arubalad
Oct 17, 08, 2:01 pm
I was in Saigon last year and did not need any local currency. Everyone took and prefered the dollar. I will be in Hanoi this Nov. Is the dollar accepted freely there? or will I need some local money?
Asia - money in hanoi
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Daawgon
Oct 17, 08, 6:18 pm
It's true that you can use the dollar anywhere in Vietnam, but I feel you get a better bang for the buck with Dong. You will usually get your change in Dong anyhow.
Jaimito Cartero
Oct 17, 08, 6:25 pm
I was in HCMC for 9 days. I preferred using VND while there. Often if they they had the price in VND, and you paid with dollars, you got a bad rate (say 14k-15k instead of 16.5k)
I actually got the best rate at the Park Hyatt in HCMC. 16615 to the dollar. The airport was a bit worse. 16k is fairly standard. They give you worse rates for smaller bills, at some shops.
I actually got the best rate at the Park Hyatt in HCMC. 16615 to the dollar. The airport was a bit worse. 16k is fairly standard. They give you worse rates for smaller bills, at some shops.
MrAOK
Oct 18, 08, 4:44 am
atms are widely available.
When i was there last year, most worked fine, but a few didn't work right with american cards. You just walked to the atm a block or two away
When i was there last year, most worked fine, but a few didn't work right with american cards. You just walked to the atm a block or two away
arubalad
Oct 18, 08, 7:24 am
thanks again for the info
SaigonCyclo
Oct 20, 08, 12:22 am
I was in Saigon last year and did not need any local currency. Everyone took and prefered the dollar. I will be in Hanoi this Nov. Is the dollar accepted freely there? or will I need some local money?
If you didn't use local currency, then you lost money. It's best to use the country's local currency. USD are less widely accepted now due to the economic woes in the USA and weakness of the $.
If you didn't use local currency, then you lost money. It's best to use the country's local currency. USD are less widely accepted now due to the economic woes in the USA and weakness of the $.
Jaimito Cartero
Oct 20, 08, 8:56 am
If you didn't use local currency, then you lost money. It's best to use the country's local currency. USD are less widely accepted now due to the economic woes in the USA and weakness of the $.
I agree about using local currency. However, the US dollar has actually strengthened in the last month, considerably against many currencies.
I agree about using local currency. However, the US dollar has actually strengthened in the last month, considerably against many currencies.
SaigonCyclo
Oct 21, 08, 2:27 am
I agree about using local currency. However, the US dollar has actually strengthened in the last month, considerably against many currencies.
Not much against the Dong. Local money changers aren't real excited about exchanging dollars for dong right now.
Not much against the Dong. Local money changers aren't real excited about exchanging dollars for dong right now.
dtsm
Oct 21, 08, 9:12 am
Not much against the Dong. Local money changers aren't real excited about exchanging dollars for dong right now.
Actually the dong has weakened this year vs the dollar, especially the first half of 2008 (when the dollar remained relatively weaker against other asian currency, except Korean Won).
And I prefer to change money at hotels anyway and not with local money changers.
Actually the dong has weakened this year vs the dollar, especially the first half of 2008 (when the dollar remained relatively weaker against other asian currency, except Korean Won).
And I prefer to change money at hotels anyway and not with local money changers.