Money & Currency
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Fallback rates — November 2026
If the live rate service is unreachable, the converter falls back to this table. Only the USD rate comes from the guides (1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND); all other currencies need a live rate.
| Currency | 1 unit = VND (November 2026) |
|---|---|
| US dollar (USD) | 26,000 |
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Paying in Vietnam
Cash is still king: sightseeing tickets, bike rental and small restaurants mostly take cash or domestic bank transfer. Always carry small notes of 10,000–50,000 VND (~$0.40–2) for parking, drinks and voluntary tips. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels and large restaurants; small restaurants and services at boat piers are not.
Local e-wallets usually need a Vietnamese bank account. For international visitors the easiest cashless option is linking an international Visa/Mastercard to the Grab app to pay for rides without cash. Exchange money at a bank or a large gold shop in town; avoid exchanging through people offering at bus stations or boat piers. The XE Currency app shows live rates when you compare prices at an exchange counter.
Useful apps
- XE Currency — live exchange rates. App Store · Google Play
- Grab — pay for rides with a linked international card. App Store · Google Play
- Xanh SM (Green SM: Electric Mobility) — electric taxi, price shown before you book. App Store · Google Play
Daily budgets by destination
Estimates from each guide, per person sharing a room for two, not including international flights. Prices checked November 2026.
Hanoi
Prices checked November 2026.
Daily budgets per person (not including international flights):
- Backpacker: 700,000-1,200,000 VND (~$27-46) per day. Dorm bed, street food (pho, bun cha, banh mi), walking and GrabBike, one or two ticketed sights.
- Mid-range: 1,500,000-2,500,000 VND (~$58-96) per day. Boutique hotel in the Old Quarter, sit-down restaurants, GrabCar, a water puppet show and two or three sights.
- Comfortable: from 3,000,000 VND (~$115) per day. High-end hotel, private car and driver, guided food tour, fine dining.
Cash is useful for street food, markets and small stalls, but cards are widely accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops. ATMs are everywhere in the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. Currency exchange: use banks or gold shops on Ha Trung Street in the Old Quarter — the rates are usually better than at the airport or hotel, and avoid street money changers. The reference rate used in this guide is 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND. Tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but rounding up the bill or leaving 20,000-50,000 VND for good service is appreciated.
Ha Long
Prices checked November 2026.
Daily budgets per person (not including international flights or the Hanoi transfer):
- Backpacker: 800,000-1,500,000 VND (~$31-58) per day. Small hotel in Bai Chay, street food and the night market, a budget day cruise shared with a group.
- Mid-range: 2,000,000-4,000,000 VND (~$77-154) per day. Mid-range hotel, seafood dinner, a good day cruise or a budget overnight cruise.
- Comfortable: from 5,000,000 VND (~$192) per day. High-end resort or a mid-range overnight cruise, private car, seafood at Hong Hanh.
The sightseeing fee is usually included in the cruise price — confirm before you pay, because a small number of budget boats add the 250,000 VND fee at the pier. Cash is useful for the night market, small restaurants and tips on the boat (a tip of 100,000-200,000 VND per person for the crew is customary on overnight cruises, and entirely voluntary). Cards are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants and Sun World. ATMs are in Bai Chay and Hon Gai. The reference rate used in this guide is 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND.
Ninh Binh
Prices checked November 2026.
The budgets below are estimates built from the ticket, food and lodging prices in this guide (not including international flights or Hanoi - Ninh Binh transport), for one person sharing a room for two:
- Backpacker: 600,000-900,000 VND (~$23-35) per day. Homestay 200,000-300,000 VND for your share of the room, one boat ride per day, local restaurants, shared bicycle and motorbike rental.
- Mid-range: 1,200,000-2,000,000 VND (~$46-77) per day. Mid-range hotel or bungalow, two ticketed sights per day, goat restaurants, limousine return.
- Comfortable: from 2,500,000 VND (~$96) per day. Resort, private car by the day, private tour with a guide.
Cash is still king: sightseeing tickets, bike rental and small restaurants mostly take cash or domestic bank transfer. Always carry small notes of 10,000-50,000 VND (~$0.40-2) for parking, drinks and voluntary tips.
ATMs are in the town center (Hoa Lu Ward) and at a few spots in Tam Coc; withdraw in Hanoi or in town before heading back to the Trang An and Tam Coc area in the evening.
Cards and wallets: Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels and large restaurants; small restaurants and services at the boat piers are not. Local e-wallets usually need a Vietnamese bank account — for international visitors the easiest cashless option is linking an international card to the Grab app to pay for rides without cash.
