Money Transfer to Vietnam
Before you go on a vacation in Vietnam, you should get the facts about legal tender in the nation. Specifically, you need to know what form of payment is most often accepted so that you are never stuck without money to methods] to pay in this beautiful nation before you plan to make a money transfer to Vietnam.
The most widely accepted type of money in this area is the Vietnamese dong, but you will find that U.S. dollars are accepted in lots of areas, also. If you are in a tourist area, for example, you can probably use the U.S. dollar quite often when shopping or staying at hotels, but business districts usually prefer the Vietnamese dong. You should be sure to carry some dong, or at least some of both currency, especially as you travel further from the main cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Don’t forget to barter a bit when you shop, as you can save a decent amount of money this way, and it is a nice change from the fixed pricing at stores in the U.S.
There are many more ATMs than there used to be in this nation, which is why using a prepaid debit card to perform a money transfer to Vietnam could be a smart idea. You can withdraw cash from ATMs before you go out shopping, as you need cash when you barter. You may also choose to use the prepaid debit card as a regular debit card, but be aware that most stores add a 3% commission charge to credit or debit card transactions. You can use MasterCard and Visa in most areas, though some do also take American Express with an extra 4% fee.
A number of people are comfortable with traveler’s checks, and they can be exchanged in Vietnam in a few cities. However, it is sometimes hard to find banks that will exchange them for cash so do not rely on them completely. Plan to be charged up to 2% commission to change them into cash. However, be aware that Vietcombank changes Amex checks for free, and others after a .5% fee.
It is best to know the most acceptable forms of payment before you start a money transfer to Vietnam in any way. This will ensure that you have enough funds to get by while in this nation. Not every retailer accepts cards or U.S. dollars, but then some prefer such forms of payment to the Vietnamese dong, which means having all of these forms of money can be a good idea.