💵 Easy Guide to Using Vietnamese Money (VND)
1. Know the Basics
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Currency: Vietnamese đồng (VND)
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Common notes: 1,000 → 500,000 VND
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No coins anymore, only paper & polymer notes.
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The biggest note is 500,000 VND (worth around 20 USD).
👉 Tip: Ignore the zeros. For quick math, just think:
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10,000 VND ≈ $0.40 USD
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100,000 VND ≈ $4 USD
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500,000 VND ≈ $20 USD
2. Watch the Zeros
Vietnamese money has many zeros, so:
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10,000 (ten thousand) is very different from 100,000 (one hundred thousand).
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Always double-check before paying.
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👉 Easy trick: Count the color instead of zeros.
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Green = 10,000
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Red = 200,000
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Blue = 500,000
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3. Cash Is King
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Most street food, taxis, and small shops take cash only.
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Use big bills (500,000) for hotels or big restaurants.
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Keep small notes (10k, 20k, 50k) for everyday spending.
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4. Exchanging Money
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Exchange at banks or official money changers, not on the street.
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ATMs are everywhere and safe; withdraw directly in VND.
5. Paying in Real Life
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Street food: usually 20k–50k per dish ($1–2).
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Coffee: 25k–40k.
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Taxi/Grab short ride: 50k–100k.
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Tipping: not required, but rounding up is nice.