Spending 1,11,000 a Day in Vietnam — And It’s Cheaper Than You Think

Last updated on April 27th, 2026 at 04:21 pm

Reading Time: 7 minutes

If I say I’ve spend approx. 1,11,000 a day in Vietnam, you’ll surely be shocked and never plan to even think to visit that place.

Not to worry…

I am not joking, this is truth.

But the only thing that changes here is 1,11,000 dong and not rupees.

1 Indian Rupee = 280 Vietnamese Dong

1,11,000 Vietnamese Dong = 396 Indian Rupees approx. Let’s take a round figure — Rs. 400.

Now you must have instantly turned your plans from never wanting to visit that place to making it your favourite country to visit.

Life happens when we stay unclear and doubtful because you don’t have the full information.

So let me give you all the information you need about Vietnam currency for Indian travellers before you land there — because I wish someone had told me all of this before my trip.

What is the Currency of Vietnam?

The official currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). You’ll see it written as ₫ or VND on menus, price boards, and receipts.

The notes come in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 1,00,000, 2,00,000, and 5,00,000 dong. When you first get your hands on these notes, the zeros feel overwhelming. You’ll be holding a 5,00,000 dong note thinking you’re rich — and then realise it’s ₹1,785.

That adjustment takes a day. After that, you get the hang of it.

Vietnam Currency to Indian Rupees — Quick Reference

Vietnamese Dong (VND)	Indian Rupees (approx.)
1,000 VND	₹3.5
10,000 VND	₹35
50,000 VND	₹178
1,00,000 VND	₹357
5,00,000 VND	₹1,785
10,00,000 VND	₹3,570

A street meal in Hanoi costs around 40,000–60,000 VND — roughly ₹140–215. A Grab ride across the Old Quarter is 30,000–50,000 VND — about ₹105–178. It starts to feel very affordable very quickly.

How to Carry Vietnam Currency — Best Options for Indian Travellers

This is the question I didn’t research properly before my trip and it cost me some unnecessary stress. Here’s what actually works.

1. Cash (Vietnamese Dong) — Recommended

Vietnam is still largely a cash economy, especially for street food, local transport, and small shops. Carry cash for day-to-day expenses.

The best way to get Vietnamese Dong is to withdraw from ATMs in Vietnam using your Indian debit or credit card. Most major Indian bank cards — HDFC, ICICI, SBI, Axis — work at Vietnamese ATMs. Expect a withdrawal fee of ₹100–200 per transaction from your bank.

As an Indian traveller, understanding how Vietnam currency works before landing saves you a lot of confusion at the airport.

Avoid exchanging money at the airport. The rates there are poor. Head to the Old Quarter in Hanoi — there are authorised money changers on Hang Bac Street who give much better rates.

2. Forex Card

If you have a multi-currency forex card loaded with USD, you can exchange it at money changers in Hanoi for a decent rate. USD is widely accepted for exchange across Vietnam.

3. UPI / Indian Cards

Don’t rely on these. Most small vendors, street food stalls, and local markets in Hanoi don’t accept international cards or UPI. Large restaurants and tour operators sometimes do, but don’t count on it.

4. Grab App

The Grab app works in Vietnam and can be linked to your international card for cashless rides. This is the one place where a card genuinely saves you from cash hassle. Download it before you land.

How Much Cash to Carry for Vietnam?

For a 6 day budget trip to Hanoi and nearby places, I’d recommend keeping the equivalent of ₹8,000–12,000 in Vietnamese Dong as your daily cash float. Tours like Ninh Binh and Lan Ha Bay can be paid through Klook before you go, which reduces your cash dependency significantly.

I did my entire 6 day trip for under ₹60,000 from Delhi — including flights, visa, stay, food, and two day tours. You can read the complete breakdown here: Vietnam Trip Cost from India.

Vietnam E-Visa Cost for Indians — Don’t Make My Mistake

Before you even land in Vietnam, you need to sort your visa. Indians need a Vietnam E-Visa. It costs approximately ₹2,500–3,000 if you apply through the official government portal.

I paid ₹7,000 because I applied through a third-party website thinking it was official, and then had to reapplied because of some confusion.

Remember to apply only from the govt official website – https://evisa.gov.vn

Is Vietnam Cheap for Indian Travellers?

Genuinely yes — and not in a “cheap feels uncomfortable” way. Vietnam is affordable while still giving you quality experiences.

