Vietnam

[miraxx]

hi guys,

Going to HCM mid march and wondering if you can help me with some basic info?

1. Money. Change here or there? Are credit cards widely accepted? Would withdrawing from atms be a hassle? Given the money is rather weirdly large denominations, is there an easy way of managing it esp for small transactions? Shd I bring USD?

2. Communication. Can buy local data/sim card at airport right? Are internet speeds reliable? just for maps and stuff.

That's for starters. Thank you!

 

[dede1217]

hi guys,

Going to HCM mid march and wondering if you can help me with some basic info?

1. Money. Change here or there? Are credit cards widely accepted? Would withdrawing from atms be a hassle? Given the money is rather weirdly large denominations, is there an easy way of managing it esp for small transactions? Shd I bring USD?

2. Communication. Can buy local data/sim card at airport right? Are internet speeds reliable? just for maps and stuff.

That's for starters. Thank you!

Change some here, just in case you need it.
Cab take vinasun or mah ling. the rest meter got adjust .
should be about 9+sgd to ben thanh market ...

sim card is about 6sgd for 5gb, 3g only ...
internet are slow generally.

 

[rrr2015]

“Timo confirmed versus Fintechnews to have already 56,000 users on the waiting list.”

wow with so many on waiting list, what chances of opening the account if i only got a week in HCMC?

yes.

i'm not working there, just showed my passport with entry stamp.

yes, it is a digital bank. you have to install
and use their app on your phone.

see here for the review by singapore's fintechnews:

http://fintechnews.sg/1737/personalfinance/timo-the-first-digital-only-bank-work-in-vietnam/

 

[kitkat2]

“Timo confirmed versus Fintechnews to have already 56,000 users on the waiting list.”

wow with so many on waiting list, what chances of opening the account if i only got a week in HCMC?

i think that was during launch time last year. i got mine in a day.

 

[Marissa0716]

hi guys,

Going to HCM mid march and wondering if you can help me with some basic info?

1. Money. Change here or there? Are credit cards widely accepted? Would withdrawing from atms be a hassle? Given the money is rather weirdly large denominations, is there an easy way of managing it esp for small transactions? Shd I bring USD?

2. Communication. Can buy local data/sim card at airport right? Are internet speeds reliable? just for maps and stuff.

That's for starters. Thank you!

1. Change USD and ask for small notes to pay taxi fare. Only villages take Vietnam Dong. Cities take USD. Hotel and high end shops take credit cards. Rest take cash - USD.

2. YES


Watch your bag for pickpockets

 

[grapewall]

hi guys,

Going to HCM mid march and wondering if you can help me with some basic info?

1. Money. Change here or there? Are credit cards widely accepted? Would withdrawing from atms be a hassle? Given the money is rather weirdly large denominations, is there an easy way of managing it esp for small transactions? Shd I bring USD?

2. Communication. Can buy local data/sim card at airport right? Are internet speeds reliable? just for maps and stuff.

That's for starters. Thank you!

Try not to change money in Sg. For small amounts, can change at the airport. In hcm, you can change money at any goldsmith shops or banks. Some people prefer to change at a certain goldsmith shop in the traveller's district 1 Ben Thanh market. credit card not widely accepted, unless in big establishment or hotels. Also, fraud is a concern. ATMs? You can read vietnamese language?
You can get sim card easily. Markets, streets stalls etc. Most people get theirs from the airport hassle free. But if you intend to use it long term, then get from the streets. The airport ones can last only weeks or months. Not sure can extend it or not.

 

[miraxx]

Change some here, just in case you need it.
Cab take vinasun or mah ling. the rest meter got adjust .
should be about 9+sgd to ben thanh market ...

sim card is about 6sgd for 5gb, 3g only ...
internet are slow generally.

Thank you!

 

[miraxx]

1. Change USD and ask for small notes to pay taxi fare. Only villages take Vietnam Dong. Cities take USD. Hotel and high end shops take credit cards. Rest take cash - USD.

2. YES


Watch your bag for pickpockets

Will take some usd but unsure about your assertion that only villages take dong. Using c reditcard has a charge right?

Thanks for the feedback

 

[miraxx]

Try not to change money in Sg. For small amounts, can change at the airport. In hcm, you can change money at any goldsmith shops or banks. Some people prefer to change at a certain goldsmith shop in the traveller's district 1 Ben Thanh market. credit card not widely accepted, unless in big establishment or hotels. Also, fraud is a concern. ATMs? You can read vietnamese language?
You can get sim card easily. Markets, streets stalls etc. Most people get theirs from the airport hassle free. But if you intend to use it long term, then get from the streets. The airport ones can last only weeks or months. Not sure can extend it or not.

So I can change money at a goldsmith shop? That's legal right?

Atms usually have language options for cirrus withdrawals. Vietnam doesnt?

Thank you for your help.

 

[grapewall]

So I can change money at a goldsmith shop? That's legal right?

Atms usually have language options for cirrus withdrawals. Vietnam doesnt?

Thank you for your help.

Yes, gold shops can change. I usually change mine in market goldsmith shops. Use sgd to change, no problem.

