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The currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). Notes are available in denominations of VND 500,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are available of VND 5,000; 2,000 and 1,000 but not very popular in public. As of August 2006, 1 USD equals to 15,950VND. The USD is very much on its way to becoming the main foreign currency in Vietnam. Please bring clean bank notes. Dirty ones might be refused. Big notes (USD 50 and USD 100) often get a better exchange rate than smaller ones. Payment by VISA, Master Card and American Express cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants, and shops in the urban areas. Payment by credit card will bear a 3% to 4% commission. Travelers Cheques are changeable at banks and money exchanges all over the country. For a Travelers cheque of 100USD, the commission is 1USD at Vietcombank and 2USD at ANZ Bank. Cash draw can be done in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in many tourist places through the ATM. |