Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Travel money guide: Vietnam

Sort out your currency and travel card options before your big trip to the land of rice fields and rice paper rolls.

Avatar

By

Jonathan Choi

Updated

Fact checked

Vietnam is all about fun experiences on the cheap. You've probably heard all about the $2 pho, the $1 Saigon beer and the cheap-as-chips sailing trips to Halong Bay. But cheap or not, what's the best way to actually pay your way through the country?
Understand when to use your cards and when cashTravel card, debit card or credit is king or learn all about the Vietnamese currency, called the dong, to make your holiday that much easier.

Compare your travel money options for Vietnam

You have a slew of money options in Vietnam with the choice of credit card, debit card and travel card as well as traveller's cheques and, of course, cash. A combination works well to make sure you have access to money when you need it.

1 - 3 of 3
Updated regularly
Name Product Foreign currency conversion fee Interest-free period Purchase rate p.a. Annual fee
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard
0%
Up to 55 days on purchases
26.99%
$0
Save with 0% international transaction fees on purchases. Plus, complimentary Flight Delay Pass and global data roaming.
Go to site
More Info
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
0%
Up to 55 days on purchases
0% for 12 months, then 12.99%
$69
Get 0% p.a. interest on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months (with a 2% BT fee). Plus 0% foreign fees and complimentary overseas travel insurance.
Go to site
More Info
Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
Finder Award
Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
0%
Up to 55 days on purchases
14.99%
$0
Get 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 28 months (with a 3% BT fee), ​an ongoing $0 annual fee and 0% foreign transaction fees.
More Info
loading
1 - 2 of 2
Updated regularly
Name Product Available Currencies ATM Withdrawal Fee Initial Load Fee Reload fee
Wise Travel Money Card
Wise Travel Money Card
AUD,USD,CAD,EUR,GBP,JPY,NZD,SGD

2 free ATM withdrawals per month up to AUD$350, then AUD$1.50 and 1.75% per withdrawal

$0
$0
Hold and spend funds in more than 40 currencies, with competitive exchange rates and $0 fees for the first 2 ATM withdrawals (up to AUD$350) per month.
Go to site
More Info
Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard
Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard
AUD,USD,CAD,EUR,GBP,HKD,JPY,NZD,SGD,THB,AED
USD $2.50, EUR €2.50, GBP £2.00, NZD $3.50, THB ฿80.00, CAD $3.50, HKD $18.00, JPY ¥260.00, SGD $3.50, AUD $3.50, AED 10.00
$0 (via online) or $0 (via branch)
$0
More Info
loading
1 - 3 of 3
Updated regularly
Name Product Card access Own network ATM fee Monthly Account Fee Internatonal ATM Fee Foreign transaction fee
Westpac Choice
Westpac Choice
Mastercard
$0
$5
3%
Take advantage of Westpac's Global Alliance and save on overseas ATM fees at over 50,000 locations worldwide with fee-free cash withdrawals.
Go to site
More Info
HSBC Everyday Global Account
Finder Award
HSBC Everyday Global Account
Visa
$0
$0
0%
Earn 2% cashback on tap and pay purchases.


Go to site
More Info
Great Southern Bank Everyday Edge Account
Great Southern Bank Everyday Edge Account
Visa
$0
$4.50
2.95%
Go to site
More Info
loading

What's in this Vietnam travel money guide?

How much dong do I need to bring to Vietnam?

Vietnam is a budget destination. Compared to Australia, accommodation, food and tourist activities cost a fraction of the price. If you have expensive taste, it's easy to find a 5-star experience with prices to match.

HanoiBudgetMidrangeExpensive
sleep

Hostel dorm bed

$5 - $15 AUD per night

2 star hotel

$15 - $30 AUD per night

5 star hotel

$150+ AUD per night

food

Budget meals
at a cafeteria

$1.50 AUD

Western breakfast/lunch

$2.50 AUD

Western style steak

$25 AUD

cruiseSightseeing at
Hoan Kiem Lake and Turtle towerFree		Walking tour of Hanoi old town
$30 AUD per person		Halong Bay overnight cruise
$190 AUD per person

*Prices are approximate and are subject to change.

Exchange rate history (AUD to VND)

The Australian dollar has weakened against the dong in past years and sits at about pre-GFC levels. If you believe the trend of the weakening Aussie dollar will continue, you can lock in a rate using a prepaid travel money card or traveller's cheques.

