Switch .com Best Exchange Rates .com Best Exchange Rates .com Best Exchange Rates
 

Currency in Vietnam VND - Things to know

Foreign exchange guide to Vietnam and the Vietnamese dong

Vietnam

What currency is used in Vietnam?

The official currency of Vietnam (country code: VN) is the Vietnamese dong, with symbol and currency code VND.

Loading rates...

   
 

Things to know about the Vietnamese dong

Here are some things you might want to know about the Vietnamese dong:

  1. The Vietnamese dong is the official currency of Vietnam. It is represented by the symbol "₫" and is abbreviated as VND.
  2. The dong was introduced in 1978, replacing the South Vietnamese đồng. It is divided into 10 hĂ o and 100 xu.
  3. The physical currency consists of coins and banknotes. The coins come in denominations of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 dong. The banknotes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and 100,000 dong.
  4. The banknotes feature images of famous Vietnamese historical figures, such as LĂȘ Lợi and Hồ ChĂ­ Minh. The design of the currency is constantly being updated, so the physical appearance of the coins and banknotes may vary slightly over time.
  5. The value of the dong has fluctuated over time, due to factors such as inflation and economic instability in the country. In recent years, the value of the dong has been relatively stable, although it has depreciated against the US dollar due to the country's high rate of inflation.

An example Vietnamese dong banknote

 

Travel money for Vietnam

Save money and time by Ordering your Vietnamese dong online from Travelex, you get better rates and can pick up the VND cash locally or even on travel day at the airport.

Another popular option is to use a Pre-paid Travel Card. Your Debit/Credit Card provider will charge you 2% from market mid-rate, but your bank may also charge an extra 3% as an “Overseas Transaction Charge” plus “Overseas ATM” fees for withdrawing cash.

For card purchases if offered a choice of currencies always select to Pay in Vietnamese dong otherwise you may get much worst exchange rates.

 
 

Travel Ideas and Money Tips for Vietnam

Vietnam is one of my favourite places to visit. Seems more raw than Thailand but with a fraction of the tourists. It is also a wonderfully cheap place to visit. Vietnam has only allowed visitors for the last 20 years or so and it has a bit more of a wild feel to it than other countries in the region. Vietnam's long-held position as a travel icon is more than deserved. In no other country is the collision of Southeast Asia's past, present and future so stark. At times, this clash can seem so confronting and confusing as to send even experienced travellers fleeing for the nearest luxury hotel. However, just a little preparation will set you up for the trip of a lifetime.

Can you use US dollars in Vietnam?

The local currency is the Dong (VND). Although a handful of places will accept payment in US dollars most people would much prefer to be paid in Dong, so it is important to keep a good supply of local currency while travelling in Vietnam. Some large stores, hotels and restaurants may accept credit cards but most of them will not! Make sure you check beforehand. Firstly, any establishment that allows credit card purchases will generally only accept Visa and MasterCard.

Something to keep in mind on the first visit to Vietnam is the Dong comes in polymerized notes with multiple zeroes: VND 10,000 is the smallest bill you'll find on the street these days (coins of as low as VND 200 have long been phased out), with the upper limit hit by the VND 500,000 bill. Getting a grip on all those zeroes can be challenging for the first-time visitor to Vietnam. With a little time and practice, buying and spending Vietnamese dong becomes second nature to the Vietnam visitor.

Are there many ATMs in Vietnam?

Exchange outlets and ATMs are available on arrival at the airport, and I found it easy to find ATMs in all of the main cities. In some of the rural and mountainous areas they may not be available so if you plan to get off the beaten path be prepared to carry some Dong with you. Cash rules in Vietnam, though credit cards are accepted in many restaurants, hotels, and shops in Vietnam's big cities.

Fees and charges vary: ATMs near backpacker districts like Pham Ngu Lao in Saigon reportedly charge an extortionate rate of three percent on top of your usual bank charges. More reasonable fees may hover down to about 1-1.5 percent per transaction.

What is the best way to get around in Vietnam?

Getting around Vietnam is usually done by bus or air. Some of the buses are sleeper buses where you are given a cot like bed. This can be very comfortable, even for day trips as you relax back and watch Vietnam's spectacular scenery roll by. Flights are plentiful and can be convenient if short on time, they may be a bit pricey normally however there are often deals on making them much cheaper, sometimes up to half the price.

