Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Vietnam
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Notes run into the millions. ₫100,000 is a bit over AUD $5 - count the zeros carefully, mixing up ₫20,000 and ₫200,000 is easy.
Mostly - cards work in cities and tourist areas in Vietnam, but you still need cash outside them.
5 travel card options for Vietnam, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in Vietnam
Can you pay by card in Vietnam?
Hotels, chains and mid-range restaurants take cards. Street food, markets and small shops are cash.
Cash and ATMs in Vietnam
Widely available. Fees vary a lot - TPBank and some others don't charge; Vietcombank and Agribank charge ₫50,000 or more.
Cash for most day-to-day spending. Watch the zeros.
Do you tip in Vietnam?
Not traditionally expected but increasingly common in tourism. ₫20,000-₫50,000 for a driver or guide is generous. Upmarket restaurants add a 5% service charge plus 8-10% VAT.
Worth knowing about paying in Vietnam
Card payments often carry a 3% surcharge. Decline dynamic currency conversion.
Before you pay for anything in Vietnam
Pay in Vietnamese dong or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
How much cash to take overseas
What Vietnam needs in cash, next to 35 other destinations.
How to avoid ATM fees overseas
Three fees stack on a withdrawal. Two of them are avoidable outright.
What one Australian dollar buys in Vietnam
₫18000 VND per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Vietnam essentials
Vietnam visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Vietnam
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Vietnam eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Vietnam travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Vietnam airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Vietnam
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Vietnam travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Vietnam
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Vietnam money & payments FAQs
How much money should I take to Vietnam?
Vietnam is largely cash-based for everyday spending. Withdraw from TPBank ATMs where possible, since many other banks charge ₫50,000 or more per withdrawal, and always pay in dong rather than accepting a card machine's AUD conversion.
Planning Vietnam?
We will send you the Vietnam guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.