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Currency
 Vietnam’s
national monetary unit is the new dông, which
is divided into 100 xu (14,725 new dông equal
U.S.$1). Bank Notes currently in circulation are in
denominations of 100/200/500/1, 000/2,000/5,000/10,000/20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 Dong. The U.S. dollar is more or less a second
currency in Vietnam. It is the one foreign paper that
is readily accepted in the country. A large supply of
US$1, US$5 and US$10 are almost essential for tipping,
for small expenses and for hotel bills.
U.S.dollars are your best bet
and are so common that change will frequently be given
in dollars. Traveler’s checks work also. You may
bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency as
long as it is declared on the forms provided by customs
officers.
There are four different ways
foreign currency can be exchanged for dong:
- At a bank.
- Through authorized exchange bureaus.
- At a hotel reception desk.
- On the black market.
The banks offer the best rates,
but the exchange bureaus are generally more conveniently
located and have longer opening hours. |
CNN
