[VietSpot Travel Info] Vietnam Currency Exchange, What Should I Bring? — 50,000 Won Notes, 100 Dollars, Travel Card

This is Vietspot travel info. We'll sum up Vietnam currency exchange in this one post. To cut to the conclusion first · You don't need to pick just one method. It's more convenient to split it three ways. · Half on a travel card + 40% exchanged locally + about 10% exchanged in Korea beforehand works well. · At the airport, only exchange enough for taxi fare. · You'll spend roughly 70,000–100,000 KRW per day.

■ Can I just bring a 50,000 won bill? Yes, you can. These days, there are places locally that accept Korean won just as readily as dollars.

However, not all currency exchanges accept Korean won. Some only handle dollars, so if you're planning to bring won, ask in advance whether they accept it. ■ Is it more beneficial to exchange for 100 dollars? Not necessarily. You need to factor in the cost of exchanging won for dollars in Korea as well. Since you're exchanging twice, you go through the process one extra time.

Compare based on the "actual amount you receive in hand," not the "exchange rate preferential rate." Even if the preferential rate is high, the final amount you receive can still be small.

· If you're bringing cash, new $100 bills are your best bet. · Small denominations like $1, $5, $10 bills, or worn/old bills may get a lower exchange rate or even be refused. ■ What about travel cards? These are overseas payment cards like Travelog or Travel Wallet. There's no currency exchange fee, and you can withdraw local currency directly from ATMs abroad.

· Some bank ATMs don't charge a fee. However, this varies by bank and machine, so please check the fee shown on the screen before proceeding. · The withdrawal limit per transaction differs from ATM to ATM. If you withdraw money in multiple smaller amounts, you'll be charged a fee each time.

■ Where to exchange money · Banks / authorized currency exchanges — these are the places recommended by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration. You'll get a receipt. · Airport — the exchange rate isn't great, but it's better to take care of at least your taxi fare here. · Downtown exchange counters — the exchange rate tends to be good. However, please also check the note below. ★ We do not recommend exchanging money at Vietnam requires that foreign currency exchange be done only at authorized locations. There are places like gold shops that will exchange money without a license and sometimes offer better rates, but if a problem arises, there is no way to reverse it. The larger the amount, the more you should use a bank or an authorized exchange office. ■ Do I need to travel far to find a place with a good exchange rate? If it's a small amount, there's no need to do that. The difference between currency exchange shops is usually only tens of won, so the taxi fare to get there would end up costing you more. Only compare rates when you're exchanging a large amount. ■ How to calculate in Korean won — Remove one zero and divide by 2 · 100,000 dong → 10,000 → approximately 5,000 won · 500,000 dong → 50,000 → approximately 25,000 won · 20,000 dong → 2,000 → approximately 1,000 won

The banknotes actually used most often are 50,000, 100,000, and 200,000 dong. It also helps to keep a few small notes of 10,000 and 20,000 dong on hand, so you won't have to worry as much about getting change.

★ Beware of the 500,000 VND and 20,000 VND notes Both are blue, so it's easy to mix them up in a dim restaurant or a night market. That's a 25 times difference. Vietnam's tourism authority also advises "double-check before paying" regarding these two banknotes. ■ Finally, just these five things 1. Count your change on the spot, right where you received it. Once you take it and leave, it's difficult to reverse. 2. Don't just accept 500,000 dong—ask them to give you a mix of 100,000 and 50,000 bills instead. Street vendors and taxis don't have change. 3. If a bill is torn or has marks on it, ask to exchange it right there on the spot. They won't accept it later. 4. If "Pay in KRW (Korean Won)" pops up when paying by card, decline it and choose VND instead. Otherwise you'll be charged an extra conversion fee. 5. Leftover Vietnamese dong is hard to exchange back once you're in Korea. Use it up at the duty-free shop or on your last meal. Getting ready for your trip to Vietnam? From filling out arrival cards to booking accommodations, restaurants, and massages, you can prepare it all in advance on VietSpot. * Exchange rates and fees change frequently. This is based on September 2026, so please double-check the current rates when exchanging large amounts.