Vietnam is one of the ideal destinations in Southeast Asia that is attracting international tourists. To make your trip to Vietnam more convenient, Phongnha Discovery will guide you on how to distinguish between currencies and use cash in Vietnam.

Official name: Vietnamese Dong

Currency symbol: đ

Currency code: VND

Denominations: - Cotton banknotes 1,000 VND, 2,000 VND and 5,000 VND

                            - Polymer banknotes 10,000 VND; 20,000 VND; 50,000 VND; 100,000 VND; 200,000 VND and 500,000 VND

Features: Vietnamese banknotes come in many different colors, printed with images of famous people and places in Vietnam. Each denomination has its own size and pattern to distinguish them.

How to distinguish Vietnamese currencies

To avoid confusion when paying, you can rely on the following characteristics:

• Color: Each denomination has a different main color.
• Size: The higher the denomination, the larger the bill.
• Image: Observe the image printed on the money to determine the denomination.
• Material: Vietnamese banknotes are printed on polymer material, which is quite durable and difficult to counterfeit.

500,000 VND banknote

- Size: 152mm x 65mm.

- Printing paper: Polymer.

- Overall color: Dark purple.

- Front content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 500,000 VND in letters and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Contents on the back: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Landscape of President Ho Chi Minh's house in Kim Lien - Denomination of 500,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

200,000 VND banknote

- Size: 148mm x 65mm.

- Printing paper: Polymer.

- Overall color: Red brown.

- Contents on the front: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 200,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Contents on the back: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Landscape of Ha Long Bay - Denomination of 200,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

100,000 VND banknote

- Size: 144mm x 65mm.

- Printing paper: Polymer paper, high durability, no impact on the environment, with special security factors such as transparent windows, hidden images or embossed images in the windows.

- Color: Overall decorative patterns and content on the front and back are dark green.

- Front content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" - National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 100,000 VND in letters and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns

- Back content: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Landscape of the Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy - Denomination of 100,000 VND in letters and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

50,000 VND banknote

- Size: 140mm x 65mm.

- Printing paper: Polymer.

- Overall color: Reddish-purple brown.

- Front content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" - National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 50,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Backside content: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Hue landscape - Denomination of 50,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

20,000 VND banknote

- Size: 136mm x 65mm.

- Printing paper: Polymer.

- Overall color: Dark blue.

- Front content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" - National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 20,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Back content: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Landscape of the Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An, Quang Nam - Denomination of 20,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

10,000 VND banknote

- Size: 132mm x 60mm.

- Printing paper: Polymer.

- Overall color: Dark brown on a yellow-green background.

- Front content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 10,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Back side content: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Scene of oil and gas exploitation - The face value of 10,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

5,000 VND banknote

- Size: 134mm x 64mm.

- Printing paper: Cotton.

- Overall color: Dark blue.

- Front side content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" - National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - The face value of 5,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Back side content: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Scene of Tri An hydroelectric plant - The face value of 5,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

2,000 VND banknote

- Size: 134mm x 65mm.

- Printing paper: Cotton.

- Overall color: Dark brown.

- Front content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" - National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 2,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Back content: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Weaving workshop - Denomination of 2,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

1,000 VND banknote

- Size: 134mm x 65mm.

- Printing paper: Cotton.

- Overall color: Purple.

- Front content: The words "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" - National emblem - Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - Denomination of 1,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

- Back side content: The words "State Bank of Vietnam" - Logging scene - Denomination of 1,000 VND in words and numbers - Decorative images of ethnic patterns and modern mesh patterns.

Using currency when traveling in Vietnam

Exchanging money: You can exchange money at the airport, banks, money exchange shops or tourist attractions. Exchange rates may vary depending on location and time.

Payment: Most shops, restaurants and hotels in Vietnam accept cash and credit cards.

Cards, bank fees and ATMs in Vietnam

Bank cards protect you from theft or fraudulent purchases. In many places in Vietnam; Hotels, upscale restaurants and branded shops accept credit cards. Therefore, it is better to use your bank card in this case. Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities in Vietnam.

Using a bank card abroad often results in bank fees for any overseas transaction, usually an additional 3 to 4%. Before coming to Vietnam, it is best to check with your bank.

If you want to withdraw money, you will find a number of ATMs at Vietnam's main airports, but they are also ubiquitous on the streets of major cities near administrative buildings, department stores and restaurants. Please note that ATMs have withdrawal limits. You can usually withdraw a maximum of 10 million VND per transaction. If you are traveling in the countryside, there are fewer vending machines.

Tips for using currency in Vietnam

• Bring many small denominations of money for shopping at markets or small shops.
• Always keep your receipts when paying for payment to check if needed.
• Exchange just enough money to avoid having too much or not enough money

Understanding Vietnamese currency and how to use it will make your trip more convenient and enjoyable. Prepare carefully before coming to Vietnam for a great experience!