Vietnam

[jiasmilex]

changing VND

Hi would any kind souls please advise if it's better to change:
1. SGD to VND in SG
2. SGD to USD in SG then USD to VND in HCM
3. SGD to VND in HCM

Will be travelling 30 Dec - 05 Jan.

Thanks!

 

[koala2004]

Hi would any kind souls please advise if it's better to change:
1. SGD to VND in SG
2. SGD to USD in SG then USD to VND in HCM
3. SGD to VND in HCM

Will be travelling 30 Dec - 05 Jan.

Thanks!

It's no brainer....change SGD to VND in HCM. Go to the any of the 2 gold shops at BT mkt.

 

[jiasmilex]

ohh okay. Thanks!

 

[kitkat2]

Can anyone advise if we need to bring USD or SGD is enough? Is it better to change to VND in SG or go there to change? Where in Hanoi is good to change money?

Thanks

never exchange at the airport. if you need dong for transport out of the airport, then exchange a small amount enough to pay the fare. other than the south, vietnam is still very much a usd-prized country. unless you can find a non-official exchange place (your hotel might be able to tell you), banks always put a hefty mark down for non-usd.

here are the rates for usd and sgd quited by agribank last week. 1 usd gives 22450 dong, 1 sgd 14204 dong. so to the vietnamese, usd to sgd is 1.58. so it is a good idea to carry usd with you and exchange at their banks.

 

[divineone]

anyone knows if the da nang airport money changers charge a fee? I found hcmc airport rates to be pretty good when I went earlier this year (well, much better than anywhere in sg by quite a bit)

 

[kitkat2]

anyone knows if the da nang airport money changers charge a fee? I found hcmc airport rates to be pretty good when I went earlier this year (well, much better than anywhere in sg by quite a bit)

no fee just like the money exchangers in singapore. probably marked up in the exchange rates to compensate for that.

 

[tinsel77]

oh. so must bring USD instead of SGD to change VND? How come forummers say exchange rate close to google ?

 

[kitkat2]

oh. so must bring USD instead of SGD to change VND? How come forummers say exchange rate close to google ?

you can get actual market rates for sgd at gold shops (as in saigon) or some dubious places. banks are the official exchangers, and they tend to favour usd. the first hotel i stayed in hanoi directed me to a place that i had a hard time finding. it was located on the 3rd floor of a small shop and it looked like a residence cum office. now i have changed hotel and when i asked the staff where to exchange money, they said just go to any bank

 

[XXDoneXX]

Anyone knows of any tailoring shops to recommend? And the price guide?

 

[koala2004]

never exchange at the airport. if you need dong for transport out of the airport, then exchange a small amount enough to pay the fare. other than the south, vietnam is still very much a usd-prized country. unless you can find a non-official exchange place (your hotel might be able to tell you), banks always put a hefty mark down for non-usd.

here are the rates for usd and sgd quited by agribank last week. 1 usd gives 22450 dong, 1 sgd 14204 dong. so to the vietnamese, usd to sgd is 1.58. so it is a good idea to carry usd with you and exchange at their banks.

You sure you got only 14204 for 1 SGD? Unlikely right. Is there typo error? I always can get pretty good rates in HCM, bank there just slightly lower than gold shops.

 

[koala2004]

oh. so must bring USD instead of SGD to change VND? How come forummers say exchange rate close to google ?

Just bring SGD change USD, I went few times also no prob and never use USD at all...not all places accept USD too or too troublesome to convert, just pay VND most convenient.

 

[kitkat2]

You sure you got only 14204 for 1 SGD? Unlikely right. Is there typo error? I always can get pretty good rates in HCM, bank there just slightly lower than gold shops.

it was on the rates board. yes 14204. of course you are not advised to pay in usd. but take usd with you to change to vnd. most forummers here visit the south only and have no idea what it is like outside saigon.

once i missed a train in hue and had to buy a new ticket. but i ran out of dong. fortunately the ticket seller said no problem as he was willing to exchange with me. i pulled out sgd and he looked suprised. after he made a few phone calls, he said sgd is not accepted.

so, bring usd as it can be a lifesaver.

 

[kitkat2]

You sure you got only 14204 for 1 SGD? Unlikely right. Is there typo error? I always can get pretty good rates in HCM, bank there just slightly lower than gold shops.

the original poster is going to hanoi, not saigon.

 

[rrr2015]

Can you share what is an easy way to get to old quarters from Hanoi Airport, metered taxi or fixed rate transport?
Thanks

vietair do have mini bus that goes to noi bai airport -> Vietnam Airlines office @ 1 Quang Trung Street (south of hoan kiem lake), you could walk north to old quarters. much faster than public bus 17 (30mins++) as it uses highway route

but do note they will only move once seats are filled up
cost: 40,000 vnd

 

[foreveru13]

Just got back from HCMC yesterday, n starting to miss the place for the cheap and yummy food and shopping! But the traffic is really bad man... jay walking is a must, very few traffic lights and zebra crossings r useless cos vehicles don't stop for u, for e first time, try to follow the locals, when i get get the hang of it just do it, the bikes usually will slow down when they see u.

some tips from me... take cabs which go by meter, it's much cheaper. look out for white color cab w number 6.27.27.27 is one of them.

