Is cash still widely used?
Yes, widely. Street food stalls, local markets, motorbike taxis (Grab bike), guesthouses, and most small restaurants operate cash-only. Even in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, a large share of everyday transactions happen in dong.
ATMs and withdrawing cash
ATMs are plentiful in cities and tourist areas. Vietcombank and Techcombank ATMs are the most reliable for foreign cards.
- Most ATMs charge a fee of around 44,000 VND per withdrawal for foreign cards
- Daily withdrawal limits can be low (around 2-5 million VND per transaction)
- Withdraw from bank-branded ATMs rather than standalone machines to avoid extra fees
Card acceptance
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at mid-range and upscale hotels and restaurants in major cities and tourist areas. Local eateries and transport are almost entirely cash-based.
Tips for travelers
- Always carry dong in small denominations for street food and markets
- The large denomination notes (500,000 and 200,000 VND) can be hard to break at small vendors
- USD is widely accepted in tourist areas, but you’ll often get a worse rate than paying in dong
- Be aware of ATM skimming — use machines inside bank branches where possible