Vietnamese Dong
The currency you will count in daily, and how to handle all those zeros.
The Vietnamese dong is Vietnam’s currency. Its ISO code is VND, and it is issued by the State Bank of Vietnam1. Prices run to many zeros, which looks alarming until you learn a simple habit.
How will you meet it on the trip?
You will see prices in thousands everywhere, from street food to taxi fares. Notes in frequent use are 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 dong2. Read a price by dropping three zeros, then convert.
For scale, Bank Negara Malaysia’s rate page showed MYR 0.0158 per 100 VND on 15 October 20263. The rate moves, so confirm the day’s figure before you convert.
What is a good tip?
Count your change at every payment, and check the number on each note before you hand it over. Keep small notes for drinks and short rides. Prices change by season, so use the trip budget builder with current quotes.
The ringgit cost worksheet and the realistic Vietnam budget guide help you turn the long numbers into a plan.
Which related terms will you see?
- VND: the currency code on exchange boards.
- K: a short way to write thousand, as in 50k.
- Ngan: the Vietnamese word for thousand.
Check entry rules in official sources too. More guidance sits in Food and daily travel.
If you want a ringgit view of your whole trip, tell us your route and your group size, and we can point you to the cost worksheet that fits your plan.
Common questions
Why are prices in Vietnam so many zeros?
The dong has a low value per note, so everyday prices run into thousands or hundreds of thousands. The habit that helps is to drop three zeros in your head to read a price, then convert the smaller number once you know the current rate.
Where should I exchange money?
Use the airport, a local bank or an authorised exchange counter, and count the notes before you leave the desk. Compare the rate against Bank Negara Malaysia's page for the day, which is dated and changes. Avoid handing cash to strangers on the street.
Do the notes look alike?
Some do, especially similar colours across values, so look at the number each time before you hand one over. Keep small notes ready for drinks and short rides, and keep bigger ones in a separate pocket to avoid mixing them up.
Sources
- Vietnam's currency is the dong, ISO code VND, issued by the State Bank of Vietnam. Wikipedia
- Banknotes in frequent use are 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 dong. Wikipedia
- Bank Negara Malaysia's exchange rate page showed MYR 0.0158 per 100 VND on 15 October 2026. Bank Negara Malaysia. Rate moves daily; it was 0.0157 to 0.0158 across 1 to 15 Oct 2026. Implies roughly 1 MYR = 6,300 VND (derived from a rounded rate).
Keep planning
If you want a ringgit view of your whole trip, tell us your route and your group size, and we can point you to the cost worksheet that fits your plan.