Here’s a rough daily budget for Indian travellers in Hanoi:

Expense	Budget Option	Mid Range
Stay	₹800–1,200 (hostel dorm)	₹2,500–4,000 (private room)
Food	₹400–600	₹800–1,200
Local transport	₹200–400 (Grab)	₹400–700
Activities	Day tours ₹3,000–7,000 (book in advance)	Same
Daily total	₹1,400–2,200	₹3,700–5,900

The day tours — Ninh Binh and Lan Ha Bay — are the biggest single expenses but also the most worth it. Book them on Klook in advance to get the best price and avoid last-minute stress.

Tips on Spending Money in Vietnam

A few things I learned the hard way so you don’t have to:

• Bargain at local markets — not at restaurants. Street markets like Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi expect bargaining. Restaurants with menus don’t. Don’t try to negotiate your Pho price.

• Keep small notes handy. Street vendors and drivers rarely have change for a 5,00,000 VND note. Break your large notes at convenience stores like Circle K.

• Circle K is your best friend. These 24/7 convenience stores are everywhere in Hanoi. Packaged snacks, cold drinks, ready meals — all at fixed, honest prices. When you’re unsure about street food, Circle K saves you.

• Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. 10,000–20,000 VND (₹35–70) for good service at a restaurant is enough. Tour guides appreciate a small tip at the end of a day tour.

• Check your change. Notes look similar across denominations — a 10,000 and 1,00,000 VND note can be confused in dim light. Always check before pocketing.

Vegetarian Food in Vietnam — A Practical Guide for Indians

This is the one area where Vietnam requires planning. As a vegetarian, I had to be strategic. Though, I eat only eggs, yeah that kind of vegetarian!

Here’s what worked for me across 6 days in Hanoi:

• Hostel breakfast — most hostels include bread, eggs, and fruit. This was my most reliable meal of the day. Eat heavy breakfast so you don’t get hungry before the lunch.

I used to love the breakfast, so daily I ate almost similar things.

• Banh Mi — Vietnamese baguette sandwich. Ask for the vegetarian version with egg, cucumber, pickled vegetables, and sauce. Costs 30,000–40,000 VND (₹105–140). I had two every night for dinner on most days.

• Ring Roti near Hoan Kiem Lake — sweet Vietnamese buns in Vanilla and Matcha. Around 20,000 VND (₹70). Great as an evening snack and fully vegetarian.

• Circle K — for packaged snacks and drinks when nothing else was convenient.

• And other small daily eateries.

My total food cost for 6 days was approximately ₹3,500 – 4000. Very manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions — Vietnam Currency for Indians

• What currency does Vietnam use? Vietnamese Dong (VND). 1 Indian Rupee = approximately 280 Vietnamese Dong.
  
• Which is the best way for Indian travellers to exchange Vietnam currency? Withdraw VND directly from ATMs in Hanoi using your Indian debit card. Avoid airport exchanges — rates are poor. The Old Quarter has authorised money changers on Hang Bac Street with much better rates.

• Can I use Indian Rupees in Vietnam? No. Indian Rupees are not accepted in Vietnam. Exchange to VND after landing or withdraw from ATMs using your Indian card.

• Is USD accepted in Vietnam? At some hotels and large restaurants, yes. But day-to-day spending requires VND.

• Can I use UPI in Vietnam? Not reliably. Some tourist-facing businesses may accept it but don’t depend on it. Carry cash.

• How much Vietnamese Dong should I carry per day? Budget for 3,00,000–5,00,000 VND per day (₹1,070–1,785) for food and local transport, excluding tours.

• Is Vietnam expensive for Indians? No. It’s one of the most affordable international destinations for Indian travellers. I did 6 days under ₹60,000 including return flights from Delhi.

Planning Your Vietnam Trip from India

If the currency question brought you here, chances are you’re seriously thinking about visiting Vietnam. Good.

Here are all the posts I’ve written from my own trip that will help you plan better:

• Vietnam Trip Cost from India — 6 Days Under ₹60K
• First Time in Hanoi — How to Spend Your First 24 Hours
• Hanoi Travel Guide
• Solo Trip to Vietnam — Is It Safe?
• 5 Things to Know Before Travelling to Vietnam

Vietnam surprised me in the best way. The currency confusion was just the beginning of a trip I didn’t expect to love as much as I did.

Go. You’ll figure out the zeros quickly.