Vietnam Dong: A Comprehensive Guide to the Vietnamese Currency

The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency of Vietnam. It's a vital part of traveling in Vietnam, and understanding it will make your trip much easier.

The Dong is subdivided into 10,000 smaller units called Hào. This is a useful fact to keep in mind when dealing with prices and change.

You can exchange your money for Dong at airports, banks, and currency exchange offices. I've personally had a smooth experience exchanging money at the airport in Hanoi.

One thing to note is that the Dong is a closed currency, meaning it can't be converted to other currencies outside of Vietnam. This is something to keep in mind when planning your trip and budgeting for expenses.

Discover more: When Is Mother's Day in Vietnam?

The first Vietnam dong coins were introduced in 1978, featuring denominations of 1, 2, and 5 hao, as well as 1 dong. These coins were minted by the Berlin Mint in the German Democratic Republic.

The 1976 Series of coins included the 1 hao, 2 hao, 5 hao, and 1 dong denominations, all made of aluminum. The 1 hao coin had a reeded edge and featured the coat of arms on the obverse side.

Here's a brief overview of the 1976 Series coins:

The 1976 Series coins were first minted in May 1978, but their value was eventually lost due to Vietnam's chronic inflation in the 1980s and 1990s.

The French had a significant presence in Vietnam's financial history, and it all started with French Indochina. The piastre, also known in Vietnam as "silver", was the currency used from 1885 to 1952.

Before the piastre, the French introduced a new system of currency that would eventually replace the traditional Vietnamese currency. The piastre was divided into 100 centimes, which were the smallest unit of currency at the time.

The French Indochina period was marked by the introduction of a standardized currency that was used across the region. This move towards a unified currency system was a significant step towards modernizing Vietnam's economy.

The piastre was widely accepted and used in everyday transactions, from buying goods at markets to paying for services. Its widespread use helped to establish a sense of stability and consistency in the economy.

The French Indochina period came to an end in 1952, but the legacy of the piastre lived on as a significant part of Vietnam's financial history.

North Vietnam introduced its own currency, the dong, in 1946 to replace the French Indochinese piastre at par.

The dong underwent two revaluations, one in 1951 at a rate of 100:1 and another in 1959 at a rate of 1,000:1.

These revaluations significantly impacted the value of the dong, and the currency continued to evolve in the years to come.

In 1978, aluminum coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, and 5 hao, as well as 1 dong.

Here's a breakdown of the 1976 Series coins:

These coins were minted by the Berlin Mint in the German Democratic Republic and were circulated until they lost their value due to chronic inflation in the 1980s and 1990s.

South Vietnam had its own currency, denominated in piastres and dong, issued in 1953 for the State of Vietnam, which later evolved into South Vietnam in 1954.

The currency in South Vietnam was changed to a "liberation dong" worth 500 old Southern dong on 22 September 1975, after the fall of Saigon.

The 2003 issue of Vietnamese coins was a significant milestone in the country's currency history. The State Bank of Vietnam resumed issuing coins on December 17, 2003, after a long hiatus.

The new coins were minted by the Mint of Finland and came in denominations of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 dong. They were made from nickel-clad steel or brass-clad steel.

The 200 dong coins were particularly interesting, as they had a diameter of 20 mm, a thickness of 1.45 mm, and a mass of 3.2 grams. They were also nickel-plated steel.

The 2003 series of coins was not without its challenges, however. Some banks refused to accept coin cash deposits or cash in large numbers of coins, prompting laws requiring private and municipal banks to transact and offer services for coins.

A fresh viewpoint: 100.000 Vietnam Dong to Usd

The table below shows the technical parameters of each coin in the 2003 series:

The 2003 issue of Vietnamese coins was an important step in the country's currency history, but it ultimately faced challenges and was withdrawn from circulation in 2011.

The Vietnam Dong has undergone several changes since its introduction. The first notes, introduced in 1978, had denominations of 5 hao, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 dong.

These notes were relatively small, with the 5 hao note measuring 107 × 53 mm. They also had distinct colors and designs, such as the 5 hao note featuring a coconut palm on the reverse side.

The Vietnam Dong has had several series of banknotes, with each series featuring new designs and denominations. The first series, introduced in 1978, was confusing to users due to the lack of unified themes and coordination in their designs.

Here are the dimensions of the first series of Vietnam Dong banknotes:

The first series of banknotes in Vietnam was introduced in 1978 by the State Bank of Vietnam, featuring denominations of 5 hao, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 dong. These notes were dated 1976 and were gradually discontinued between 1980 and 1985 due to inflation and economic instability.

The first dong notes were relatively large, measuring between 107 × 53 mm and 151 × 75 mm in size. The main colors used were purple-brown, brown, purple, green, purple-blue, blue, red-brown, and red.

The first series of banknotes also featured various images and descriptions, such as the coat of arms, coconut palm, Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Corporation, and Ho Chi Minh house. These notes were withdrawn from circulation between 1980 and 1985.

In 1985, a new series of banknotes was introduced, featuring denominations of 5 hao, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, and 500 dong. These notes were also withdrawn from circulation, but banknotes with denominations of 5,000 dong and under are still in wide circulation.

For more insights, see: 20 Dong to Usd

Here are the dimensions of the first series of banknotes:

The second series of banknotes, introduced in 1985, also featured various images and descriptions, such as the flag tower of Hanoi, boats in Hue, and Thang Long bridge. These notes were eventually withdrawn from circulation.

The currency symbol for Vietnam Dong is simply "VND". You'll see it used in various contexts, such as in the exchange rates listed for VND to JOD, VND to NIO, and VND to NPR.

It's worth noting that currency symbols can be quite diverse, but VND is a straightforward and easy-to-remember symbol.

In international transactions, you might come across the VND symbol when exchanging money for Jordanian Dinar (JOD), Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO), or Nepalese Rupee (NPR).