How Much Cash Should I Bring to Vietnam? (2024 Adjusted Costs) (2024)

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When traveling to Vietnam, carrying about ₫4,000,000 in cash should be sufficient for your initial 10 days or so. While Vietnam has been adopting card payments and contactless payments in recent years, some small businesses are still cash only. In these cases, we recommend withdrawing what you need from a local ATM using a debit card that waives foreign transaction fees like the Wise Multi-Currency card.

ATMs that are capable of reading your international cards are plentiful in Vietnam. If you really want to exchange cash before you leave home instead (which we strongly discourage), be aware that your bank will impose a US$20 or more fee per transaction in addition to offering very weak VND exchange rates.

Let's calculate your main travel expenses for Vietnam in more detail, and see why travel debit cards like the Wise Multi-Currency card are the best companions for your overseas trips.

Do I Even Need Cash in Vietnam?

In many Vietnamese cities from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An, the need for cash is diminishing as card and contactless payments become more widespread. Major cities, smaller towns, and rural areas are well-equipped for card payments these days.

However, it's a good idea to have some Dong in cash on hand for tips, small purchases, and emergencies.

Standard Travel Costs to Expect in Vietnam in 2024

With accommodation already paid for, your primary expenses will be food and activities.

In terms of food, you could have a frugal ₫300,000 daily food budget, but a more comfortable budget would be around ₫600,000 per day, with the occasional splurge of ₫800,000 to ₫1,000,000 for a fancy meal.

Daily out-of-pocket expenses for transit, museums, and attractions will vary depending on your travel style. You can expect ₫500,000 per person per day as a reasonable estimate, though you might spend more:

• Meals: ₫300,000 - ₫600,000 per day
• Transportation: ₫100,000 per day
• Attractions: ₫100,000 - ₫400,000 per ticket

To get an even more accurate sense of the 2024 cost of living in Vietnam, we've listed a rough estimate of how much daily expenses (plus hotels, for reference) cost based on data from Booking.com and Numbeo's Cost of Living database:

How Much Cash Should I Bring to Vietnam?

While you'll be able to buy many goods and services with a debit or credit card, you may want cash for mom & pop restaurants, small purchases at the corner store, and rides with local transit.

Consider starting the first week with around ₫4,000,000 in cash. We recommend withdrawing this at bank ATMs in the city, or even at the airport.

How Much Cash Should I Bring For 2 Weeks?

For a two-week trip, carrying ₫7,000,000 to ₫9,000,000 in cash should suffice. This amount should cover daily cash expenses and minor purchases while allowing you to use your card for most other transactions.

Cash Limit When Travelling to Vietnam

Keep in mind that if you're bringing more than 15 million VND (or currency equivalent) into Vietnam, you must declare at customs and borders control to comply with money laundering regulations.

Carrying this large amount of cash is also at personal risk to you. Using cards is safer, as it reduces the risk of theft and allows you to freeze your funds in case you misplace your cards.

What's the Best Way to Get Dong in Cash?

The most efficient method for obtaining Dong is withdrawing cash from local ATMs after arriving in Vietnam. Just make sure your debit card does not charge foreign transaction fees to minimize costs. ATMs provide much lower fees compared to airport kiosks or currency exchange at banks.

Wise Multi-Currency Account: Spend Dong Like a Local

In our opinion, Wise is the best all-round option. Its VISA debit card links to an online account and app where you can add, receive, convert, transfer, and spend money in over 50 currencies, including Dong.

The best part is the fees are low and fully transparent. When converting your home currency to the local currency (Dong), Wise applies the real mid-market rate. It charges a minimal fixed fee, often ranging from as low as 0.35% to slightly above 2% for less common currency corridors.

Once you have Dong loaded onto your account, you'll be able to pay with the local currency with your Wise card. You'll be treated as a local cardholder, bypassing both the typical foreign transaction fees and dynamic currency conversions.

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Furthermore, Wise enables you to withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide without incurring any fees, up to a monthly limit of $100 USD. (Third-party ATM fees may still apply.) Once the $100 limit is exceeded, each withdrawal will be subject to a 1.75% fee.

• Free account opening and VISA debit card;
• Fee-free ATM withdrawals of up to $100 per month;
• Free and instant transfers between Wise account holders;
• Noforeign transaction fees;
• Get local bank details in 10 countries;
• Instant notifications on transactions and real-time spending reports;
• Fixed fee ranging from 0.35% to 2% for currency exchange;

More info: Read our Wise review or visit their website.

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