There are four ways to exchange currency: at a bank, through authorised exchange bureaus, at hotel reception desks, and on the black market. The best rates are offered by the banks, but the exchange bureaus are generally more conveniently located and have longer opening hours. The black market rate is worse than the legal exchange rate, so if you’re offered better rates than a bank it’s bound to be some sort of scam. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and JCB credit cards are accepted in the major cities and towns popular with tourists.

It’s virtually impossible to exchange travellers cheques outside the major cities and tourist areas. Visitors heading off the beaten track will either need to stock up on dong, or conduct a private cash transaction on the black market. It’s a good idea to bring a small calculator with you for currency conversions, unless you’re the kind of person who can divide or multiply by large numbers in your head.

Money Tips
Travellers staying in budget accommodation and eating in small cafes should be able to get by on around US$20.00 to US$25.00 per day, plus long-distance transport costs. Those wanting to stay in mid-range hotels, eat out at moderate restaurants, charter occasional taxis and enjoy the nightlife should budget on around US$65.00 a day.

Sample Price Guide
local iced tea 1500.00 bottle local soft drink 5000.00 local beer 10000.00 process roll of color film 50000.00 litre of petrol 10000.00 litre of water 5000-10000 souvenir t-shirt 30000.00 street stall snack – pho bo 10000.00 internet access per minute 3000-10000.00 short taxi ride 20000.00 restaurant meal US$ 3.00-10.00 hotel room with air-con US$ 10.00-20.00 internet access per hour US$ 0.20-0.50 short cyclo ride US$ 0.50 two-kilometre taxi ride US$ 1.00-2.00 Average Room Prices
Low Mid High
US$20 or less US$20-75 US$75+
Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High
US$2 or less US$2-5 US$10+

Tipping
Government-run hotels and tourist restaurants usually add a 5% service charge to bills so there’s no need to tip (although staff may not get any of it). Leaving a small tip in other restaurants will be greatly appreciated by the staff. You should consider tipping hired drivers and guides, and it’s polite to leave a small donation at the end of a visit to a pagoda.

Vietnam: Getting there & around
Getting There
Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport is Vietnam’s busiest international air hub, followed by Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airpot. A few international flights also serve Danang. Bangkok has emerged as the principle embarkation point for Vietnam but it’s still possible to get direct flights from a number of major Asian cities and a few Australian cities. Buying tickets in Vietnam is expensive. Departure tax is US$14.00 , which can be paid in dong or US dollars.

There are currently 10 overland border crossings for travellers coming to Vietnam, but more may open soon. All crossing points suffer from heavy policing and often requests for ‘immigration fees’.

For getting to/from China, it’s become very popular to cross the border at Friendship Pass, or Dong Dang, 20km (12mi) north of Lang Son in northeast Vietnam, to get to/from Nanning. There is a twice-weekly international train between Beijing and Hanoi that stops at Friendship Pass. The other popular border crossing with China is at Lao Cai in northwest Vietnam, which lies on the railway line between Hanoi and Kunming in China’s Yunnan Province. There’s also a seldom used crossing at Mong Cai.