Massage go for a nice decent one cost around 120K -150K Dong. anything cheaper than that is suspicous, we got conned twice, tried to give us "masseuse" that don't know nuts abt massaging.

book day tours from Sinhcafe, website alr given here, then ask them where to get massage they recommended me one very good place w 10% discount, only 140K Dong.

Cu Chi tunnel half day tour is really interesting. The Mekong delta day tour is ok, for the experience.

Change money at the jewellary shops around the Ben than market area. as of yesterday 1SGD = 10900 Dong/ 1.49 USD. Bank rates are good too.

Pho (Noodles) is yummy, restaurant Pho99 is a good place to have Pho. Pho24 also not bad.

Vietnam T-shirt 20K-30K Dong
Addidas Tops 70-80K Dong

There's a shop at the Ben Than night market that sells really nice jackets (looks really authentic) it's by the side alley in one of the shop houses.

Enjoy!

Hi guys,
I booked a trip to HCM.
Read through many threads randomly.
But still have queries, hope u guys can help.
Sincafe the website has tours but some has minimum pax. How? Cannot book those I'm keen in.
Should I go there to book or book online from viator?
Has anyone taken local buses to sites near airport like reunification palace which is near the airport?

Solo traveller and female. I'm terrified but I guess I'll wear really ugly to avoid being noticed....

 

[kitkat2]

Hi guys,
I booked a trip to HCM.
Read through many threads randomly.
But still have queries, hope u guys can help.
Sincafe the website has tours but some has minimum pax. How? Cannot book those I'm keen in.
Should I go there to book or book online from viator?
Has anyone taken local buses to sites near airport like reunification palace which is near the airport?

Solo traveller and female. I'm terrified but I guess I'll wear really ugly to avoid being noticed....

the palace is near the backpackers area, so you can walk there. the airport is quite some distance away, and you can take public bus 152 i think.

vietnam is voted as among the safest place for solo female traveller, so dont worry about what you wear. but there have been reports of snatch thieves in saigon, so please exercise caution.

 

[foreveru13]

the palace is near the backpackers area, so you can walk there. the airport is quite some distance away, and you can take public bus 152 i think.

vietnam is voted as among the safest place for solo female traveller, so dont worry about what you wear. but there have been reports of snatch thieves in saigon, so please exercise caution.

opps. must be the location map on the app sala.
Thanks for your advice.
Yeah i wanted to take the bus from airport to ben thah market but i ended up booking return taxi for 30SGD from expedia.
i read that most peeps here take the cabs so i better do the same.

How about the tours? book online or go there then book?
I'm keen in the Cao Dai Temple, Cu Chi Tunnels.
Then the standard areas around Ben Thanh market, the saigon theatre, art museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office...
i can walk for the nearby but the far away stuff i need to book.
Went to https://www.thesinhtourist.vn/ but it seems i can't book for 'open' tours. and the price really so cheap ma? viator is like 20x more.

***UPDATE: i have booked 2 tours with thesinhtourist.
but reading this review, i am scared. www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserRevi..._Tours-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT


i went to watch utube videos. i learned something. pronunciation only: Xin cao, toi la <insertname>, rat wok durk lam guam voi bark.
xin cao annh - hi to a male
xin cao chi - hi to a female
xin cao emm - hi to a kid
forgot elder is what.
oh and the guy teaching was a UK guy.


thanks again!

 

[srnkoh]

WTS VND

Hi, i've VND1228.000 left from my recent trip. PM if interested.

 

[koala2004]

Hi guys,
I booked a trip to HCM.
Read through many threads randomly.
But still have queries, hope u guys can help.
Sincafe the website has tours but some has minimum pax. How? Cannot book those I'm keen in.
Should I go there to book or book online from viator?
Has anyone taken local buses to sites near airport like reunification palace which is near the airport?

Solo traveller and female. I'm terrified but I guess I'll wear really ugly to avoid being noticed....

Join grp tours...then no need min pax and much much cheaper. Book when reach there, go backpackers' street (Pham Ngu Lao), try Sapphire Travel (146 bui vien st, District 1).

Local vn bus is safe and cheap. Try it.

 

[koala2004]

Hi, i've VND1228.000 left from my recent trip. PM if interested.

You mean VND1.228M? So little, keep it lah. I keep at least VND8 to 10M each trip so next trip don't have to change at airport and no rush to change at gold shops.