Vietnam Travel Money Guide

Vietnam runs on cash. Street food, markets, taxis and most small shops all want dong, and you'll be dealing with a lot of zeros — a single ₫500,000 note is an everyday amount. Get comfortable with the denominations before you go and you'll travel cheaply and easily.

When to exchange

The dong is a high-number currency, so KL changers quote it in large units — check whether the rate is per 1,000 or per 10,000 VND before you compare. Spreads on less common currencies vary more between changers than the majors do, so it's worth comparing a few before you exchange.

Tip: Bring enough dong for your first day or two, then top up from ATMs as you go. You don't want to be carrying millions in cash for a whole trip.

How much cash to bring

A rough daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip:

• Food — ₫150,000–350,000/day (a great street meal is ₫30,000–60,000)
• Local transport — ₫50,000–150,000/day on Grab bikes and taxis
• Attractions — ₫50,000–200,000/day

Watch the zeros

The notes look alike and the counts are big, so slow down at the till:

• The ₫20,000 and ₫500,000 notes are both blue-green — a costly mix-up. Check the number of zeros, not the colour.
• The smallest notes (₫1,000–5,000) are paper; ₫10,000 and up are polymer.
• Quote in "k": locals say "50k" for ₫50,000. It makes prices far easier to track.

Where to exchange in KL

These three changers currently post the best VND rates. Tap to see their branches and live rates:

Payment tips on the ground

• Cash is king — markets, street food and most cafés are cash-only; cards work in hotels, malls and bigger restaurants.
• Pay in dong, not dollars — some tourist spots quote USD, but you'll get a worse implied rate than paying in VND.
• ATMs have low limits — many cap withdrawals around ₫2–3 million per transaction and charge a fee, so plan around that.
• Tipping isn't expected — it's a kind gesture in tourist service, never an obligation.