Where's the best place to exchange money?
| Location | Rate | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Bank counters at the airport (BIDV, Vietcombank, EXIM BANK, etc.) | Stable, safe | Good for a small amount right after landing |
| City banks (Vietcombank, etc.) | Stable, safe | Best for larger amounts |
| EXIMBANK counters inside GO Đà Nẵng (formerly Big C) | Good | Recommended |
| Gold shops | Sometimes good | Not recommended as of 2026 |
| Hotel front desk | Often unfavorable | Emergencies only |
| ATM (local cash withdrawal) | Depends on fees | Fine if your card has low fees |
Airport rates tend to be a little worse than in the city, so it's best to exchange only a small amount (roughly the equivalent of $30-70) at the airport bank counters right after arrival, then exchange the larger amount later at a city bank or a licensed counter inside a big supermarket like GO Đà Nẵng.
A quick trick to convert dong prices to yen instantly
Vietnamese dong has so many digits that it's genuinely hard to tell at a glance whether something is expensive or cheap. What solved this for me was the built-in currency conversion feature in the iPhone Calculator app.
- Open the Calculator app and enter an amount
- Turn your phone sideways to switch to the scientific calculator view
- From the unit conversion menu, choose "Currency" and set it to convert Vietnamese Dong to your home currency
- After that, just type the number and get an instant conversion
Once it's set up, you just open the calculator and type. It's fast enough to check while a cashier is waiting, so you can instantly tell "is this about $5 or $20?" It's genuinely useful both for exchanging money and for paying at street stalls.
Do I need cash or a credit card?
Large resort hotels, shopping malls, and chain cafes usually accept cards. Street stalls, small eateries, and local markets are almost always cash-only, so it's safest to carry both.
Is tipping expected?
Upscale restaurants and spas usually already include a service charge in the bill, so an additional tip isn't required. If you'd like to leave something anyway, rounding up is generally more than enough.
How much do I need per day?
A street-food meal runs about $3-4, a restaurant meal about $10-20. A single ride with a ride-hailing app costs roughly $1-3, so budgeting around $15-30 per day for food and transport should leave you comfortable.