Exchange currency AUD to VND
Our rates
Find branch
FAQs
Plan your trip to Vietnam efficiently!
Order your Vietnamese dong online, pay when you collect from a Prosegur Change branch, and pay 0% commission on the exchange. Whether you're heading to Hanoi for street food, Hoi An for a tailored suit or home to see family for Tết, arriving with dong means you're not hunting for an ATM on your first day.
Vietnam runs on cash for most everyday spending. Street food, coffee, markets, motorbike taxis, tailors, guesthouses and tips are nearly always paid in dong. Big hotels, malls and some restaurants take cards, and locals pay a lot by QR code, but the QR systems are tied to Vietnamese bank accounts and generally aren't available to visitors.
Vietnam Currency Options
Cash
- Reserve online, pay & pickup at a branch
- Get our best exchange rates online
- 0% commission
- Collection available from the next day
Travel Money Card
- Pay online, in-store & use ATMs worldwide
- No fees on purchases abroad
- 10 currencies available
- 100% secured by Mastercard
Vietnam currency at a glance
|
|
|---|---|
|
Name |
Vietnamese dong |
|
ISO Code |
VND |
|
Symbol |
₫ |
|
Notes |
1,000 ₫, 2,000 ₫, 5,000 ₫, 10,000 ₫, 20,000 ₫, 50,000 ₫, 100,000 ₫, 200,000 ₫, and 500,000 ₫. |
|
Coins |
200 ₫, 500 ₫, 1,000 ₫, 2,000 ₫, and 5,000 ₫. |
|
|
|---|---|
|
Cash Index |
70% - street food, markets, tailors and motorbike taxis are paid in cash. Locals pay by QR code, but these payments are tied to Vietnamese bank accounts. |
|
Other currencies accepted |
Some hotels and tours quote prices in US dollars, but payments are legally meant to be made in dong. |
|
Tips |
In Vietnam, locals do not generally tip in everyday settings, although small tips are common in international hotels, organised tours and tourist-focused businesses. |
Everyday prices in Hanoi
Cappuccino
₫49,000
Temple of Literature
₫70,000
Bus or metro ride
₫10,000
Dinner, mid-range
₫300,000 per person
Getting used to millions
The hardest part of paying in Vietnam is the number of zeros. Prices are routinely in the tens or hundreds of thousands, and locals often shorten them with « k », so 50k means 50,000 dong. A bowl of phở in Hanoi typically costs 40k to 70k, a cà phê sữa đá 15k to 30k, and a short Grab bike ride 20k to 40k. With one Australian dollar buying well over 15,000 dong, a quick rule is that 100,000 dong is roughly six Australian dollars. Check the live figure on our exchange rates page before you order.
The two notes everyone mixes up
Vietnam's banknotes from 10,000 dong upwards are polymer and all carry the portrait of Hồ Chí Minh, so they look alike at a glance. The classic mistake is between the 20,000 note and the 500,000 note, which are both blue. Handing over a 500,000 note instead of a 20,000 one means overpaying by around A$28, and it happens to a lot of first-time visitors, especially in taxis and markets at night. The 10,000 and 200,000 notes are also easy to confuse. Keep large notes separate from small ones and check the number of zeros before you pay.
The full set runs 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 (paper), then 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 (polymer). Coins exist but you'll almost never see them.
Going home for Tết
For many Vietnamese-Australian families, the biggest dong purchase of the year comes before Tết, the Lunar New Year, which falls on 6 February in 2027. Children and older relatives receive lì xì, lucky money in red envelopes, and it's customary to give crisp, new notes. If you're planning to give lì xì, order a few weeks before the holiday, especially if you want specific denominations. Demand rises sharply in January.
Buying dong in Australia
The dong isn't freely convertible, so it's harder to find outside Vietnam than most travel currencies, and it's worth ordering ahead. Reserve your amount on our currency order page, pick your branch and date, and pay when you collect. Our Melbourne Airport and Brisbane Airport branches are convenient for departures. You can also collect in town, for example in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth, or at any branch on our branch finder.
As a guide, a mid-range traveller spends around 800,000 to 1,500,000 dong per person per day on food, transport and activities, excluding hotels booked in advance. Many travellers bring enough for the first few days and top up later. ATM fees in Vietnam vary by bank, and withdrawal limits are often only a few million dong per transaction.
Paying in Vietnam: dong, dollars and cards
You'll sometimes see hotels or tour operators quote prices in US dollars, but payments in Vietnam are legally meant to be made in dong, and paying in another currency usually means a poor improvised rate. Keep dong for daily spending and use a card for hotels and large bills. When a card terminal offers to charge you in Australian dollars, choose dong instead. Our Travel Money Card doesn't cover the dong, so cash plus your everyday card is the simplest option. For mobile data, you can build a Vietnam plan with our international eSIM.
Australians need a visa for Vietnam. The e-visa is applied for online, is valid for stays of up to 90 days, and is best arranged at least a week before travel. On arrival, you must declare foreign currency worth more than US$5,000 or more than 15 million dong in cash.
Travelling soon?
Here's how to easily reserve your currencies online
1. Choose your currency
1. Choose your currency
Determine the amount of travel money you will need to enjoy your trip.
2. Choose a date & a pick-up location
2. Choose a date & a pick-up location
Collect your order from one of our exchange bureaus at major airports and city centre.
3. Collect & pay
3. Collect & pay
Pay upon pickup and enjoy
your trip.
FAQs about Vietnamese dong
The dong isn't freely convertible, so fewer providers hold it outside Vietnam, and stock can be limited. Ordering online ahead of time is the most reliable way to get it.
Some hotels and tour companies quote in US dollars, but everyday purchases are made in dong, and payments are legally meant to be in dong. Paying in dollars often costs you more.
Both are blue polymer notes with the same portrait. Check the number printed on the note and count the zeros. Keeping large notes in a separate pocket helps.
New notes are in high demand before Tết. Order a few weeks before the holiday and mention it when you collect, so we can help if stock allows.
Tipping isn't expected, but it's appreciated. Rounding up for drivers or leaving 20,000 to 50,000 dong for good service in a restaurant or spa is common.