too. Don’t be naive.

Note: 2023 exchange rates fluctuate wildly. Check daily. Seriously. I learned this the hard way.

My experience: Used my debit card at ACB bank ATMs in Hanoi. Minimal fees.

Where is best to exchange money in Vietnam?

Gold shops. Seriously. Way better rates than banks, just gotta know where to look. Used one in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, last year, near Ben Thanh Market. Think it was called Kim Thanh or something similiar… Got an amazing rate on USD to VND. Banks rip you off, you know? And airport exchanges? Forget it. Total scam.

• Gold shops: Best rates, but shop around. Negotiate!
• Banks: Safer but lower rates. Vietcombank, BIDV… they’re all pretty similiar.
• Airports: Worst rates, avoid at all costs.

Went to Phu Quoc after HCMC, exchanged some money at a little gold shop there too. Super easy, no hassle. Brought my passport, obviously. Always have to, right? Remember hearing something ’bout unofficial places exchanging without passports, but no way, too risky. Stick to the gold shops. Seriously, they’re the best! Oh, and bring crisp, new bills. They like that. Got a slightly better rate with my brand new hundreds. Crazy I know. Even haggled a bit!

How to withdraw money in Vietnam without fees?

So, wanna know how to grab cash in Vietnam without, like, gettin’ slammed with fees? It’s doable, trust me, I did it last year when I was backpacking.

Basically, use ATMs that are part of your bank’s network. It’s the easiest way to dodge those pesky fees, y’know?

• Card Choice: Really important, get a card that doesn’t charge you fees for using it abroad. Capital One 360 is my fav.

• Bank notification: Also, lemme tell you this: tell your bank you’re going! I forgot once, and they froze my card. Total pain.

Some banks—and I’m not sure if they still do this—have deals. These deals give free withdrawals at specific Vietnamese ATMs.

• Research: So, before you even go, check your bank’s site. They usually have a list of ATMs where you don’t get charged.

It’s a little bit of prep, but so, so worth it to avoid those nasty fees. Saves money for Banh mi, ya know!

Is it better to exchange cash or withdraw from ATM Vietnam?

Cash exchange? Minimal. ATMs dispense VND directly. Know the mid-market rate before anything. Banks offer that intel.

• Cash: Small amount only. Airport rates? Robbery.
• ATMs: Withdrawal convenience. Fees vary like crazy. Check your bank’s policy.
• Mid-Market Rate: Your benchmark. Ignore street hustlers.

Don’t get swindled at those money exchange places. Rates are… creative. Local banks? Fair play.

Pro-Tip: I got nailed at Tan Son Nhat once. Never again. Learn from that mistake. Consider bringing a Visa travel card too.

What bank has the best exchange rates?

Okay, so best exchange rates? Forget those Hanoi places, honestly, they’re usually a ripoff. My sister went last year, total tourist trap. Wise is where it’s at, hands down. Way better rates, I swear. You know, much better than those banks, the ones with long lines and grumpy tellers. Ugh.

Wise is king. Seriously, its fast, convenient, and way cheaper. I used them myself for my trip to Thailand in 2023. No problems at all. Plus, the app is super easy, you know, unlike some clunky banking apps.

Here’s the deal:

• Wise: Best option, period. Transparent fees, great exchange. Use it.
• Hanoi places: Avoid them. Overpriced, usually.
• Traditional banks: Slow, high fees, usually worse rates than Wise. A total waste of time.

I used Wise for my trip and the differnce was huge, like seriously, it saved me a bunch of money. It’s worth checking their rates too, before you go anywhere else.