How to pay for purchases and services in Vietnam

The most important thing about payments in Vietnam:

Vietnam is an amazing combination of ancient culture and a rapidly developing economy. However, when it comes to payment, many tourists and expats face surprises: in some places, cards work perfectly, and in others, the usual Visa and Mastercard only cause confusion among sellers. In this article, we have collected all the important nuances: which cards are accepted, what to do if you are from a sanctioned country, and what alternatives exist.

• Sanctioned countries (Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea and others):
  For citizens of countries under international sanctions, the use of bank cards in Vietnam may be restricted if they are linked to the global Visa and Mastercard systems, which often block transactions due to sanctions. For example, Russian Mir cards work in Vietnam, but only in a limited number of banks and ATMs (e.g. VRB Bank), and their use requires prior verification. Russian Mir and UnionPay cards (only Rosselkhozbank) operate in Vietnam, although their use is limited. Mir cards are accepted by VRB Bank, and UnionPay by several major banks, including BIDV and Vietcombank. For other sanctioned countries, such as Iran or North Korea, the situation is more complicated - their cards are rarely accepted, and travelers are better off relying on cash (US dollars or Vietnamese dong) or looking for alternative systems, such as China's UnionPay, which is sometimes available.
  On November 19, Sberbank and VTB launched QR code payments in Vietnam via VietQR. Fees are 0%, and the limit is up to ₽350,000 per transaction.
  How to pay by QR code from Sberbank or VTB:
  1️⃣ Tell the checkout that you will pay by QR code.
  2️⃣ Open the Sber or VTB app
  In Sber: Payments → QR Payment
  At VTB: Home → Scan QR
  3️⃣ Point your camera at the VietQR QR code
  The system itself recognizes that this is a payment in Vietnam.
  4️⃣ Check the amount. You'll see:
  • amount in dong (VND)
  • the amount to be written off in rubles
  5️⃣ Confirm the payment and receive a receipt.
  The money is debited from your ruble card and the seller receives dong.

• Asian countries (China, Japan, South Korea, India, etc.):
  Cards from Asian countries are generally well accepted in Vietnam, especially UnionPay (popular in China), JCB (Japan) BC Card (Республика Корея) and local cards of major banks South Korea or IndiaUnionPay is especially convenient as Vietnam is actively developing tourism with China, and many payment points (especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) support the system. However, in rural areas or small shops, cash is preferred, so Asian travelers should have a supply of Vietnamese dong.

• Europeans (EU countries, UK, etc.):
  European maps visa, Mastercard work in Vietnam without problems in major cities, hotels, restaurants and tourist areas. Maestro and Cirrus: These cards may also be accepted in some places, especially in larger cities. However, remote areas may have problems due to limited card acceptance infrastructure. Travelers from Europe should consider currency conversion fees and possible bank surcharges for international transactions - this may make cash a better option for smaller purchases.

• Americans (USA, Canada):
  Cards from North America (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx) are widely accepted in tourist areas and large chain establishments. American Express may be less universal than Visa or Mastercard, but is still suitable for payment in premium hotels and restaurants. However, Americans should be prepared for the fact that cards will not be accepted in small shops or markets, and it is better to have US dollars, which are easily exchanged for dong.

• Latin America, Africa, Middle East:
  For travelers from these regions, the situation depends on the specific country and issuing bank. Visa and Mastercard cards from unsanctioned countries (e.g. Brazil, South Africa, UAE) usually work without restrictions in tourist areas. However, cards from countries with unstable banking systems or limited international presence may not be supported. UnionPay may be an alternative, especially for countries in the Middle East, where it is gaining popularity.

Withdrawal fees:

In Vietnam, most ATMs charge a fee for withdrawing cash from foreign cards. The fee is usually between VND20 and VND000 (55% to 000%) per transaction.

• Vietcombank — 20 VND for each withdrawal; limit — 000 VND
• BIDV — 3% of the withdrawal amount, but not less than 50 VND
• Agribank — 22 VND for each withdrawal; limit — 000 VND
• Techcombank — 2% — 3% (to be confirmed)
• MB Bank — 30 VND for each withdrawal; limit — 000 VND
• TPBank — commission 55; limit — 000 VND
•VPBank - no commission; limit - 5 - 000 VND
• Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) — 2% — 3% (to be confirmed)
• Sacombank — 30 VND for each withdrawal; limit — 000 VND
• Vietnam Bank — limit — 2 VND
• ACB — with visa no, MC — 55 VND per transaction, limit — 000 VND

Other types of payments:

Mobile Payments: Mobile payment systems such as GrabPay and other local services are gaining popularity in Vietnam, which can be convenient for locals and tourists.

Money Transfers: For those who can't use cards, money transfers through services like Zolotaya Korona can be a viable option.

Multi-currency cards: Wise or Revolut cards can be convenient for travelers from different countries, as they support multiple currencies and offer favorable exchange rates.

Although cards are becoming more popular, cash is still the main means of payment in Vietnam, especially in small shops and street stalls. In Vietnam, there are sometimes cases where international cards can be rejected by the bank without explanation (especially in the evening).

Travel Tips

Regardless of your country of origin, it's important to remember that Vietnam's card acceptance infrastructure is uneven: in cities and tourist areas, there are no problems, while in the provinces, cash remains the preferred method. Travelers from sanctioned countries should check the list of partner banks in advance ( for example, for Mir, this is VRB ), while others should check international payment fees and withdraw cash from ATMs of major banks ( Vietcombank, BIDV ) to avoid high fees.

If you live in Vietnam for more than a couple of weeks, open a local bank account with an app, this will greatly simplify payments. You can open a local online account with an app (for example, in Techcombank, Vietcombank or TPBank) even without a residence permit, using your passport. This will allow you to use all local features: QR payments, P2P transfers, mobile top-ups and rent.

Bikes are often rented with a card as collateral , which is unsafe : the seller can withdraw any amount. It's best to leave a deposit in cash. Also, check that the POS terminal doesn't add hidden fees (this can happen, especially with cards with high fees).

If you use crypto cards (e.g. Binance, Wirex), they are not always accepted offline, but they often work at ATMs. This may be an option for sanctioned or non-standard jurisdictions.