Money in Vietnam: Banks, ATMs, cards & currency exchange

The first six months of 2016 saw over 4.7 million foreign visitors arriving in Vietnam - an impressive 21% increase on the previous year. If you’re planning a visit to Vietnam’s vibrant and welcoming shores, then you will need some cash in your pocket to enjoy it.This guide gives you the lowdown on currency in Vietnam, where to get it - and how to spend it. With details of how to find an ATM, which banks you can expect to see, and how to get the best currency exchange rates, we’ve done the hard work so you don't have to. Enjoy.What is Vietnam's currency?The official currency in Vietnam is Dong (VND). Although there are some coins in circulation, the vast majority of currency is paper, and some traders will not accept coins at all.Notes start from 200 VDN (which equates to a tiny 0.0089 USD). They then run upwards with additional denominations of 500, 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000, 50.000, 100.000, 200.000 and 500.000. At today’s rates, a 500000 VND note will set you back only 22....