Vietnam money: Necessary things to know to plan your travel budget

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Knowing about Vietnam money is one of the first steps to plan your Vietnam trip (Source: Collected)

Anyone who is getting ready for a Vietnam travel journey should plan their travel budget first. Thus, it is important to know about Vietnam money so that you will not buy overpriced items or feel confused about the banknotes. This article will guide you through all the necessary things to know.

1. What is Vietnam money called? Its origin and history

The official Vietnam money is the dong, abbreviated VND or just “d”. The Vietnamese dong was first introduced to the country by the government of Northern Vietnam in 1946, replacing the piastra of French Indochina. It underwent two monetary revolutions in 1951 and 1958. In 1978, the dong came to Southern Vietnam, and is now the national currency of Vietnam.

Vietnamese dong – the official Vietnam money (Source: Collected)

2. Current Vietnam Dong banknotes and corresponding denominations

There are many different Vietnam currency denominations. On every banknote is the portrait of President Ho Chi Minh printed on the front side, which shows the profound feelings of Vietnamese people toward their late leader. Meanwhile, the sizes, colors, and pictures on the back side vary for each banknote, depending on their denominations.

2.1. Vietnam banknotes made from polymer

• 500,000 VND

The 500,000 VND is the biggest Vietnam dong banknotes, both in size and value. On its back side, there is a picture of President Ho Chi Minh’s house in Kim Lien village, which is now a relic site that preserves many cultural and historical artifacts and documents about President Ho Chi Minh’s childhood with his family.

500,000 VND – the biggest Vietnam currency notes (Source: Collected)

• 200,000 VND

The 200,000 VND banknotes have the picture of Ha Long Bay (in Quang Ninh province). Ha Long Bay is a masterpiece of nature with thousands of rocky islands and caves. In 1994, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The picture of Ha Long Bay on a 200,000 VND banknote (Source: Collected)

• 100,000 VND

The 100,000 Vietnam dong bills have the picture of Khue Van Cac at the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam. This site carries the longevity of Vietnam’s cultural value and educational tradition.

A 100,000 VND banknote with the picture of the Temple of Literature (Source: Collected)

• 50,000 VND

The 50,000 Vietnam money banknotes have the picture of two relics in Hue, namely Nghenh Luong Temple and Phu Van Lau. Nghenh Luong Temple was built on the banks of the Perfume River (Huong River) as a place for the king to relax. Meanwhile, Phu Van Lau was often used to announce the results of competitions organized by the imperial court and also where the king issued important edicts.

Hue’s iconic architectural works on the 50,000 VND banknotes (Source: Collected)

• 20,000 VND

The 20,000 Vietnam money banknotes have the picture of the Japanese Bridge (in Hoi An Ancient Town) on it. According to legend, the Bridge is like a sword that pierced the back of a mythical monster, preventing it from wagging its tail and causing earthquakes.

The picture of Hoi An’s Japanese Bridge printed on the 20,000 VND banknotes (Source: Collected)

• 10,000 VND

The 10,000 VND banknotes are the smallest banknotes made from polymer in the Vietnam money system. The picture of Bach Ho oil rig is printed on the back side of these banknotes. This oil rig is the main source of oil for Vietnam today.

The picture of Bach Ho oil rig on the 10,000 VND banknotes (Source: Collected)

2.2. Vietnam banknotes made from cotton paper

• 5,000 VND

The 5,000 Vietnam money banknotes have the picture of Tri An Hydropower Plant. This was a hydroelectric project of international friendship between Vietnam and the Soviet Union, which was put into use in 1991.

The picture of Tri An Hydropower Plant on the 5,000 VND banknotes (Source: Collected)

• 2,000 VND

The 2,000 VND banknotes have the picture of female workers working at Nam Dinh Weaving Factory, which used to be the largest weaving factory in Indochina.

The picture of Nam Dinh Weaving Factory on the 2,000 VND banknotes (Source: Collected)

• 1,000 VND

The picture on the back side of the 1,000 VND Vietnam money notes is a wood exploitation site in the Central Highlands.

The 1,000 VND banknotes have the picture of a wood exploitation site in the Central Highlands (Source: Collected)

• 500 VND

The 500 VND banknotes have the picture of Hai Phong Port (in Hai Phong city). It is one of the largest and most important ports in Vietnam. Nowadays, it is pretty hard to find a 500 VND banknote, as it is rarely circulated on the Vietnam money market.

The picture of Hai Phong Port on the 500 VND banknotes (Source: Collected)

• 200 VND

Similar to the 500 VND banknotes, the 200 VND banknotes are rarely used in the Vietnam money system. The picture printed on its back side is of a plow and farmers working hard, representing the rice agricultural culture of Vietnam.

The 200 VND banknotes with the picture of a plow (Source: Collected)

3. Guide for exchanging money and taking money out of Vietnam

If you want to exchange money, make sure to check the Vietnam money exchange rate beforehand. Most major currencies can be exchanged with Vietnam money. Currently, the USD to Vietnam money rate stands at $1 to 24,817 VND.

Money should only be exchanged at an official money exchange counter. It is recommended that you exchange your currency to Vietnam money at banks, hotels, airports, or gold and jewelry shops.

If tourists want to take Vietnam money or any other currency out of the country, you can only take less than 15,000,000 VND or 5000 USD (or equivalent in other currencies) out of Vietnam without declaring. Over this amount, you will need to declare it to Customs at the airport.

You can do Vietnam currency exchange at banks, hotels, airports, or gold and jewelry shops (Source: Collected)

As the top famous tourist destinations of Vietnam, Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, etc. have so many places for you to exchange Vietnam money. They have a lot of attractions for you to explore as well. Check out these destinations that will definitely offer you the best experiences:

• In Hanoi, tourists should not miss out on a visit to VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium. At Vinpearl Aquarium, you can immerse in a colorful underwater world of more than 30,000 freshwater and saltwater marine specimens. VinKE, on the other hand, is an ideal educational playground for children, where kids can explore their future career interests while having fun with their families.

The VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium complex is both an entertainment and educational site for your family

• During your Hoi An trip, it is recommended that you visit VinWonders Nam Hoi An. With its 5 subdivisions, namely Adventure Land, Harbor Corner, Island of Folk Culture, Water World, and River Safari, this amusement park offers a variety of entertainment activities that will fulfill your Hoi An trip.
• While you are in the coastal city of Nha Trang, you should take a visit to VinWonders Nha Trang. This site offers more than 100 entertainment activities in its 6 subdivisions: Adventure Land, Water World, King’s Garden, Sea World, World Garden, and Fairy Land.
• And if you are staying on the pearl island of Phu Quoc, VinWonders Phu Quoc definitely should be added to your bucket list. It is the largest theme park in Vietnam and a leading one in Asia. It has 6 subdivisions, namely European Avenue, Fantasy World, Mysterious Viking Village, Typhoon World, Sea Shell, and Adventure World.

There is no lack of fascinating activities at VinWonders parks

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Planning a trip to Vietnam, it is vital for any tourist to know about Vietnam money. Hopefully, the above-mentioned information will help you with your travel budget. With good preparation for money and a detailed plan of the attractions to visit, your journey will definitely be flawless and memorable!

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