Vietnam tourism is very interesting and attractive, but if you do not know about the face value of money is being circulated in Vietnam, you may have troubles when traveling. There are many tourists who do not understand about the money in Vietnam so they  have been ripped off by many services.

The Vietnam Immigration Service would like to provide information on Vietnamese currency, including those that are in circulation and those that are not allowed to be in circulation.

Types of notes in Vietnam – money in circulation

In the past, the Vietnamese government used cotton-paper money (like the UK money now). The Vietnamese government then replaced the cotton paper money with polymer paper (like Australian, Canadian or Singapore dollars). This action is to prevent counterfeit printing and to make money more durable.

Travelers need to know the types of notes in circulation in Vietnam to use them in the best way. The following are Vietnamese currencies:

Denomination 500,000 VND (equivalent to $23 USD)

Release date: 17/12/2003

– Size: 152mm x 65mm.

– Printing paper: Polymer.

– Overall color: Dark purple.

– The contents of the front page: The inscription ” Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – The par value of 500,000 VND in words and in numbers – Traditional decoration and modern grid pattern. Contents of the back: The words “The State Bank of Vietnam” – President Ho Chi Minh’s house  scenery in Kim Lien – Denomination 500,000 VND in words and in numbers – Traditional decoration & modern grid pattern .

This is the largest denomination in Vietnam. You can buy a lot of things by 500,000 vnd, for example, pay for hotel rooms, buy train tickets, buy phone cards and buy a lot of food.

Denomination 200,000 VND(equivalent to $10 USD)

Release Date: August 30, 2006

– Size: 148mm x 65mm.

– Printing paper: Polymer.

– Overall color: red brown.

– The contents of the front side: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – The face value of 200,000 VND in words and in numbers – Traditional decoration and modern grid pattern. Contents of the back: The words “The State Bank of Vietnam” – Ha Long Bay Scenery – Denomination 200,000 VND in words and numbers.

You can buy 5-7 bowls of beef noodle soup wby 200.000 vnđ, you can also pay for 1-2 nights homestay or you can buy round trip train ticket from Hanoi to Hai Phong.

Denomination 100,000 VND (new type printed on polymer)

– Date of issue: 01 September 2004

– Size: 144mm x 65mm.

-Paper: Polymer paper, high durability, no environmental impact, special security elements such as transparent window, hidden image or embossed in the window.

-Brightness: See overall decorative pattern and frontal content and dark green back.

– Front page: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The national emblem – Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – Denomination 100,000 VND in words and numbers.

You can buy movie tickets, buy a glass of milk tea, or a bowl of pho and a cup of coffee at many eateries in Vietnam with 100,000 VND.

Denomination 50,000 VND (new type printed on polymer)

– Date of issue: 17/12/2003

– Size: 140mm x 65mm.

– Printing paper: Polymer.

– Overall color: Reddish brown.

– The contents of the front side: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The national emblem – Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – Denomination 50,000 VND in words and in numbers – Traditional decoration and modern grid pattern.

Contents on the back: The words “The State Bank of Vietnam” – Sceneries in Hue – Denomination 50,000 VND in words and numbers

Denomination 20,000 VND (new type printed on polymer).

– Date of issue: 17/5/2006

– Size: 136mm x 65mm.

– Printing paper: Polymer.

– Overall color: Dark blue.

– Content of the front: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The national emblem – Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – Denomination 20,000 VND in words and numbers

Denomination 10,000 VND

– Date of issue: 30/8/2006

– Size: 132mm x 60mm.

– Printing paper: Polymer.

– Overall color: Dark brown on a blue – yellow background.

– The contents of the front: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – The face value of 10,000 VND in words and numbers.

Note: 5,000 VND

– Date of issue: 15/01/1993

– Size: 134mm x 64mm.

– Printing paper: Cotton.

– Overall color: Dark blue.

– The contents of the front: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The national emblem – Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – Denomination VND 5,000 in alphabets and digits

Note:  2,000 VND

– Date of issue: October 20, 1989

– Size: 134mm x 65mm.

– Printing paper: Cotton.

– Overall color: dark brown.

– Contents of the front: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The national emblem – Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh.

Note: 1,000 VND

– Date of issue: October 20, 1989

– Size: 134mm x 65mm.

– Printing paper: Cotton.

– Color: purple.

– The contents of the front: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The national emblem – Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – Denomination 1,000 VND in words and numbers

Note: 500 VND

– Date of issue: August 15, 1989

– Size: 130mm x 65mm.

– Printing paper: Cotton.

– Overall color: lotus red.

– The contents of the front: The words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” – The national emblem – Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – Denomination 500 VND in words and numbers.

Well, now the Vietnamese use the lowest denomination of 1,000 VND. You should give the odd (5,000 VND – 1,000 – 2,000) in a small wallet, many visitors do not distinguish the odd and the money. You should store the face value of 500,000 VND and 20,000 VND in two different places because they are quite similar. For sure, stick the pieces of memory notes into your wallet, for example, the number 1 is the odd, the second number is the denomination of 100,000 (equivalent to $ 5), and do the same with the remaining . Wish you have a fun trip VN.