VIETNAM

(VND) Currency News >>

CURRENCY:

Dông - VND

DENOMINATIONS:

NOTE: 500,000, 200,000, 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100

COIN: 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500

US DOLLAR ACCEPTED:

Yes

CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS AND ATMS:

It is best to use cash as outside of main cities, ATM machines are scarce and not many establishments will accept cards.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:

The easiest currency to exchange is the US dollar. Note banks may charge commission fees for changing money.

TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:

Best in US dollars and widely accepted in banks and hotels.

BANKING HOURS:

Mon-Fri 0800-1130 and 1300-1600.

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS:

Import and export of local currency is prohibited.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW:

Vietnam is officially called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and is located in Southeast Asia, on the Indochina Peninsula. It has one of the largest populations in the world. It was once a colony of France and the eventual expulsion of the French led to political divides in the country which led to the Vietnam War. This ended in 1975 with Communists victorious. The capital is Hanoi and the official language is Vietnamese.

POPULATION:

Around 86 million.

ECONOMY:

The Vietnam War left the country isolated which hampered economic growth. The communist government took over the economy and implemented collectivization. Trade partners fell away. Today, the country is still relatively poor - much of the population live on less than $1 a day. Vietnam is the largest cashew nut producer in the world, and after Thailand, the second largest rice exporter.