YearAverage annual exchange Australian Dollar (AUD) to Vietnamese Dong (VND)
201221705.192425
201320312.858604
201419075.280590
201516634.405486
201617317.830256

*Exchange rates are accurate as of 4 September 2017

Today's exchange rate AUD to VND

Back to top

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

Credit cards can be used for big-ticket purchases in Vietnam. For example, in Hanoi mid- to high-end hotels, restaurants and retailers will take Visa and Mastercard branded products. American Express credit cards and prepaid travel cards are accepted in fewer places.

Everywhere else you'll need to pay with cash. Compare travel money products to take to Vietnam based on the cost to withdraw from ATMs. Credit cards can be used to make purchases, they should not be used to withdraw cash from an ATM. Use a debit card or travel card to withdraw cash.

Travel money options for Vietnam at a glance

Travel money optionProsConsiderations
Debit cards for travel
  • Can be used to shop over the counter, online and for ATM withdrawals in Vietnam
  • Protected by PIN & chip
  • Spending your own money means avoiding interest charges
  • International ATM withdrawal fees and additional currency conversion fees may apply
  • Not a credit product. No emergency funds available though a cash advance facility.
Prepaid travel money cards
  • Able to lock in exchange rate when you convert AUD to VND
  • Secured by PIN & chip technology
  • Emergency card replacement and backup cards
  • Easily reloadable via a secure online platform
  • Only 1 Australian product supports Vietnamese dong
  • Comes with back and front end fees such as card issue, initial load, reload and inactivity fees.
  • Some travel cards charge for inactivity fee
Credit cards for travel
  • Can be used for big ticket purchases in Vietnam
  • Protected by PIN & chip
  • Accepted worldwide
  • Some credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance
  • Interest-free days when you pay your account in full
  • Emergency card replacement
  • Interest fees and cash advance charges apply upon cash withdrawal
  • Card scheme zero liability guarantees don't apply in a credit card with a positive balance
  • Higher spending limit (depends on your approved credit limit)
  • Attracts an annual fee
Traveller's cheques
  • Security is the main advantage - cheques have unique serial number and can only be cashed with photo identification
  • Availability to cash at banks
  • Secure and can be easily replaced if lost or stolen
  • Card schemes such as Mastercard give you a money back guarantee if you're a victim of card fraud
  • Institutions charge a commission to cash traveller's cheques
  • Fees for purchasing and cashing traveller's cheques may apply
  • Currency exchange rate varies over time
Cash
  • Greater payment flexibility
  • Convenience
  • More difficult to manage expenses
  • Higher risk of theft

This table is a general summary of the travel money products in the market. Features and benefits can vary between cards.

How travel money products work in Vietnam

Using credit cards

A travel-friendly credit card will waive the additional charge for currency conversion. Two financial institutions which provide products offering this feature: GE Money and Bankwest.

The Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard is a favourite credit card product in the travelling community. This card doesn't charge for currency conversion when you use it in Vietnam, and it doesn't charge an annual fee. Similarly with Bankwest platinum credit cards, Bankwest also don't charge a fee for international ATM withdrawals when you use their platinum products.

However, interest fees and cash advance charges apply when you use your credit card to withdraw cash. You can avoid the cash advance interest rate and the cash advance fee when you load your own money onto your credit card. But remember, the card scheme zero liability guarantees don't apply if you're using your card which has a positive balance.

Using travel money cards

The CommBank Travel Money Card is the only product available which supports spending in Vietnamese dong. Prepaid travel cards such as the Qantas Travel Money do not charge a currency conversion fee when you spend in a currency not held on the card. However, most other products will apply a fee in this instance, which is as high, if not higher, than the fee you'll pay using a regular debit card in Vietnam.

Another benefit of using a travel card overseas is the supplementary card you can use if your primary card is lost or stolen. Being able to lock in your exchange rate when you convert Australian dollars to Vietnamese dong is another upside that comes with travel cards. These benefits come at the cost of back and front end fees such as card issue, initial load, reload and inactivity fees.

  • Tip: Financial institutions which provide a travel card also make money by applying a higher margin to the exchange rate. You can get a better rate using a debit card or credit card.

