Vietnam

[JivBunny]

Just came back from Vietnam, HCM

Getting prepaid card from HCM international airport is a breeze.

No registration or anything required.

After collecting baggage, need to go thru X-ray machines. After passing by the X-ray machines, can see a lot of shops (this area is still restricted to public)

Can find a lot of shops selling cards, vinaphone, mobiphone. There is this shop sasco selling 160,000 vnd for unlimited 3G data and some call time and can last for 2 weeks. Most of them selling similar price, got one even sell 135k only.

Really just passing 160k and pass the phone to the guy and he will do everything for you. Spent almost 1 week plus there and used it all the way without much problem.

And if you don't want to be hassled by the taxi drivers, can also buy taxi transport from them. One way to anywhere downtown HCM is flat rate 200k vnd. No need to pay anything else. Good for ladies or if you are on conpany trip which can claim.

 

[rayban]

Just came back from Vietnam, HCM

Getting prepaid card from HCM international airport is a breeze.

No registration or anything required.

After collecting baggage, need to go thru X-ray machines. After passing by the X-ray machines, can see a lot of shops (this area is still restricted to public)

Can find a lot of shops selling cards, vinaphone, mobiphone. There is this shop sasco selling 160,000 vnd for unlimited 3G data and some call time and can last for 2 weeks. Most of them selling similar price, got one even sell 135k only.

Really just passing 160k and pass the phone to the guy and he will do everything for you. Spent almost 1 week plus there and used it all the way without much problem.

And if you don't want to be hassled by the taxi drivers, can also buy taxi transport from them. One way to anywhere downtown HCM is flat rate 200k vnd. No need to pay anything else. Good for ladies or if you are on conpany trip which can claim.

Taxi maybe 100-120K , uber or grab even cheaper....

 

[JivBunny]

Taxi maybe 100-120K , uber or grab even cheaper....

Claim company, comes with official receipt and all. So no need to stress. Hahaha

 

[kitkat2]

Claim company, comes with official receipt and all. So no need to stress. Hahaha

cash (sing dollar) is king!

 

[rayban]

cash (sing dollar) is king!

flying on friday, heard the dongs now is good rate...

 

[koala2004]

flying on friday, heard the dongs now is good rate...

Few weeks ago was good, reaching 16700, now back to 16400....so maybe can get 16350, anyway, no much diff lah if not changing much. I usually change SGD2K to 2.5K each trip, and bring from here about VND10M left from previous trip (I tried to bring back at least 8M-10M each time)

Going again in early Nov...hope rate will be better...(hope USD drops)

 

[coldmilk2]

At one side of BT market, opp it. There are 2, both gold jewellery shops: Mai Van and Ha Tam.

When I was there last week, Ha Tam shop gave better rate. BTW, it is a goldsmith shop. I have been using them for years.

 

[caytruc]

When I was there last week, Ha Tam shop gave better rate. BTW, it is a goldsmith shop. I have been using them for years.

It is important to note that:
- Mai Van is ALSO a licensed foreign currency exchange counter, under the license of Agribank which is the largest bank in Vietnam.
- Ha Tam is NOT (it's purely a goldsmith shop which, by law, is prohibited to do foreign currency exchange). That's why it is giving a better rate because it is unlicensed.

 

[koala2004]

When I was there last week, Ha Tam shop gave better rate. BTW, it is a goldsmith shop. I have been using them for years.

Ya,, better rate than bank LOL, even locals go to these two shops. If very large amount, they can do delivery to your place too, cash direct from bank, on a bike LOL.

 

[koala2004]

It is important to note that:
- Mai Van is ALSO a licensed foreign currency exchange counter, under the license of Agribank which is the largest bank in Vietnam.
- Ha Tam is NOT (it's purely a goldsmith shop which, by law, is prohibited to do foreign currency exchange). That's why it is giving a better rate because it is unlicensed.

But if under bank, why such good rates? Most times I find the rates of both are the same. Do you have link to the fact you claimed? I don't remember such info is displayed, at least not prominently.

 

[hungryfriend]

At one side of BT market, opp it. There are 2, both gold jewellery shops: Mai Van and Ha Tam.

thanks!

google "taobao vinaphone".

they have expiry dates. why do you want to keep when they are so readily available?

can teach how to buy? i try ezbuy like cannot leh

 

[caytruc]

Do you have link to the fact you claimed? I don't remember such info is displayed, at least not prominently.

You just need to walk directly to the Mai Tam shop. Can easily spot the AGRIBANK sign there. Quite prominently actually.

Not very sure right now, but at least at the end of last year when I came, the AGRIBANK was still there.

But if under bank, why such good rates?

Actually many people here found that Ha Tam gives better rates than Mai Van. When I came, Ha Tam also gave better rates. Because Ha Tam is under no banks.

 

[koala2004]

You just need to walk directly to the Mai Tam shop. Can easily spot the AGRIBANK sign there. Quite prominently actually.

Not very sure right now, but at least at the end of last year when I came, the AGRIBANK was still there.


Actually many people here found that Ha Tam gives better rates than Mai Van. When I came, Ha Tam also gave better rates. Because Ha Tam is under no banks.

Actually doesn't matter as long as get the best rates....dun care license or not. Anyway, it is almost a licensed money changer since they have been around for so many years and I also know the Gov or at least the police "profited" a lot from them...

 

[boba_fett]

hey guys, in regards to the 2 money changer stated above. Do they have minimum exchange? i am planning to change between 50-100 sgd there if i run out of my current stash of vnd

 

[koala2004]

hey guys, in regards to the 2 money changer stated above. Do they have minimum exchange? i am planning to change between 50-100 sgd there if i run out of my current stash of vnd

Not that I know of.

 

[Cloud_Evolution]

if you are okay with dealing with the chinese, you can order a prepaid sim from taobao. they come preloaded with a few gigs of data and cost around $5.

my vietnamese friends in singapore always get preloaded cards every time they go back and discard them when they leave. usually not easily available to foreign visitors because you need to know where to find them. now that taobao sells them, we can also enjoy cheap data in vn

meaning there is no number to it? just only data? any tb link to share?

 

[kitkat2]

meaning there is no number to it? just only data? any tb link to share?

every active sim card has a number. google taobao vinaphone.

 

[urban_closet]

Hi forum laojiaos, can you please advise if the SIM card shops will be open at 8:00AM? Will land on an early flight on a Saturday..

 

[caytruc]

Hi forum laojiaos, can you please advise if the SIM card shops will be open at 8:00AM? Will land on an early flight on a Saturday..

I think they are open 24/7

 

[rayban]

I think they are open 24/7

maybe 8 am no chio bu serve him only....