Taxis with meters, found in most major cities, are very cheap by international standards and a safe way to travel around at night. Average tariffs are about 12,000d to 15,000d per kilometre. However, dodgy taxis with go-fast meters do roam the streets of Hanoi and HCMC; they often hang around bus terminals. Only travel with reputable or recommended companies.

Travel tips for Vietnam.

Spring is a great time to travel in Saigon, Mekong Delta, Hoi An and Hanoi, and Halong Bay. If you choose to go to Halong Bay, stay 2 nights because of the road trip, poor roads, it is a long way to go for 1 night, and you see a lot more in the 2 days.

In what is becoming a popular trail, you can travel up or down the coast of Vietnam on a route that includes the main cities and the ancient and enchanting town of Hoi-an, a must see with its traditional buildings and glowing lanterns all along the riverside. Another must is taking to time to go on a cruise through exotic Halong Bay, one of the most other worldly vistas on the planet.

Despite the grumbles of many visitors, Vietnamese people are mostly just as friendly as their Southeast Asian counterparts. However, unlike in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos - where local residents are genuinely curious about who you are and where you’ve come from - Vietnamese people tend to ignore lost-looking foreigners unless you actually ask for help. But be assured that if you ask a local a question with a smile, you'll almost certainly have it answered and the smile returned.

 
   

USD/VND Market Data

The below interactive chart displays the USD/VND change and UP📈 DOWN📉 trends over the past 1 Year.

 
1 USD =
24795.4We compare provider deals to this wholesale mid-market rate. Read more
VND
My Rates

Manage My Rates   

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What currency should I use in Vietnam?

The domestic currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong.

What is the Vietnamese dong currency code and symbol?

The three letter currency code for the Vietnamese dong is VND — symbol is .

Which countries use the Vietnamese dong?

It is the domestic currency in    Vietnam.

Is the Vietnamese dong a closed currency?

No, the Vietnamese dong is freely available and convertible. See guide: What is a closed currency?

What are equivalent amounts of USD and VND?

Here are some popular conversion amounts for USD to VND (US dollar to Vietnamese dong)*.

USD VND
$ 1 24,795
$ 5 123,977
$ 10 247,954
$ 20 495,908
$ 50 1,239,770
$ 100 2,479,540
$ 250 6,198,850
$ 500 12,397,700
$ 1,000 24,795,400
$ 2,000 49,590,800
$ 5,000 123,977,000
$ 10,000 247,954,000
$ 20,000 495,908,000
$ 50,000 1,239,770,000
$ 100,000 2,479,540,000
USD VND
$ 0.0000 ₫ 1
$ 0.0002 ₫ 5
$ 0.0004 ₫ 10
$ 0.0008 ₫ 20
$ 0.0020 ₫ 50
$ 0.0040 ₫ 100
$ 0.0100 ₫ 250
$ 0.0200 ₫ 500
$ 0.0400 ₫ 1,000
$ 0.0800 ₫ 2,000
$ 0.2000 ₫ 5,000
$ 0.4000 ₫ 10,000
$ 0.8000 ₫ 20,000
$ 2.0000 ₫ 50,000
$ 4.0000 ₫ 100,000

More amounts

*Converted at the current USDVND interbank exchange rate. Calculate actual payout amounts for Send Money and Travel Money exchange rates.

Send Money to Vietnam - Best Rates

To get a good (and fair) exchange rate when sending money to Vietnam you need to find and compare exchange rates for International Money Transfers (IMTs).

The available FX rates for sending money abroad can be very different to the mid-market (wholesale) rate which you see reported online and in the News.

You should especially compare your own bank's exchange rates to those available from Money Transfer specialists to see how much you can save - we make that calculation easy in the below table.


Get a better deal for foreign transfers to Vietnam

When sending money to Vietnam it’s important to compare your bank’s rates & fees with those we have negotiated with our partner money transfer providers. To get a better deal you should follow these 4 simple steps :

  1. Open an account with a BER reviewed FX provider (id docs may be required)
  2. You specify the local or Vietnamese dong amount you want to transfer
  3. Make a local currency domestic transfer for the requested amount to the provider's bank account in your country
  4. Once your funds are received by the provider the converted VND amount will be transfered to the recipient account you specify in Vietnam.

Use the above calculator to compare the exchange rates of FX specialist providers rates versus your bank's standard rates you can hopefully save around 5% and maybe more - end result is more Vietnamese dong deposited into the recipient bank account and less margins and fees kept by the banks!

 

More Country Guides (A-Z)

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z