💵Money & Currency in Vietnam

All about money in Vietnam (VND)

In Vietnam, you pay with the Vietnamese dong (VND). The exchange rate is roughly 1 euro = 26,000 - 28,000 VND (rates fluctuate). The banknotes have very high denominations, with the largest note being 500,000 VND, which is only around 18–20 euros. This means you will quickly feel like a millionaire and often carry quite a thick stack of notes.

Smaller bills (10,000 / 20,000 / 50,000 VND) are very useful for street food, local markets, parking fees, small shops, taxis, or short scooter rides. It helps to separate larger and smaller notes in your wallet because many notes look similar in color and size.

Cash vs. card

Cash still plays an important role in everyday life.

Especially in rural areas, small towns, traditional markets, and local eateries, you will almost always pay in cash.

In bigger cities like Hanoi or touristy areas many hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and tour agencies accept credit (usually Visa or Mastercard). American Express is accepted much less frequently.

However, many accommodations or shops charge a 2–3% (or sometimes more!) card fee. Therefore, it is always smart to carry enough cash.

If you book over booking.com - always choose "pay now" instead of pay in cash, so you can save the 2-3%!

ATMs & withdrawing money

ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist destinations. In more remote areas (for example in the far north or countryside), they can be less frequent, so plan ahead.

Important to know:

• Withdrawal limits per transaction are often between 2,000,000 and 5,000,000 VND.

• Some banks charge their own ATM fee (often around 20,000–50,000 VND per withdrawal).

• Your own bank may also charge additional foreign transaction fees.

We recommend using a free travel-friendly debit or credit card, for example Wise or Revolut. We had both and were pretty happy with it, as they usually offer fair exchange rates and allow a certain number of free withdrawals per month, depending on your plan.

Very important:

When withdrawing money or paying by card, always choose the local currency (VND) and decline automatic conversion (“Continue without conversion”). The offered exchange rate is almost always worse.

It is also wise to travel with two different cards as backup!

Overall budget in Vietnam

Vietnam is generally a very affordable travel destination and ideal for backpackers as well as families.

• Street food: very cheap

• Local restaurants: affordable

• Accommodation: excellent value for money

• Buses & trains: inexpensive

• Domestic flights: can be more expensive, especially last minute

If you book flights and accommodation in advance, you can often save a lot.

For reference:

Our family budget was around 160 euros per day (2 adults, 2 kids) including everything - flights, hotels, food, activities, transport. Of course, you can travel much cheaper if you stay longer, eat locally, and move slowly.

And as always:

The longer you travel, the cheaper it gets per day.