Paying in Vietnam

Hi everyone, I have a Visa card with international option. How do I pay in Vietnam? Hotels booked on Booking—do hotel owners charge a commission? How do I withdraw money? ATM fees? Where can I exchange euros at the lowest cost? Thanks in advance for your tips! Larri

Hello everyone, I have a Visa card with international option. How to pay in Vietnam? Hotels booked on Booking; do hotel owners take a commission? How to withdraw money? ATM fees? Where to exchange euros at the lowest cost? Thanks in advance for your answers, Larri

Good evening, If you’ve already booked on Booking, the rate is fixed, so you won’t have any surprises.

Credit cards are widely accepted in tourist areas, restaurants, etc. I paid a lot directly with my phone. I just checked: for an ATM withdrawal of 3 million dong, the fee was around 50,000 or 55,000 dong (less than 2%). I don’t bother with exchanging money while traveling—no significant savings compared to using a card or withdrawing cash—and I don’t want to carry large amounts of euros, so I can’t really advise you on that.

Hi and thanks for your reply

Hi there, I’ve been in Vietnam for a month now, from north to south. It’s really inconsistent. I’ll give you a bit of a rambling answer, but it’s all from my experience. Cards are sometimes accepted and sometimes not. Sometimes there’s a 3 or 4% fee, sometimes not. For withdrawals, go to VP BANK ATMs—no fees for withdrawals up to 5,000,000 dong. There are fees if you withdraw more. Why???

Hello and thanks to everyone for your replies! Larri

Hi Watch out for international Visa cards—some banks can charge huge fees on payments. Opt for online banks like Revolut or BoursoBank; they offer free cards with low fees. ATMs on-site (especially ATMs) can also add to the cost. Check which networks your bank partners with.

Hi,

I’m currently in Vietnam.

I’ve used my international Visa card twice to withdraw cash from an ATM. The Vietnamese bank fees were around 4.5%, not counting my own bank’s hefty charges.

Personally, I prefer using cash (banks, exchange offices).

For hotels booked on Booking.com, the site’s commission is already included in the price you pay.

Just so you know, since I don’t book anything in advance, I’ve noticed that by booking rooms directly with hotel owners, their prices are often lower than those listed on booking sites.

I just checked: for an ATM withdrawal of 3 million Dong, the fee was around 50,000 or 55,000 dong (less than 2%)

For a withdrawal of 3 million Dong (around a hundred euros), I was charged 130,000 Dong (4.3 €) in fees by the Vietnamese bank (Agribank). The fee amount was displayed before confirming the transaction.

Hi,

Hotels charge fees if you pay on-site instead of using sites like Booking—around 3–4%, as mentioned. For withdrawals, several Vietnamese banks don’t charge fees but have limits between 3,000,000 and 15,000,000 VND per transaction or per day, depending on the bank. I always go to VP Bank. Here’s a list: Where to Withdraw Money Without Fees in Southeast Asia?

Good evening, Of course, by booking through Booking.com, you pay more than if you book directly—the price the hotelier asks for includes the site’s commission. For payments, throughout Southeast Asia, I’ve gotten into the habit of paying in the local currency. Often, the price is more favorable, and you avoid the commissions mentioned in previous posts. Don’t forget that "off the beaten path" (what used to be called "off the classic circuits") often means no ATMs. For exchanging money: compare rates between exchange bureaus and jewelry shops. Safe travels!

🙂 thanks for this practical info

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Opt for online banks like Revolut or BoursoBank—they offer free cards with low fees.

- BoursoBank provides free debit cards with 0% foreign transaction fees.

Oops.... @ Ostine, I meant to say thanks for the VP Bank info—it’ll come in handy!