Money & paymentsBy Clever Tourists · Published
Carry cash in Vietnam. Cards work at hotels, malls, chains and some restaurants, but street food, markets, local buses, small guesthouses and tips run on Vietnamese dong. The awkward part is getting it: guides we read report ATM fees from nothing to about 55,000 dong per withdrawal and per-transaction limits as low as 2 or 3 million dong at many banks, so small withdrawals add up. We were in Vietnam from April to May 2023, from Hanoi and Ninh Binh through Hue, Hoi An, Da Lat and Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, and the rule held from the biggest city to the smallest town.
Free toolConvert to your own currency at live rates →Live mid-market rates for all 17 currencies we used, so you can see what a price actually costs.• Hotels, larger hostels and tour operators: Visa and Mastercard are usually accepted, often with a surcharge of a few percent at smaller places.
• Malls, supermarkets, chains and upscale restaurants: card and contactless are standard in Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An's newer shops and Ho Chi Minh City.
• Airport and ride-hailing: apps such as Grab accept card or cash.
Carry two cards on different networks in case one is rejected.
• Street food, markets and small restaurants: the Old Quarter in Hanoi, Hoi An's night market and Can Tho's floating markets all run on cash.
• Motorbike taxis, local buses and small boats.
• Small guesthouses and homestays, especially outside tourist hubs.
• Tips, entrance fees at small sites and tailors.
Our Vietnam tipping guide explains what to leave and why small notes help.
Guides give mixed figures, so confirm on the screen. Reports say most Vietnamese ATMs charge a local fee of roughly 20,000 to 55,000 dong per withdrawal, with some charging nothing; one 2026 guide names VPBank as a fee-free option for foreign cards with a limit of up to 10 million dong, though another says VPBank and ACB are free, so the situation is not settled. Per-transaction limits on big banks such as Vietcombank, Agribank and VietinBank are often reported as 3 million dong, with some sources giving 5 million.
• Do several withdrawals in a row if the limit is low, but be aware that each can carry a fee, and your own bank may charge too.
• Decline any offer to convert to your home currency at the ATM. Choose dong.
• Prefer ATMs inside bank branches, and cover the keypad.
Vietnamese banknotes are bright and many look alike, especially the 20,000 and 500,000 dong notes. Count the zeros before you hand them over, and check your change; our Vietnam safety guide covers common money mix-ups. Keep small notes for taxis and market stalls, because vendors often claim they cannot break big ones.
Do not carry US dollars as a substitute. Prices are in dong, and shops that accept dollars give a poor rate.
Withdraw enough for several days of small spending, then top up. Use our Vietnam trip cost guide to size it. Pay for hotels and tours by card where it is accepted, and keep cash for food, transport and tips. Split your money between wallet, bag and room safe, and keep a backup card.
See cash or card for international travel for the general approach, our Vietnam things to know, and our four-week Vietnam route for where cash mattered most. If you are wondering about water, read can you drink tap water in Vietnam.
In Hanoi a typical day is a hotel by card or cash, a bowl of noodles and a coffee from the street in dong, a cyclo or Grab ride, a museum ticket, an evening beer on the corner and a few tips. In Hoi An the tailors, cafes and markets want cash, though bigger restaurants and resorts take cards. In Da Lat, Hue and Can Tho, plan on cash for most daily spending, and top up at bank ATMs in the city centre before heading to smaller places.
Since vendors often claim they have no change, carry small notes. The 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 dong notes are the useful ones for daily spending.
Save your bank's overseas number before you travel, carry a second card on another network, and keep a small cash reserve separate from your wallet. If an ATM keeps your card, go to the bank branch during opening hours with your passport. Avoid machines in dark corners and use ATMs inside bank lobbies, and cover the keypad as you enter your PIN.
For tours, tailors in Hoi An, hotel bookings and homestay extras, ask in advance how you can pay and whether a card surcharge applies. Some operators add a few percent for cards, and a quoted price in dong may differ from a quoted price in dollars. Confirm the currency on the invoice before paying.
Pay deposits with a card where you can, because a card payment gives you a dispute route, while cash does not.
Yes at hotels, malls, chains and many tour operators, but not for street food, markets, local transport or tips.
Many banks cap foreign-card withdrawals at about 2 to 3 million dong per transaction, with some higher. Check the screen.
Reports range from no fee to about 55,000 dong per withdrawal, depending on the bank. Your own bank may add a fee.
No. Prices are in dong and dollars usually get a poor rate. Withdraw dong from an ATM.
Pay in dong. Choosing your home currency lets the merchant set the rate.
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