Understanding Vietnamese Money
The Vietnamese currency is the đồng (₫, VND). The exchange rate means you'll regularly deal with numbers in the hundreds of thousands — a meal might cost 50,000 đồng, a hotel room 300,000–1,000,000 đồng. Understanding how Vietnamese people talk about money — including the common habit of dropping three zeros in speech — is essential for avoiding confusion and overpaying.
Money Vocabulary
tiềntyenmoney
đồngdongVietnamese currency (VND)
tiền mặttyen mahtcash
thẻ tín dụngteh tin yungcredit card
ATMah-teh-emATM machine (widely available in cities)
tỷ giá hối đoáitee yah hoi dwaiexchange rate
đổi tiềndoy tyento exchange money
hóa đơnhwah duhnbill / receipt
tiền thối lạityen thoy laichange (money returned)
miễn phímyen feefree of charge
giảm giáyam yahdiscount / reduced price
Key Payment Phrases
Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyenHow much does it cost?
Tính tiềnting tyenThe bill please
Có chấp nhận thẻ không?goh chahp nyan teh khongDo you accept cards?
Tôi trả bằng tiền mặttoy trah bang tyen mahtI'll pay in cash
Cho tôi biên laicho toy bien laiPlease give me a receipt
Tiền thối lại thiếutyen thoy lai tyewThe change is short
Đắt quá, giảm được không?daht gwah yam duhk khongToo expensive, can you reduce it?
💡 The Three-Zero Trick
Vietnamese people often drop the last three zeros when talking about prices. If a vendor says "năm mươi" (fifty), they almost certainly mean 50,000 đồng (~A$3), not 50. "Một trăm" = 100,000 đồng (~A$6). Always clarify if you're unsure — "năm mươi nghìn phải không?" = "fifty thousand, right?"