Southeast Asia

Money, cards and tipping in Vietnam

Capital: HanoiVietnamese, English, French, ChineseUpdated October 2026

VNDDong

Money in Vietnam

Mixed: cards and cash Cash (dong) rules at street food, markets and small shops; cards work in hotels, malls and chain cafés. Locals pay almost everything by bank QR. US$1 ≈ ₫25,953.96 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: Not expected; locals don't tip. Round up for drivers, and tip guides and spa staff for good service.
ATMs: Foreign-card fees run roughly 20,000–110,000 VND per withdrawal and limits are low (often 2–5 million VND); compare banks.
Paying by phone: Apple and Google Pay work at contactless terminals; VietQR needs a Vietnamese bank account or a linked regional banking app.
Price level: about 29% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Ho Chi Minh City	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in malls, hotels and chain cafés; cash or bank QR at street stalls, markets and small shops. Carry small notes.
Hanoi	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in malls, hotels and chain cafés; cash or bank QR for street food, markets and Old Quarter shops. Keep small notes.
Da Nang	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in malls, hotels and many cafés; cash or bank QR for markets, street food and smaller shops.
Hoi An	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels and restaurants with signs; cash for markets, street food, tailors and small shops. Use ATMs in town.
Ha Long Bay	Mixed: cards and cash	Cruise operators and hotels take cards. Cash is needed for markets, boats, kayaks, small restaurants and Cat Ba.
Nha Trang	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels, malls and tourist restaurants; cash or bank QR for markets, street food, island boats and small shops.
Phu Quoc	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels, resorts and bigger restaurants; cash for night markets, local eateries, ferries and scooter rentals.
Sapa	Mostly cash	Hotels and some restaurants take cards. Cash is needed for homestays, markets, guides, taxis and villages; ATMs exist in town.
Hue	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels and bigger restaurants; cash for local eateries, markets, cyclos, boats and Citadel ticket counters (some take cards).
Ninh Binh	Mostly cash	Hotels and some restaurants take cards. Cash is needed for boat tours, guesthouses, bicycles, markets and local eateries.
Da Lat	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels, restaurants and bigger cafes; cash for markets, street food, ticketed attractions and small shops.
Ha Giang	Mostly cash	Cash for markets, small eateries, fuel and village homestays. Cards at a few hotels and hostels; ATMs in town only.
Mui Ne	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work at resorts, hostels and many restaurants on the strip; cash for local eateries, the market and small shops.
Phong Nha	Mostly cash	Cash for most eateries, homestays and rentals; cards at some hostels and cave tour operators. Bring cash from Dong Hoi.
Cat Ba	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at hotels, hostels and many restaurants; cash for markets, small eateries, taxis and village homestays.
Vung Tau	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels, malls and chain cafés; cash for street food, seafood restaurants, markets and motorbike taxis.
Quy Nhon	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at hotels, malls and chain cafés; cash for seafood restaurants, markets, local eateries and motorbike taxis.
Can Tho	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at hotels, malls and chain cafés; cash for markets, floating-market vendors, street food and boat tours.
Con Dao	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at larger hotels, resorts and some restaurants; cash for local eateries, markets, scooter rentals and small shops.
Cao Bang	Mostly cash	Cash for eateries, homestays, fuel and entry tickets; cards at a few hotels. ATMs in Cao Bang city.
Mai Chau	Mostly cash	Cash for most homestays, eateries, markets and rentals; some hotels take cards. ATMs are in Mai Chau town.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Vietnam?

Not expected; locals don't tip. Round up for drivers, and tip guides and spa staff for good service.

Is Vietnam cashless?

Mixed: cards and cash. Cash (dong) rules at street food, markets and small shops; cards work in hotels, malls and chain cafés. Locals pay almost everything by bank QR.

What currency does Vietnam use?

The Dong (VND). US$1 ≈ ₫25,953.96 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.