What currency does Vietnam use?

Vietnamese dong (VND). Notes commonly used are 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 500,000 dong. As a guide: 25,000 VND ≈ 1 USD, 30,000 VND ≈ 1 GBP. Check current rates before travel.

Can I use USD in Vietnam?

USD is informally accepted in some tourist businesses and higher-end establishments in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but it's not the norm. It's best to use dong for most transactions - you'll get better value and avoid confusion with change.

Are ATMs easy to find in Vietnam?

Yes in cities. ATMs are plentiful in Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, Hoi An, and other tourist centres. In rural areas, ATMs are less common - withdraw cash in advance before visiting remote areas, the Mekong Delta, or the northern highlands.

Vietnam Currency | The Vietnam Guides

The Vietnamese Dong (VND, symbol ₫) is the only legal tender for most transactions in Vietnam. Large denominations can be confusing at first - a ₫500,000 note is worth $20 USD. Understanding the denomination scale quickly is worth the effort.

Exchange rate reference

This guide uses ₫25,000 = $1 USD as the working rate. The actual rate fluctuates - check current rates at XE.com before travel.

Common denominations: ₫500,000 (the large purple note, ≈$20), ₫200,000 (gold/red, ≈$8), ₫100,000 (green, ≈$4), ₫50,000 (blue/green, ≈$2), ₫20,000 (blue, ≈$0.80), ₫10,000 (red, ≈$0.40).

Note that ₫500 and ₫1,000 coins/notes exist but are rarely used in practice.

ATMs

ATMs are available in all cities and major tourist destinations. Less common in remote highland areas (Ha Giang town has ATMs; the villages on the Ha Giang Loop do not).

ATM fees: Vietnamese bank ATMs charge a per-transaction fee of ₫20,000–85,000 ($0.80–3.40) depending on the bank. Agribank and BIDV tend to have lower fees than Vietcombank.

Withdrawal limits: Most ATMs dispense ₫3,000,000–5,000,000 ($120–200) per transaction. You may need multiple transactions for larger amounts.

International card fees: Your home bank may add a foreign transaction fee (typically 1–3%) and a currency conversion fee on top of the ATM fee. A travel-specific card (Revolut, Wise, Charles Schwab in the US) with fee-free international ATM withdrawals saves significant money over a long trip.

Exchanging cash

Airports: Airport exchange rates are poor. Take enough local currency at the airport for the first taxi/Grab only - exchange or use ATMs in the city.

Gold shops (tiem vang): Local jewellery and gold shops in city centres often offer competitive exchange rates for USD cash. Rates may be better than banks. Exchange bureaus in tourist areas are reliable but rates vary.

Best foreign currency to bring: US Dollars are the most useful foreign currency for Vietnam (can be exchanged everywhere, many transactions in tourist areas accept USD). Euros and other major currencies exchange easily in cities.

Cash vs card

Vietnam is predominantly a cash economy:

Street food, local restaurants, markets: cash only
Grab: credit card option available in the app
Hotels and upscale restaurants: credit cards usually accepted
Shopping, tours, activities: many accept card; many prefer cash

Carrying ₫500,000–1,000,000 ($20–40) in mixed denominations at all times is practical. Keep large notes separate from small change - many street vendors cannot break a ₫500,000 note.

Tipping

Tipping is not deeply embedded in Vietnamese culture but is appreciated in the tourism sector:

Restaurants: rounding up or adding ₫20,000–50,000 ($0.80–2) is appreciated, not required
Upscale restaurants: 10% tip is normal
Tour guides: ₫50,000–150,000 ($2–6) per person per day is standard
Motorbike/Easy Rider guides: ₫100,000–200,000 ($4–8) per day at the end of a multi-day loop
Hotel housekeeping: ₫20,000–50,000 ($0.80–2) per night in mid-range to upscale hotels

Do not tip at local street food stalls - it’s unusual and may cause confusion.

Mobile payments and cashless options

Vietnam’s mobile payment ecosystem has grown rapidly. QR code payments (VietQR, MoMo, ZaloPay, and VNPay) are now accepted at many local markets, restaurants, and convenience stores. As a foreign visitor without a Vietnamese bank account, you cannot link to these systems directly — but some platforms support international Visa/Mastercard linking.

Grab app: The ride-hailing app accepts international credit cards and allows cashless payment for rides and food delivery. This works throughout major cities.

International Visa/Mastercard: Accepted at hotels, upscale restaurants, tourist agencies, and some chain cafes (The Coffee House, Highlands Coffee). Not accepted at local street stalls, wet markets, or most local restaurants.

Practical conclusion: Plan to use cash for 70–80% of daily spending in Vietnam. Keep ₫500,000–1,000,000 ($20–40) in mixed denominations on hand, with a mix of ₫500,000, ₫100,000, and ₫50,000 notes. Most transactions under ₫100,000 ($4) — street food, transport, market purchases — will require small notes, and breaking a ₫500,000 note at a small vendor is often awkward.

Emergency access to money

If you lose your card or run out of cash, Western Union and MoneyGram have locations in all major Vietnamese cities. Transfers from family or friends at home can be received same-day. Agribank and Vietcombank branches process international wire transfers for account holders, though this requires opening a local account.

Useful links:

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Vietnam Currency 2026: Vietnamese Dong, ATMs and Money Tips