Vietnam Travel Guide for Indians

Vietnam at a glance

Currency

Vietnamese Dong (VND). Numbers are large — VND 100,000 is roughly ₹350. Carry USD as a backup.

Cards & ATMs

Vietcombank, BIDV, Sacombank ATMs are reliable. Skip standalone airport / hotel ATMs. Cards in nicer restaurants only.

Visa

eVisa online for Indian passport holders — USD 25 for 30 days, single entry. Available 7 days before travel.

Transport

Grab everywhere. Sleeper trains Hanoi–Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh are scenic. Domestic flights cheap and frequent.

Etiquette

Bow slightly when greeting elders. Take shoes off in temples and homes. Bargain politely at markets — start at 30–50%.

Common mistakes

Watch for the "wrong-change scam" — count VND notes carefully. Don't walk in road traffic; cross slowly and predictably so scooters can swerve around you.

Cash vs card in Vietnam Cash-heavy

Cash-heavyFully cashless

Vietnam sits at about 35 on the cash-to-cashless spectrum. Vietnam is cash-heavy. USD widely accepted in tourist areas; VND for everything local.

Money for your Vietnam trip

How to carry money to Vietnam, answered here. For live rates, conversion and buying, we hand you to the pages built for it.

CurrencyVietnamese Dong (VND)

Cash vs cardCash-heavy

Best combinationForex card plus a small cash float

Live rate

1 VND = ——

The same live rate Matrix Forex shows across the site. Rates move through the day.

Buy Vietnamese Dong Open the converter →

What things cost in Vietnam

Typical local prices in Vietnam, for orientation only. These are local prices, not exchange rates.
Everyday item	Typical price
Coffee	VND 30,000
Grab ride	VND 80,000
Hotel (3-star)	VND 1,200,000
Pho bowl	VND 50,000

Vietnam is one of the most rewarding short-trip destinations from India in 2026. The eVisa is straightforward, the food is exceptional, and a week-long trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City costs a fraction of equivalent European destinations.

The dong has many zeros. VND 100,000 sounds like a lot but is around ₹350. The simplest mental model: drop three zeros and divide by three to get the rough rupee equivalent.