Plan Your Trip
Money in Hanoi
Vietnam runs largely on cash for smaller purchases, with card acceptance growing fast at hotels and larger restaurants — here's how to handle money without overthinking it.
Understanding the currency
The Vietnamese dong (VND) has a lot of zeros, which trips up most first-time visitors — a coffee might cost 25,000 VND, a hotel room several million. It helps to mentally drop the last three zeros and think in thousands, or simply keep your phone's calculator handy for the first day or two until the numbers start to feel normal.
Getting cash
ATMs are widely available throughout Hanoi, including in the Old Quarter and at the airport, and generally accept international cards. Most charge a withdrawal fee on top of whatever your home bank charges, so withdrawing larger amounts less often is usually cheaper than frequent small withdrawals. Notify your bank of your travel dates beforehand to avoid a card being flagged or blocked.
Where cards are accepted
- Hotels, larger restaurants, malls — card payment is standard and increasingly contactless-friendly.
- Street food stalls, small shops, markets, taxis — cash is still the norm; don't rely on a card working here.
- Grab — supports both cash and in-app card payment, worth linking a card for convenience.
A few practical tips
- Keep some smaller notes on hand — street vendors don't always have change for a large bill.
- Count change, especially at night or when a bill has a lot of zeros to double-check.
- Currency exchange counters and gold shops in the Old Quarter often give competitive rates for cash exchange, sometimes better than the airport or hotel.