The Vietnam Guides

Vietnam Currency 2026: Vietnamese Dong, ATMs and Money Tips

· 2 min read Practical
Vietnam street scene

Contents

  1. Exchange rate reference
  2. ATMs
  3. Exchanging cash
  4. Cash vs card
  5. Tipping

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.