Currency exchange: exchange at a bank or a large gold shop in town; avoid exchanging money through people offering at the bus station or boat pier. The reference rate used in this guide is 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND. The XE Currency app (download links in the appendix) shows live rates when you compare prices at an exchange counter.
Sa Pa
Prices checked November 2026.
| Level | Daily budget (per person) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 600,000–900,000 VND (~$23–35) | Hostel dorm, street food, one valley trek or Cat Cat, local transport |
| Mid-range | 1,200,000–2,000,000 VND (~$46–77) | Mid-range hotel, guided full-day trek, restaurant meals, taxi |
| Comfortable | From 2,500,000 VND (~$96) | High-end hotel, private guide and car, Fansipan with funiculars, spa |
Cash is still king in the villages — homestays, guides and market stalls take cash only. ATMs are in the town centre; withdraw before heading into the valleys. Larger hotels and restaurants accept Visa and Mastercard. Exchange money at banks in town, not from street touts. Keep small notes (10,000–50,000 VND) for tips, snacks and parking.
Phong Nha
Prices checked November 2026.
| Level | Daily budget (per person) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 600,000–900,000 VND (~$23–35) | Hostel dorm, bicycle, street food, one cave a day |
| Mid-range | 1,200,000–2,000,000 VND (~$46–77) | Farmstay room, two caves a day, restaurant meals, motorbike |
| Comfortable | From 2,500,000 VND (~$96) | Best farmstay, private car and driver, Dark Cave package, good dinners |
Bring cash. Most cave ticket counters are cash-only, and the ATMs are in town, not in the park — withdraw before you head out to the caves. Larger hotels and restaurants accept Visa and Mastercard. There is no reliable currency exchange in town; change money in Dong Hoi or Hanoi before you arrive. Keep small notes for boat tips, parking and snacks.
Hue
Prices checked November 2026. 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND.
- Backpacker: about 700,000–1,000,000 VND (~$27–38) per day — hostel or budget guesthouse, street food, bicycle, one tomb or the Citadel.
- Mid-range: about 1,500,000–2,500,000 VND (~$58–96) per day — comfortable hotel, restaurant meals, Grab, the Citadel combo ticket.
- Comfortable: about 3,500,000 VND+ (~$135+) per day — riverside hotel, private car and driver, boat cruise, fine dining.
ATMs are plentiful on Le Loi Street and around the Citadel; most accept foreign cards and charge 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–1.90) per withdrawal. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but street food, markets, cyclos and boat rides are cash-only. Bring small notes — a 500,000 VND bill is hard to break at a bun bo stall. Currency exchange is available at banks on Le Loi Street; avoid the airport exchange counters, whose rates are poor.
Da Nang
Prices checked November 2026. 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND.
- Backpacker: about 700,000–1,000,000 VND (~$27–38) per day — hostel dorm, street food, Grab, one paid attraction.
- Mid-range: about 1,500,000–2,500,000 VND (~$58–96) per day — comfortable hotel, restaurant meals, taxis, Ba Na Hills or a day trip.
- Comfortable: about 3,500,000 VND+ (~$135+) per day — beachfront resort, seafood dinners, private car and driver.
ATMs are everywhere in the centre and along the beach road; most accept foreign cards and charge 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–1.90) per withdrawal. Credit cards work in hotels, larger restaurants and malls, but street food, markets and small shops are cash-only. Bring small notes — 500,000 VND bills are hard to break at a noodle stall. Currency exchange is available at banks and gold shops on Hung Vuong Street; avoid the airport exchange counters, whose rates are poor.
Hoi An
Prices checked November 2026. 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND.
- Backpacker: about 700,000–1,000,000 VND (~$27–38) per day — hostel or budget guesthouse, street food, bicycle, one or two heritage tickets.
- Mid-range: about 1,500,000–2,500,000 VND (~$58–96) per day — boutique hotel, restaurant meals, Grab, a basket boat or cooking class.
- Comfortable: about 3,500,000 VND+ (~$135+) per day — riverside resort, private driver, My Son tour, tailor-made clothes.
ATMs are plentiful in the Old Town and along the main streets; most accept foreign cards and charge 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–1.90) per withdrawal. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but street food, markets, tailors and boat rides are cash-only. Bring small notes — a 500,000 VND bill is hard to break at a banh mi stall. Tailors usually take a deposit in cash and the balance on collection; agree the total price in writing before they start cutting.
