The official currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong, with the international currency code VND. Prices are normally shown using the symbol ₫.
Common banknotes include:
- ₫1,000
- ₫2,000
- ₫5,000
- ₫10,000
- ₫20,000
- ₫50,000
- ₫100,000
- ₫200,000
- ₫500,000
The large numbers can take a little time to get used to. Check notes carefully, particularly the ₫20,000 and ₫500,000 notes, which have similar colouring but very different values.
Try to keep smaller notes available. A street-food seller, taxi driver or market trader may struggle to change a ₫500,000 note.
Cash is particularly useful for:
- street food and local cafés
- markets and small shops
- taxis and motorbike rides
- tips
- local transport
- rural areas and smaller towns
- occasions when a foreign card is declined
Vietnam’s official tourism guidance says cash is generally used for smaller purchases and street vendors. International cards are more commonly accepted at hotels, tour operators, supermarkets, larger restaurants and established tourist businesses.
Recent travellers also describe using cash for most ordinary daily spending, even when staying in major destinations such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An.
Visa and Mastercard are the most useful international cards. Some businesses may add a card-processing fee, so check the amount before approving the transaction.
Local QR-code payments are widespread, but many require a Vietnamese bank account or compatible payment service. UK visitors should not rely on QR payments as their only way to pay.
For most travellers, the best approach is to carry Vietnamese dong for everyday spending and use a suitable card for hotels, tours and larger purchases.
Over the past 30 days, the pound has weakened against the Vietnamese Dong. The best Vietnamese Dong rate fell by 0.86%, from 32512.8000 on 15 October 2026 to 32234.6000 on 13 November 2026.
This means £1 buys less Vietnamese Dong today than it did at the start of the period.
On a £750 purchase, you would receive about ₫24,175,950.00 today, around ₫208,650.00 less than on 15 October 2026.
Vietnamese Dong rates moved around during the month, ranging from 32234.6000 on 13 November to 32873.2000 on 4 November. That shows why checking live rates before you buy can make a real difference.
Last refreshed at 12:00 on 13 November 2026.