Vietnamese Dong (VND) ZAR1 = 2355VND (approximately)
The Vietnamese currency is the Dong (VND) and is available in denominators of 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2000d, 5000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d notes though the country is currently in the process of converting to plastic notes and coins up to 5000d. It can be difficult to get change for the larger notes in small towns, therefore it is a good idea to keep some smaller notes handy. Shop keepers will sometimes quote prices in USD for tourists but you are best to say you will give them Dong and work in the local currency as the conversion is better for you. As you will quickly find yourself a millionaire, you will also find that you can end up carrying around a wad of notes due to the highest note only being 100,000. Only take with you each day what you think you will need to spend that day to avoid bulging pockets of money.
Credit cards are essential in the case of an emergency. Most of the larger department stores in Vietnam and all hotels accept American Express, Visa and MasterCard. However cash advances from your credit card may not be easy to obtain.
The Vietcom Bank’s ATMs are all Cirrus and Maestro enabled. This means as long as your ATM card has these symbols on it you can withdraw cash (Dong) from these ATM’s just like you would in South Africa. It is recommended though that you withdraw as few times as possible as the fees on you’re a/c are not cheap. Check with your bank before departure. ATM’s are sometimes located in hotel foyers and are found in most cities. Hoi An is currently an exception so ensure you have enough cash to last whilst in this town.