Using debit cards

A travel debit card could be a good travel money choice to take to Vietnam. You're spending your own money, which means you avoid interest charges, and a travel friendly transaction account can waive the fees for currency conversion and international ATM withdrawals. The Citibank Plus is one such account. Citi waive the fee for international ATM withdrawals, the fee for international ATM withdrawals and don't charge a monthly account keeping fee.

  • Tip: A debit card can be used to shop over the counter, online and for ATM withdrawals in Vietnam.

Using traveller's cheques

Security is the main advantage of using traveller's cheques. Each cheque has an unique serial number and can only be cashed with photo identification. Price is the main disadvantage. Institutions charge a commission to cash traveller's cheques — Vietcombank will not charge a commission to cash cheques, you're better off using a debit card or travel card which lets you make cheap or free ATM withdrawals to get dong.

Taking cash with you

Cash is king in Vietnam, so you'll need cash for most transactions. Make sure the VND banknotes you get back are not torn or damaged. VND is paper money and more fragile than Australian dollars. Many restaurants and shops won't accept damaged banknotes, so it's important to place your cash carefully in your wallet.

Exchanging cash

You can get Aussie dollars changed to dong at banks, Vietcombank doesn't charge a commission. The money changing black market is easily accessible, and illegal, so always get your money changed at a licensed institution such as bank or money changer. The exchange rate is better than the black market and, more importantly, legal.

Using an ATM

Mastercard and Visa cards can be used to make cash withdrawals from the majority of ATMs in Vietnam. The maximum withdrawal limit varies depending on the machine. Machines from banks with a presence in Australia such as HSBC, Citi, ANZ and CBA have a higher daily withdrawal limit (6,000,000 - 10,000,000VND) compared to ATMs from Vietnamese banks. You might also be charged ATM operator fee. 50,000VND is a common charge; however, Vietnamese banks can charge a lower fee (for a lower withdrawal limit).

Back to top

Dean's trip to Vietnam

Dean spent two months in Southeast Asia. His trip in the region included a 1 month adventure in Vietnam. He flew from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh, he finished his trip in Hanoi and took a bus to Laos. He was there for the Tet festival in December, which Dean says is not to be missed.

Where did you go?

Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Hoi An and Hanoi.

What cards did you take?

Why did you take these cards?

Dean says he took the Citibank Plus Visa card because it doesn't charge a fee for currency conversion, it has no monthly account fee. Most importantly, there is no international ATM charge from Citi when he made ATM withdrawals. He took the Commonwealth Bank Low Rate because it offered interest-free days, as long as he paid the balance off in full by the due date on his statement. This gave him time to pay back some of his bigger purchases like flights.

Where could you use these cards?

Dean says Vietnam is a cash economy. He says that you can tell pretty quickly where you can and can't use your cards, and if in doubt he says you can always ask. He used cash for most of his transactions in Vietnam. He says he used his card when he went shopping at department stores and businesses inside shopping centres. He also used his card to pay for a couple of nights stay in 2 and 3 star hotels too. The rest of the time he stayed in boarding houses, which were cash only. He also used his cards to pay for flights, but the bus ride out of the country was cash only.

Tell us about ATM withdrawals in Vietnam.

Dean says he made withdrawals from Vietnam bank ATMs when he could. He says there was a charge of about $3 - $4 dollars each time he made a withdrawal from a non-Citibank ATM. He says he didn't have any trouble using ATMs affiliated with the following banks: CBA, ANZ, BIDV, Techcom and Vietcombank. Dean says he was charged the local ATM operator fee when he used his Citibank Plus Transaction Account to make an ATM withdrawal except when he used a Citibank ATM. Furthermore, he says Citibank had the highest ATM daily withdrawal limit of 8,000,000VND or about AUD$400.

What are your travel money recommendations for Vietnam?

Dean says the Citibank Plus is a traveller's best friend. Regularly, ATM withdrawals can cost up to $20 each transaction. The $5 charge for international ATM withdrawals and a $10 fee for currency conversion (for withdrawals of a couple of hundred at a time) can be avoided using the Citibank Plus. He says a card with no currency conversion fee and no international ATM withdrawal fee is the best option.

Do you have any other travel money tips?

