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Night Life in Philippines
Nightlife in Philippines is vibrant and exciting. Metro Manila is home to many bars, watering h
Kuala Lumpur's History
A city that has grown from humble beginnings,”Kuala Lumpur” means “Muddy Convergence”.
Macau Overview
Macau (also spelt: Macao) (Ou3mun5 in Cantonese, Àomén in Mandarin) is a Special Admin
VIETNAM TRAVEL GUIDE - MONEY
World Travel Guide Asia Vietnam Money
Picture choosen by: Mrs.Rosy Black
Money & Costs in Vietnam
Money
Currency
The domestic currency of Vietnam is the Dong, whose abbreviation is ‘d'.
Banknotes come in dominations of 500d, 1000d, 2000d, 5000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d, 200,000d and 500,000d with pictures of Ho Chi Minh on them.
Coins are also in circulation, although they are more common in the cities, and include 500d, 1000d and 5000d.
Besides Dong, US dollar is widely used within this country also.
1.00 USD = 18,980.00 VND (conversion rate as of 14 Apr.2010)
ATMs
There are not many foreign banks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) that offered ATMs, but more and more Vietnamese banks are providing this service. Vietcombank has the best network in the country. Agribank, Vietin Bank and Sacombank are also well represented. You can get a booklet of ATMs list from every branch.
However, you can only withdraw notes in dong and a single withdrawal limit of 2,000,000d (about US$ 110). Multiple withdrawals will do until you hit your own account limit. And most banks charge 20,000d per transaction.
Black Market
Although it is illegal for private individuals, shops or restaurants to exchange currency, the practice does exist without actual law enforcement.
Don't assume that you can get a better deal in black market, on the contrary, rates are usually worse than the official exchange rates and fake notes or too few notes frequently happens.
Keep in mind, if a deal seems too good to be true, that is because it probably is.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected, but it is greatly appreciated. Even if some restaurants and upmarket hotels may impose a 5% service charge, this may not make it to the staff.
As visiting pagoda is concerned, a small donation at the end of the trip is considered to be appropriate, especially if a monk has shown you around. And the contribution boxes in most pagodas are just for this purpose.
Costs
Travel in Vietnam does not mean the cost is necessarily bargain basement, nevertheless, it can be sky high, all depending on what you choose and how comfort you want.
Ascetics could just about get by on US$15 a day, while a conventional budget traveller can live it up from US$25 to US$35. Midrange travellers can have a ball from US$50 to US$150 a day, staying comfortably, eating well and travelling flexibly. At the top end, spending US$250 or more a day, anything is possible. Vietnam is not quite as cheap as it used to be thanks to rampant inflation, but it is still a great deal compared with many parts of the world. Other Vietnam Travel Guides General Information Getting There Climate Key Facts Money Stay Safe and Healthy Getting Around
RECENTLY SUBMITTED IN Vietnam
Visa for Vietnam
Posted by Mrs. Rosy Black on 22 April 2010 12:27:17
Visa Application Tourist visas allow visitors to enter and exit Vietnam at Hanoi, HCMC and Danang airports or at any of its plentiful land borders, shared with Cambodia, China and Laos. Tourist Visas are valid for a single 30-day stay. And it is possible to arrange a visa through a Vietna... More
Stay Safe & Healthy in Vietnam
Posted by Mrs. Rosy Black on 15 April 2010 06:21:38
Noise If your nerves are easily frayed by noise, you will, for sure, suffer a lot in trying to gain some sleep in Vietnam, as the noises, not just any noise but a whole lot of noises, just never seem to stop. At night there is most often a competing cacophony from motorbikes, discos, cafes, ... More
Money & Costs in Vietnam
Posted by Mrs. Rosy Black on 14 April 2010 06:14:50
Money Currency The domestic currency of Vietnam is the Dong, whose abbreviation is ‘d'. Banknotes come in dominations of 500d, 1000d, 2000d, 5000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d, 200,000d and 500,000d with pictures of Ho C... More
