How hard is the dong?

Factual Questions
1

No, no, that’s not what I mean at all. How stable, and how well-backed, is the dong, the monetary unit of Vietnam?

2

It’s non-convertible which doesn’t help its hardness, but it also seems they’re only looking at gradual devaluation.
Pictures of Dongs.

3

The biggest problem with the dong is that it’s subject to rapid inflation.

Two can play this game, Shoshana.

4

It’s important to note the time zone in which the question is being asked. The morning dong and the evening dong are not equal. :wink:

5

Is that link SFW?

6

Anecdote warning:[

](Crow Aptok travelogue)

7

Yes it is.

8

Yeh, right. You really wanted to know about Vietnamese currency. :rolleyes:

9

Well… Both/and?

I’m going to Viet Nam in November. I’m at that point where I start thinking about what currency to carry or convert, in what quantities. Having spent almost 14 months working in sheqels in the 1980’s, I know that buying local currency too early can sometimes be a problem.

But I was also happy with the thread title.

10

In practical terms, you can use US$, though the practice seems to be losing ground a little and the exchange rate in local outlets is less than favourable; furthermore so much stuff is so cheap that having a mere dollar bill means you have a problem with overtipping, etc.

Also, the dollar bills you have will be rejected if they’re less than perfect - a rip, or writing on it, or anything like that will mean it is unlikely to be accepted. But the good news is, since it’s a closed currency, it’s dificult to get any before you go. There are ATMs that give dong in most major connurbations, and the banks will take travellers’ cheques, though they’re inefficient and have bad opening hours. Hotels will also cash them, but will rip you off. Credit cards are accepted in most larger hotels and travel agents.

11

Just got back from Vietnam (as I posted in your other thread). Everywhere in Vietnam accepts $USD, and the exchange rate with the locals is $1USD = 16,000Dong. Everything is super, amazingly, ridiculously cheap so you should probably start with a small amount and (I started with $230USD for 10 days and had money left over) pull out of an ATM as necessary.