Vietnam Hanoi · VND

What currency does Vietnam use, and how do people pay?

Vietnam's currency is the dong, code VND. In practice only banknotes are used, many of them polymer, and some denominations have similar colours, so check each note before you hand it over. US dollars are sometimes quoted in hotels and tourist businesses, but everyday purchases are paid in dong.

Cash remains common at markets, street stalls and small shops. Bank-transfer QR codes have spread very quickly and are displayed by many vendors, though they usually need a local bank account. Cards are accepted in supermarkets, shopping centres, hotels and chain cafés.

Where do people in Vietnam buy groceries and everyday goods?

Traditional wet markets remain central to food shopping in Vietnam, with meat, fish, herbs and vegetables sold from the early morning, often to regular customers. Street vendors on bicycles or carrying shoulder poles sell fruit and snacks from door to door.

Supermarkets, hypermarkets and a fast-growing number of mini-marts sell packaged goods, dairy and imported food at fixed, marked prices. At markets and tourist shops, prices for clothing and souvenirs are often negotiable, and asking the price before you buy is normal. Most shops open seven days a week and into the evening, but many markets and small shops close for several days around Tet, the Lunar New Year.

Is VAT included in shelf prices in Vietnam?

Shelf prices in Vietnamese supermarkets normally include value added tax. The standard rate is 10%, many goods and services have in recent years been charged at a temporarily reduced rate of 8%, and some essentials carry a lower rate. Because the reduction has been extended several times, check the current rate if it matters to you.

Some restaurants and hotels quote prices before tax and service charge. Foreign visitors can reclaim VAT on eligible goods bought from participating shops when they leave through international airports and other border points that run the scheme, subject to a minimum spend and a customs check.

How have prices in Vietnam changed recently?

Vietnam's economy has grown quickly in recent years, while consumer price inflation has stayed moderate. Food prices, especially pork and rice, along with fuel and electricity, tend to move the headline figure, and imported goods are affected by the dong's gradual slide against the US dollar. The biggest swings come around Tet, when demand for food and gifts rises. Since both prices and exchange rates shift, the date on each price we read matters.