If you’re heading to Vietnam and wondering whether you can just whip out your US dollars and pay for a bowl of pho or a hotel room, this article will sort you out. I’ll blend my own experiences (plus a couple of embarrassing mistakes), hard numbers, and the official rules—so you get a picture that’s both accurate and practical. Along the way, I’ll bring in some international context, expert voices, and an actual case of USD payments gone sideways in Hanoi.
I first landed in Ho Chi Minh City with a pocket full of crisp $20s, feeling pretty smug. After all, the US dollar is the world’s reserve currency, right? In places like Cambodia or parts of Thailand, USD is almost as good as local cash. But Vietnam? Not so much. Here’s why:
But the reality on the ground is more complicated—and often, way more awkward.
First, let’s clear up the legal stuff. According to Article 2 of Vietnam’s Decree No. 96/2014/ND-CP (the regulation on penalties for administrative violations in monetary and banking activities):
“All transactions, payments, listings, advertisements, quotations, price setting, and writing contracts in Vietnam must use the Vietnam Dong (VND) unless otherwise permitted by the State Bank of Vietnam.”
Reference: Source: State Bank of Vietnam, Decree 96/2014/ND-CP
Practically, this means: if you try to pay in USD at a shop, restaurant, or hotel, the staff are technically not allowed to accept it. Businesses that do so can be fined anywhere from 10 million to 100 million VND. The only exceptions are certain licensed organizations (usually banks or exchange counters).
| Country | Currency Rule | Legal Basis | Enforcement Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | VND only (exceptions require permit) | Decree 96/2014/ND-CP | State Bank of Vietnam |
| Cambodia | USD & KHR both accepted | National Bank of Cambodia Guidelines | National Bank of Cambodia |
| Thailand | THB only for domestic transactions | Bank of Thailand Act | Bank of Thailand |
| Laos | LAK, USD, THB commonly used | Bank of the Lao PDR Circulars | Bank of the Lao PDR |
So if you’ve just come from Phnom Penh, don’t expect the same flexibility in Hanoi.
Let me break this down by type of place, based on my own experiences and those of fellow travelers:
I once tried to pay for a T-shirt at Ben Thanh Market with a $10 bill. The vendor looked at me like I’d handed him Monopoly money. “No dollar! Dong only!” he barked. That’s pretty standard. In local markets and convenience stores, USD isn’t just frowned upon—it’s often simply refused.
Here’s where it gets fuzzy. Some larger, international hotels will quote prices in USD on their websites (for foreign marketing), but when you check in, you’ll pay in VND at the current exchange rate. A few high-end places in tourist hotspots might quietly take USD cash, but even then, it’s technically against the law. I once stayed at a boutique hotel in Hoi An where the receptionist said, “If you don’t have dong, we can try, but it’s better you go to the ATM.”
Even in touristy areas, it’s rare to see menus with USD prices. If you try to use dollars, expect confusion, awkwardness, or a flat-out no. There’s also a risk of getting a terrible exchange rate—the staff might just make up a number. On one occasion in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a friend tried to pay for lunch with a $20 bill. The cashier reluctantly accepted it but gave change in VND at a rate about 10% worse than at the bank.
If you’re desperate, exchange counters at airports or big hotels will take your USD—but again, you’re just converting to VND, not spending USD directly. The rates are typically worse than those at banks or reputable money changers in town.
Let’s take “Mike”, a Canadian traveler I met in Saigon. He landed with just USD in cash, assuming he could pay for his hostel, food, and SIM card with it. Here’s how his first day went:
Mike ended up paying more and wasting time hunting for a currency exchange. His verdict: “Bring VND or a card that works at the ATM—don’t expect to use dollars like you would in Cambodia.”
To add some “authority” to this, I reached out to Ms. Trang Nguyen, a compliance officer at a major Vietnamese bank. She explained:
“Vietnam wants to protect the stability of its currency and avoid ‘dollarization’. That’s why the law is clear: only VND for domestic transactions, unless you are an authorized institution. If shops are caught taking USD directly, they can be fined.”
This stance is backed by the IMF, which points out that minimizing foreign currency use helps developing economies manage inflation and monetary policy.
Check out this popular thread from TripAdvisor discussing USD payments in Vietnam:
“USD is not commonly accepted except for a few big hotels. You must use VND for almost everything.” — user: JohninHanoi
Here’s an actual forum screenshot (for privacy, I’ll describe instead of showing faces): a traveler posts, “Can I use USD in Vietnam?” The top responses are unanimous: “No, except in some rare cases. Get VND at the airport or ATM.”
Maybe you’re tempted to risk it. Here’s what can go wrong:
On one trip, I saw a tourist get short-changed when using USD at a souvenir shop. The staff used a wildly outdated rate, and when questioned, shrugged and said, “You want dong, you go bank.”
Here’s what I wish I’d known from the start:
If you must bring USD, treat it as “emergency backup” or for exchanging—not for direct payments. And always check the current exchange rate (the XE Currency Converter is reliable).
The short answer: No, you generally can’t pay with USD directly in Vietnam, except in rare or unofficial circumstances. It’s not just uncommon—it's actually against the law for most businesses to accept it. If you try, you’ll probably face confusion, bad exchange rates, or outright refusal.
My advice, based on real-world experience and confirmed by both local experts and official rules: always use VND for your transactions in Vietnam. Bring a card that works at Vietnamese ATMs, keep some cash ready, and save your dollars for exchanging at banks or for emergencies only.
If you want to dig deeper, check the official State Bank documents linked above, or browse real traveler stories on sites like TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree. And if you find a place that does take USD, treat it as the exception, not the rule—don’t plan your trip around it.
Final thought: next time, I’ll double-check currency policies before landing. Lesson learned the hard way.