Touring Vietnam/Cambodia currency question

DenisThurley53

We are travelling in three weeks time - very excited!
The Dr at our travel clinic was there last year and advised us to take plenty of US$1 bills (in good condition) for tips and small purchases such as street food.
Should we also take Dong for Vietnam and Riel for Cambodia, or will $s and Debit card cover all eventualities?

amanda1024

DenisThurley53 said:

We are travelling in three weeks time - very excited!
The Dr at our travel clinic was there last year and advised us to take plenty of US$1 bills (in good condition) for tips and small purchases such as street food.
Should we also take Dong for Vietnam and Riel for Cambodia, or will $s and Debit card cover all eventualities?

I can’t speak for Cambodia, but in Vietnam I was also there last year and I did end up using quite a few of the Dong I’d taken with me (c. £100 worth). Posher restaurants, most of the official historical sites etc. took card, but cheaper places and taxis, buses were often cash only. I did take some US dollars for emergencies (I already had them from other trips), but didn’t end up using them. I’d be worried if using $1 bills about not getting any change, or them just not being accepted (bus fare was about 15p, for example, in Hanoi)

Bicycleman22

Absolutely no need for U.S. dollars at all. Dont exchange currency here, change pounds for local currency when you arrive or use ATMs. There are good exchange rates at HCMC airport if you arrive there.

Ballard

I went to Cambodia 20 odd years ago so things may well have changed but it was easy to spend USD, THB, VND or the Riel in those days. I have a recollection that the visa on arrival had to be paid in USD cash but things have probably changed in the two decades since.

I only remember using Dong in Vietnam.

Voyager2002

I was in Cambodia in 2016, and I used US dollars for practically everything. I only used Riel for items that cost less than a dollar, and sometimes received them in change.

You can easily get dollars by withdrawing cash from ATMs in any city in Cambodia. After all, the US dollar is one of the official currencies. 

CheekyMikey

I git back a few weeks ago from Vietnam…definitely only use dong and get some here before you go. I used travel fx for a good rate. I don’t like arriving anywhere without some local currency. I didn't find the rate in Sai Gon to be much better at the one atm I did visit. It’s a brilliant country, be careful crossing the roads, be brave.

dinhoecotour

Regarding Vietnam, bring your currency to exchange for Vietnamese dong along with withdraw money from ATMs.

jbrassy

There's no need to take any currency with you. There are plenty of ATMs in Vietnam that issue dong and US dollars in Cambodia. It's a bit mixed whether you can use card in Vietnam, but Cambodia is mostly cash based. You pay for stuff in dong in Vietnam and USD in Cambodia (although they may give you change in riel if it is less than $1). If you need a taxi in either place, use the Grab app to avoid being ripped off and you can pay via card. 

Doshwaster

Never change "minor" currencies before travel as the exchange rates will be terrible. Either take your ATM card and withdraw or cash and exchange as you need it. If you do take cash then Sterling notes should be immaculate without any marks, tears or folds. Don't take Bank of Scotland notes as the exchange rate will be worse.

In Vietnam, almost everywhere will use the Dong (about 300,000 to the pound) though some hotels and tours may quote prices in US Dollars.

In Cambodia, most prices in tourist areas will be in US Dollars and you will get these from cash machines but you will get your change in Cambodian Riel (about 5,000 to the pound or 4,000 to the Dollar). Just spend these on cheap items (e.g bottle of water) or tips.