Nha Trang
Prices checked November 2026.
- Backpacker: 600,000–900,000 VND (~$23–$35) per day — dorm bed, street food and market meals, walking and Grab bikes, beach free.
- Mid-range: 1,200,000–2,200,000 VND (~$46–$85) per day — comfortable hotel, restaurant meals, Grab cars, one paid activity a day.
- Comfortable: 3,000,000–4,500,000 VND (~$115–$173) per day — beachfront resort, fine dining, private boat trip, spa and mud bath.
Cash is still the default at markets, street stalls, and small restaurants — carry small notes. ATMs line Tran Phu Street and accept foreign cards, usually with a fee of 50,000–100,000 VND per withdrawal. Cards are accepted at hotels, resorts, and mid-range restaurants. Currency exchange shops on Tran Phu and Biet Thu offer better rates than the airport; gold shops in the old town also exchange cash at good rates. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up or leaving 10% at a sit-down restaurant is appreciated.
Da Lat
Prices checked November 2026.
| Level | Daily budget (per person) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 600,000–900,000 VND (~$23–35) | Hostel dorm, street food and market meals, one or two attractions, motorbike share |
| Mid-range | 1,200,000–2,000,000 VND (~$46–77) | Mid-range hotel, three attractions a day, restaurant meals, taxi |
| Comfortable | From 2,500,000 VND (~$96) | High-end hotel or villa, private car and driver, Easy Rider tour, fine dining |
Cash is useful for markets, small cafes and attraction tickets, though larger hotels, restaurants and attractions accept cards. ATMs are plentiful in the centre. Exchange money at banks in town. Keep small notes for the night market and for parking at the waterfalls.
Ho Chi Minh City
Prices checked November 2026.
- Backpacker: 700,000–1,000,000 VND (~$27–$38) per day — dorm bed, street food, Grab bikes, one paid sight.
- Mid-range: 1,500,000–2,500,000 VND (~$58–$96) per day — comfortable hotel, restaurant meals, Grab cars, two or three sights and a tour.
- Comfortable: 3,500,000–5,000,000 VND (~$135–$192) per day — 5-star hotel, fine dining, private driver, shows and day trips.
Cash is still king at street stalls and markets — carry plenty of small notes (10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 VND). ATMs are everywhere in District 1 and accept foreign cards, usually with a fee of 50,000–100,000 VND per withdrawal. Cards are accepted at hotels, malls, and mid-range restaurants. Currency exchange shops on Le Loi and Nguyen Hue offer better rates than the airport; bring clean, undamaged US dollars if you plan to exchange cash. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up a Grab fare or leaving 10% at a sit-down restaurant is always appreciated.
Can Tho & Mekong Delta
Prices checked November 2026.
| Level | Daily budget (per person) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 500,000–800,000 VND (~$19–31) | Hostel or budget guesthouse, street food, group floating market boat, bicycle |
| Mid-range | 1,000,000–1,800,000 VND (~$38–69) | Mid-range hotel, private boat at the market, restaurant meals, day trip |
| Comfortable | From 2,500,000 VND (~$96) | Riverside resort, private boat and car, guided day trips, fine dining |
Cash is essential on the boats and in the markets — the floating market runs entirely on cash. ATMs are plentiful in Can Tho city; withdraw before heading to the canals or to Chau Doc. Larger hotels and restaurants accept Visa and Mastercard. Exchange money at banks in the city. Keep small notes (10,000–50,000 VND) for boat food, tips and snacks.
Phu Quoc
Prices checked November 2026.
- Backpacker: 800,000–1,200,000 VND (~$31–$46) per day — guesthouse, street food and market meals, rented scooter, beach free.
- Mid-range: 1,800,000–3,000,000 VND (~$69–$115) per day — comfortable resort, restaurant meals, Grab and a private driver for a day trip.
- Comfortable: 4,000,000–6,000,000 VND (~$154–$231) per day — luxury resort, fine dining, private boat trip, spa.
Phu Quoc is pricier than the mainland — transport costs more because everything is spread out, and resort restaurants charge resort prices. Cash is still the default at markets, street stalls, and small restaurants — carry small notes. ATMs are in Duong Dong and at the airport; they accept foreign cards, usually with a fee of 50,000–100,000 VND per withdrawal. Cards are accepted at hotels, resorts, and mid-range restaurants. There are currency exchange counters at the airport and on Tran Hung Dao; rates are better than at hotels. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up or leaving 10% at a sit-down restaurant is appreciated.