Best Travel Card/Cash - Going to Vietnam in Mid Aug - Mid Sep and then Japan in October

Lcitrusreduction on 30/06/2019 - 14:37

Hi OzBargain,

I haven't travelled in ages and this is pretty much the first time going on my own and meeting up with international friends. I was wondering what would be the best option for me in terms of money in Vietnam and Japan?

I'm going to Vietnam for a total of 3 weeks and will be backpacking, haven't done much research in terms of accomodation. How much cash should I carry on me and what's the best card to use to travel there? I have done a bit of research and people have suggested to bring 2 debit cards just in case.

For the Japan trip mostly everything is pre-booked and planned so I was just thinking a CitiBank card would be substantial.

Thank you for the help :)

Travel

Comments

  • maskedmonkey on 30/06/2019 - 15:13
    +3

    The ING Orange card has no fees for ATM use and will refund the fee that the ATM or retailer charges you for a foreign card - if you satisfy the conditions in the month before. I saved about $230 on my recent trip. For most shops you will need to use cash - you can generally get 3,000,000 VND out at the ATM at a time - about $180. Carry as little cash as you can, maybe 1,500,000 and pay by cash if you can as they generally add %3 to pay by card. Probably best to have a backup card in case you lose one, otherwise you will be stuck without cash.

    • citrusreduction on 30/06/2019 - 15:47

      okay thank you so much, I have an ING account so that'll be good :)

    • render on 30/06/2019 - 16:09

      Probably best to have a backup card

      This!
      My ING card got blocked within an hour of landing in Vietnam and I had trouble getting out of the airport. Had to phone up to get it unlocked. Then it got blocked again a few days later.

      • samfisher5986 on 02/07/2019 - 10:06

        Did you forget to use the "use card overseas" section in the app?

        • render on 02/07/2019 - 11:09

          Had it set up correctly (Had been travelling SE Asia) But the card still got blocked twice

  • brissg on 30/06/2019 - 17:15

    For your trip in Vietnam
    If you have a citibank card, you could withdraw money from their AMTs in Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi with a very good exchange rate and no foreign exchange fee. Another option is a CBA card with $2 charge each withdrawal, their exchange rate isn't as good as Citibank but not too bad compared with exchanging at the local bank. I haven't tried ING yet so not sure about its exchange rate. If you bring cash and want to exchange it, you used to get the best rate with a local jewelry store (black market) but it seems a little strictly controlled now, so the best option is to exchange at a local bank. Eximbank seems to have the best rate.

    Regarding accommodation, you could easily find a comfortable room in the backpacker area for $20 - $30/day. My family friend stayed at a 4-star hotel about 3km from the airport and 4km to the CBD for US$80/night, and took taxi which costed ~ $3-$4 to the CBD if needed.

  • chrisie on 30/06/2019 - 17:32

    Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh city I find money exchanges opposite the markets have much better exchange rates from AUS to Dongs than Citi Bank ATM's. In Hanoi I find the jewelry shops do a great exchange rate. Just follow where the backpackers do there exchange.

    • dasher86 on 30/06/2019 - 20:26

      This. As my comment below.
      But in Hanoi there is a money street to exhange. Always compare with XE.

    • nomoneynoproblems on 12/07/2019 - 15:18

      How is it better than citibank when they pretty much use the market price?

      • chrisie on 12/07/2019 - 15:26

        Better exchange rate than Citi Bank & no ATM fees

        • nomoneynoproblems on 12/07/2019 - 15:55

          I'm just trying to get my head around why black market sellers would offer exchange rate better than the market price. Citibank and ING also have no atm fees so I'm not concerned about that.

  • dasher86 on 30/06/2019 - 20:25

    Vietnam cash is king.
    Exchange about 100usd to get you started, keep them crisp, and undamaged.
    After that exchange AUD in Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, better rates than bank cards and no fees.

    • chrisie on 30/06/2019 - 20:56

      Yes agree in Vietnam cash is KING.

  • Jayb290 on 24/07/2019 - 04:58
    +1

    VIETNAM: reccomend cash in Vietnam for street vendors and local vietnamese restaurants and only use ur card in western restaurants. You can exchange at a great rate at Gold stores if your in Ho chi minh city in the banh thanh markets which have the best exchange rates. The airport and hotel rates have high fees compared to the gold stores. You will see a line at gold stores or just walk in and ask and they give u a better rate.
    This gold store is most well known in hcmc:

    Ha Tam Jewelry

    This shop is located across the West entrance of Ben Thanh Market
    Address: 2 Nguyen An Ninh, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    If your backpacking in VN, 3 weeks you can survive on $20-$50 a day eatting street food unless you to go bars, clubs, western restaurants and all the brunch cafes then it's standard Aust prices.

    JAPAN: You can use card anywhere, japan is much more a westernized clean, country to get around compared to vietnam. It's much more advanced where you can pay by phone/crypto. City bank card should be fine. Probably also best to get a pocket wifipalm (www.wifipalm.com.au) unless you want the hassle of using sim cards over there.

    Japan prices is the exact the same as Aust prices so, as like travelling to singapore.

    • citrusreduction on 24/07/2019 - 08:03

      Thank you so much for your suggestions

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