 

[miraxx]

Sorry for the bother, but can take cab easily from airport to hotel in district one right? Arriving at 9 am. Hotel pick up is USD 40. Whereas two cabs (we are a party of 5) might cost us about sgd 12?

 

[grapewall]

Sorry for the bother, but can take cab easily from airport to hotel in district one right? Arriving at 9 am. Hotel pick up is USD 40. Whereas two cabs (we are a party of 5) might cost us about sgd 12?

Can, why not? Just make sure you walk out and hail the cab yourself. Cause there are a few cab counters that will help you flag the cab, but charge you a hefty fee for it.
Just walk out of the hall to the outside. Many cabs there. Or if you want, use uber or grab. It's quite cheap.

 

[dede1217]

My friend from vietnam told me to get a cab from outside.
if u get a cab from the cab counter, the staff would collect cash from you.

Then she would bring you out to the cab queue and flag a cab for you.
Is as good as calling the cab yourself outside the airport ...
they are earning about 3sgd more from you only. Not alot though ...

 

[grapewall]

My friend from vietnam told me to get a cab from outside.
if u get a cab from the cab counter, the staff would collect cash from you.

Then she would bring you out to the cab queue and flag a cab for you.
Is as good as calling the cab yourself outside the airport ...
they are earning about 3sgd more from you only. Not alot though ...

You're right. The counter girls simply bring you outside to wave for cab.
If it's not too troublesome, you can consider taking the air con buses to D1. It's quite cheap, around 10k or so. Takes about 30 mins. Just need to walk a distance to the bus area. About 30m from where the taxis are.
For me, usually i walk out of the airport vicinity which is around 20 mins, then get a motorbike to my hotel. Traditional motorbike taxi cost 30k. With grab, around 14k only.

 

[miraxx]

My friend from vietnam told me to get a cab from outside.
if u get a cab from the cab counter, the staff would collect cash from you.

Then she would bring you out to the cab queue and flag a cab for you.
Is as good as calling the cab yourself outside the airport ...
they are earning about 3sgd more from you only. Not alot though ...

Was reading trip advisor and there were many scam stories. I will have a 2 yr old with me and dont want too much hassle. Read that there arent many vinasun and mah lin cabs outside the international terminal and that you have to walk to the domestic terminal. True?

If it is a matter of just walking out a few hundred metres and hailing a cab no prob. But dont want to walk miles out!

 

[Marissa0716]

Will take some usd but unsure about your assertion that only villages take dong. Using c reditcard has a charge right?

Thanks for the feedback

I dont bother to change any Viet Dong as most of the shops in HCM display item price in USD and not Dong. If u say u want to pay in Dong they give you black faces.

Also, Dong is only useful in Vietnam. So before u fly home, change everything back to SGD or USD. (Reason why I dont change Dong)

Credit card has the usual fee - forex.

I heard from Msian aunties that Ben Than Market vendors accept Ringgit Malaysia as many Msian shops there for textiles.

 

[Marissa0716]

Was reading trip advisor and there were many scam stories. I will have a 2 yr old with me and dont want too much hassle. Read that there arent many vinasun and mah lin cabs outside the international terminal and that you have to walk to the domestic terminal. True?

If it is a matter of just walking out a few hundred metres and hailing a cab no prob. But dont want to walk miles out!

Get a cab from the airport as its safer, licensed and easier. Cant imagine u dragging yr luggage and a 2yo in HCM crazy traffic looking for a cab.

Print a copy of hotel address and hotel map and show cab driver as they dont speak English.

 

[dede1217]

Was reading trip advisor and there were many scam stories. I will have a 2 yr old with me and dont want too much hassle. Read that there arent many vinasun and mah lin cabs outside the international terminal and that you have to walk to the domestic terminal. True?

If it is a matter of just walking out a few hundred metres and hailing a cab no prob. But dont want to walk miles out!

There are news that people got their things snatched here and there.
Just stay vilgilant would do ...
you come out from the airport, you walk out of the airport .
you will see on the left, there is few people crowding around there.

few cabs would be there. avoid all , unless is vinasun and mah ling
within 1 to 2 min you would be able to see. they are around hcm.

Based on my observations, if you are staying at higher end hotel, such as sheraton, nearby hardly would you see vinasun mahling. you would see more expensive cab such as saigon taxi. my friend took before saigon taxi to hotels around ben thanh market, price is about 40+ sgd, he scammed by the cab ...

 

[miraxx]

Get a cab from the airport as its safer, licensed and easier. Cant imagine u dragging yr luggage and a 2yo in HCM crazy traffic looking for a cab.

Print a copy of hotel address and hotel map and show cab driver as they dont speak English.

Yep that seems the best option.

 

[miraxx]

I dont bother to change any Viet Dong as most of the shops in HCM display item price in USD and not Dong. If u say u want to pay in Dong they give you black faces.

Also, Dong is only useful in Vietnam. So before u fly home, change everything back to SGD or USD. (Reason why I dont change Dong)

Credit card has the usual fee - forex.

I heard from Msian aunties that Ben Than Market vendors accept Ringgit Malaysia as many Msian shops there for textiles.

Cafes and markets? All in usd? I read that I would get ripped off if I paid in usd.