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The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency of Vietnam, and it's essential to know the different denominations to make the most of your trip. The largest denomination is the 500,000 Dong note.
You can easily exchange your money at airports, banks, and currency exchange offices. The exchange rate is usually favorable, especially if you're exchanging a large amount of money.
The Vietnamese government has introduced new currency notes with enhanced security features to prevent counterfeiting. These new notes are slowly being introduced into circulation.
The Dong is divided into 10,000 smaller units called Hào, but you won't need to worry about Hào when using cash, as it's mainly used for accounting and financial purposes.
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Vietnamese Dong Currency
The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency of Vietnam, and it's essential to understand its value in relation to other currencies.
The exchange rate between the Vietnamese Dong (VND) and the US Dollar (USD) is approximately 1 USD = 25,387 VND.
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For travelers, it's more convenient to pay for services in VND, even if some service providers accept credit cards or USD or EUR.
Here's a breakdown of the exchange rates for the top 10 foreign currencies:
Exploring Guide
The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency of Vietnam, and it's widely accepted across the country.
You can exchange your money for Vietnamese Dong at airports, banks, and currency exchange offices.
Vietnamese Dong is available in various denominations, including VND 1,000, VND 2,000, VND 5,000, VND 10,000, VND 20,000, VND 50,000, VND 100,000, VND 200,000, and VND 500,000.
It's essential to have some local currency with you when you arrive in Vietnam, as not all places accept credit or debit cards.
You can also use ATMs to withdraw Vietnamese Dong using your debit or credit card.
Expand your knowledge: Vietnam Dong Sgd
Banknotes in Circulation
The Vietnamese dong currency has a wide range of banknotes in circulation, each with its own unique design and material. The smaller denomination notes are made of cotton paper, with the 100 VND note featuring an image of Pho Minh Tower on the back.
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The cotton family of banknotes includes five denominations: 200 VND, 500 VND, 1,000 VND, 2,000 VND, and 5,000 VND. These notes are often collected by locals and used for gambling during holidays.
The 200 VND note is bronze in color and is quite rare to see being used, as it's not enough to buy anything on its own. The 500 VND note is red and slightly more popular, but still not enough for most small purchases.
The 2,000 VND note is brown, and the 5,000 VND note is blue. These two notes are more common than the others in the cotton family and are often used for small transactions.
Here's a list of the cotton family banknotes:
- 200 VND: Bronze in color
- 500 VND: Red
- 1,000 VND: Purple
- 2,000 VND: Brown
- 5,000 VND: Blue
These cotton notes are easily torn and often damaged by water, which adds to their perceived lower value.
Other Currencies in Viet Nam
You can pay in USD or Euro at some big shops, restaurants, or hotels in Vietnam, but be aware that vendors will convert the price with an exchange rate in their favor.
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Paying in VND is generally the best option, as prices in Vietnamese shops are often given in local currency.
Some vendors may still accept USD or Euro, but the exchange rate will likely be unfavorable to you.
It's worth noting that prices in Vietnamese shops are often given in local currency, making it easier to pay in VND.
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Currency Conversion
Currency conversion is a crucial aspect of traveling to Vietnam, especially when it comes to exchanging currencies. The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the local currency, and it's essential to understand its conversion rates with other popular currencies.
The best way to use these conversion tables is to take a screenshot or download the table that pertains to your own currency. This will serve as a quick reference for you while traveling.
For instance, if you're from the US, you should take note that 1 USD is equivalent to 25,387 VND. This means that if you exchange $1, you'll get approximately 25,387 VND.
Here's a brief overview of the conversion rates for some popular currencies:
These conversion rates will help you estimate how much you'll get in VND for a given amount of your home currency.
Travel and Finance
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Traveling to Vietnam can be a challenge when it comes to understanding the local currency, the Vietnamese Dong (VND). The official currency is divided into two versions: Polymer notes and Cotton notes. Polymer notes are the most widely used and come in denominations of 500,000 VND, 200,000 VND, 100,000 VND, 50,000 VND, 20,000 VND, and 10,000 VND.
The Polymer notes are a game-changer, making transactions much easier. However, the Cotton notes, which include 5,000 VND, 2,000 VND, 1,000 VND, 500 VND, and 200 VND, are rarely used due to their small value.
To quickly convert VND to USD, remove three zeros and divide by 25. For example, if you have 25000 VND, remove the three zeros to get 25, and then divide by 25 to get 1 USD.
For more insights, see: Currency Converter Dollar to Dinar
Money Tips & Exchange
If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, understanding the local currency is a must. The official currency is the Vietnamese đồng, symbolized by ₫ or VND.
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You can exchange your money at bank agencies, which are easily found in big cities in Vietnam. Be sure to exchange it at a reliable store, as exchanging it at an unreliable store may result in you being cheated.
To get a sense of the exchange rates, take a look at these approximate rates for the Vietnamese đồng with popular currency pairings:
To quickly convert from VND to USD, you can simply remove three zeros and divide by 25. For example, 1 USD is equal to 25,471 VND, so to convert 10,000 VND to USD, you would remove three zeros to get 10, and then divide by 25, resulting in approximately $0.46 USD.
Track Your Expenses
Tracking your expenses while traveling in Vietnam can be a bit tricky, especially when dealing with the local currency, the Vietnamese đồng (VND).
The Vietnamese đồng has undergone significant fluctuations over time, so it's essential to keep an eye on the current exchange rate.
A unique perspective: Vietnamese Dong Currency Denominations
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You'll notice that Vietnam no longer uses coins, having phased them out in 2011. The denominations used to be 500₫, 1,000₫, and 5,000₫, but now you'll only find paper notes and polymer notes.
The paper notes come in denominations of 500₫, 1,000₫, 2,000₫, and 5,000₫, while the polymer notes are available in 10,000₫, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 500,000₫.
The 20,000 VND bill and the 500,000 VND bill are particularly tricky to tell apart, as they're both blue in color, so be sure to double-check before making a payment.
To help you keep track of your expenses, here's a quick rundown of the VND denominations you'll need to know:
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you buy with 20,000 dong in Vietnam?
You can buy a bowl of noodles at a street food vendor or a Vietnamese barquette (Banh Mi) with 20,000 Dong in Vietnam. With this amount, you can also consider other options like Vietnamese sweet soup (Che) or Grilled rice paper (Banh Trang Nuong).
Sources
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