[Vietspot Travel Info] Exchanging money for Vietnam, what should I bring — 50,000 KRW bills, $100 bills, or a travel card?

This is VietSpot travel information. Let me sum up Vietnam currency exchange for you in this one post. The conclusion first · You don't need to pick just one method. It's more convenient to split it into three. · Half via travel card + 40% local exchange + about 10% exchanged in advance in Korea works well. · At the airport, only exchange enough for the taxi fare. · You'll spend roughly 70,000–100,000 KRW per day.

■ Can I just take 50,000 won bills with me? Yes, you can. These days, there are places locally that value Korean won just as highly as dollars.

However, not all currency exchanges accept Korean won. Some only deal in dollars, so if you're bringing won, be sure to ask first whether they accept it. ■ Is it more advantageous to exchange for $100? Not necessarily. You also need to factor in the cost of converting won to dollars in Korea in the first place. Since you're exchanging twice, it takes an extra step.

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

· If you're taking cash, newly issued $100 bills are the best condition to have. · 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 on the ground.

· Some bank ATMs have no fees. However, it varies by bank and machine, so please check the fee shown on the screen before proceeding. · Each ATM has a different limit for a single withdrawal. If you withdraw money in multiple smaller amounts, you'll be charged a fee each time.

■ Where can I exchange money · Banks / authorized exchange counters — 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 at least cover your taxi fare here. · Downtown exchange shops — the rates tend to be good. However, please also read the note below. ★ We do not recommend exchanging money at unlicensed places. ...it is not permitted. Vietnam has established rules that foreign currency exchange may only be done at authorized locations. There are places, like gold shops, that will exchange money without authorization and sometimes offer better exchange rates, but if a problem occurs, there is no way to undo it. The larger the amount, the more you should use a bank or an officially authorized exchange office. ■ Do I have 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 exchange counters is usually only a few tens of won, so the taxi fare to get there ends up costing more. Only bother comparing rates when you're exchanging a large amount. ■ How to calculate in Korean won — drop one zero and divide by 2 · 100,000 dong → 10,000 → about 5,000 won · 500,000 dong → 50,000 → about 25,000 won 20,000 VND → 2,000 → about 1,000 won

The denominations actually used most often are 50,000, 100,000, and 200,000 dong. If you also bring a bit of small change in 10,000 and 20,000 dong notes, you'll worry less about getting change.

★ Watch out for the 500,000 dong and 20,000 dong notes Both are shades of blue, so it's easy to hand over the wrong one in a dim restaurant or at a night market. That's a 25x difference. Even the Vietnam Tourism Authority advises travelers to "double-check before paying" when it comes to these two bills. ■ Just these five things, one last time 1. Count your change right on the spot when you receive it. It will be hard to undo once you go outside and start talking. 2. Don't just accept 500,000-dong bills — ask them to mix in 100,000 and 50,000 bills. Street vendors and taxis don't have change. 3. If a bill is torn or has writing on it, ask them to exchange it right on the spot. They won't accept it later. 4. When paying by card, if it shows "Pay in KRW (Korean Won)," decline it and choose VND instead. Otherwise, an extra fee will be added. 5. Leftover VND is hard to exchange back in Korea. Use it up at duty-free shops or on your last meal. Are you getting ready for your trip to Vietnam? From making your Vietnam entry declaration to booking accommodations, restaurants, and massages, you can prepare it all in advance at VietSpots. [[ Fill Out the Vietnam Entry Declaration Form ]](https://vietspots.com/ko/entry-card) [VietSpots Travel Info] Vietnam Arrival Declaration Form — When and How Do You Fill It Out? Starting 3 Days Before, Free, at 5 Airports * Exchange rates and fees change frequently. This information is current as of September 2026, so please double-check the rates on the day when exchanging a large amount of money.