Dean says make sure you do the following:

  • Tell your credit card and debit card provider about your travel plans in Southeast Asia.
  • Make sure you're covered by travel insurance.
  • You're going to have a bit of cash on your person. Use a money belt when you're out and keep any valuables in a safe (if your accommodation offers one).
Back to top

A guide to the Vietnamese dong banknotes

The Vietnamese dong is the major currency used in Vietnam. The dong comes in these denominations: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 200,000. The notes are different colours. Double check to make sure you pay the right amount and you get the right change back. Familiarising yourself with how the currency works and looks (using the images below) will help you avoid confusion when handling your money on your holiday.

1,000 dongimage042,000 dongimage00
5,000image0110,000 dongimage02
20,000 dongimage0350,000 dongimage06
100,000 dongimage07200,000 dongimage05

Buying Vietnamese dong in Australia

While you'll get a better rate if you wait to get Vietnamese dong in Vietnam, you can purchase dong in Australia from your bank or a foreign exchange provider such as Travelex. If you're flying into Vietnam directly, and you want to get a Visa On Arrival (VOA), you're going to need to pay a fee when you pass through customs. There are ATM facilities at Vietnam's international airports, so you'll save time if you have some dong in your pocket when you land. Have a look at the following institutions if you want to exchange cash in Australia.

  • American Express
  • Australia Post
  • Commonwealth Bank
  • Travelex
Australia Post and Travelex also have foreign exchange locations at international airports in Australia where you can pick up dong before you get on the plane.

Find cash, banks and ATMs in Vietnam

Why you'll need a combination of travel money options

You'll need a product which lets you withdraw cash from ATMs without too many added costs. Although card acceptance is on the rise in major Vietnamese cities, you won't be able to use your credit card, debit card or travel card to make over the counter purchases in the majority of places throughout Vietnam. A credit card is an essential item to take with you on holiday to Vietnam. As well as the security of a line of credit, you'll also receive peace of mind if you pick up a card that offers complimentary travel insurance and increased rewards earn rates when you use your card overseas.

Vietnam is a popular destination for Australian travellers. Hundreds of thousands of Aussies visit the country every year keen to experience the country's natural beauty and rock bottom prices. If you have any questions about travel money in Vietnam, get in touch with us the form at the bottom of this page.

Back to top

Find travel insurance for your trip to Vietnam

Made a search before? Retrieve your search results

At least one destination is required
Both dates are required
Add more travellers
Enter the age of each traveller between 0 and 99

Enter a valid email address

At least one destination is required
Starting date is required
Add more travellers
Enter the age of each traveller between 0 and 99

Enter a valid email address

Type or select country destination(s)

Popular Destinations

Americas
Asia
Europe
Pacific
Africa
Can't find your destination? Just type it in the box above.

We compare products from

By submitting this form, you agree to Finder's Terms of service and Privacy & Cookies policy.
Back to top

You might also be interested in:

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and 6. Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    MareaOctober 20, 2018

    From Vietnam, I’m going on to Cambodia. I’ve been told to bring a passport sized photo plus 80 USD for the visa upon arrival. Why USD? I was going to bring a travel card with Australian dollars and dong only.

    Reply
      AvatarFinder
      JeniOctober 20, 2018Finder

      Hi Marea,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      USD is the chosen currency of the Cambodian government on tourist visa payments however their local currency is riel. You may pay for your Cambodian tourist visa using your travel card, so long that it has a Mastercard or Visa logo on it.

      Tourist visas are available on arrival at the Phnom Penh or Siem Reap international airports, for $30. You can also get an eVisa online before you travel through the e.visa Kingdom of Cambodia website.

      Visa fees, conditions and photograph requirements are subject to change. Please check the Royal Cambodian Embassy, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation website for the latest information on fees, conditions and photograph requirements and on how to apply for an e-visa.

      I hope this helps.

      Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    ElbrayDecember 28, 2016

    What is the best currency to load onto qantas cash card for use in Vietnam?

    Reply
      AvatarFinder
      DeeDecember 28, 2016Finder

      Hi Elbray,

      Thanks for reaching out.

      Since Qantas Cash with Qantas Card does not support the Vietnamese dong, you can load your card with AUD and still use it in Vietnam without incurring overseas transaction fees. AUD is the first default order of priority in case you are using this card in an unsupported currency.

      If you want to check your other travel money options to Vietnam, you may want to check out our travel money guide to Vietnam.

      Cheers,
      Anndy

      Reply
Go to site