Technical article
Cash, Cards and Small Notes: What to Know Before You Land in Vietnam
Joan wants to know if that is allowed, and what the local notes look like.
Picture a couple named Dale and Joan. Both are 64. They plan a three-month stay in Vietnam to see if they like it. Dale wants to land with a stack of US dollars for the first weeks. Joan wants to know if that is allowed, and what the local notes look like. They have one question. How much cash could they carry in?
The amount you must declare
The Ministry of Justice portal and the customs news site agree. Anyone entering or leaving with a passport must declare cash above a set amount.
| Item | Declare above |
|---|---|
| Foreign currency cash | US$5,000 (or the same value in another currency) |
| Vietnamese dong cash | VND 15,000,000 |
The rule comes from Circular No. 15/2011/TT-NHNN of the State Bank of Vietnam, dated 12 August 2011 and effective 1 September 2011. The page says the declaration "does not cover" payment instruments or valuable papers such as traveler's cheques, bank cards, savings books and securities.
For scale (my arithmetic): VND 15,000,000 is thirty of the largest note, the VND 500,000.
If you carry more than the threshold, the Ministry page says you must show Customs a confirmation from an authorised credit institution or a written approval from the State Bank. The same applies if you carry more than you declared on your last entry.
On the way out, the customs page says "the law does not limit the amount that individuals are allowed to carry upon exit". It still has to be declared above the threshold. Fines for not declaring, under Decree 45/2016/ND-CP, run by value:
| Undeclared amount (VND) | Fine (VND) |
|---|---|
| 10,000,000 to under 30,000,000 | 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 |
| 30,000,000 to under 70,000,000 | 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 |
| 70,000,000 to under 100,000,000 | 15,000,000 to 25,000,000 |
| 100,000,000 and over | 30,000,000 to 50,000,000 |
The notes and coins
The State Bank of Vietnam lists polymer (plastic) notes of VND 500,000, 200,000, 100,000, 50,000, 20,000 and 10,000. It also lists older cotton paper notes of VND 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100. The page says "Some cotton paper banknotes are still being circulated simultaneously with the new set of money." It does not say which ones.
Coins listed are VND 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 200.
So the smallest polymer note is VND 10,000. Small change below that could come as paper notes or coins. The page does not say how common each one is in daily use.
What is left open
- Cards. No official page on how widely cards are taken was found, on ATM limits, or on card fees.
- Paying in foreign currency inside Vietnam. Only non-official pages came up. I leave it out.
- Newer rules. The sources do not show whether a newer circular replaced No. 15/2011. The two official pages I read both cite it.
An accountant or lawyer who works with Americans abroad could confirm how a cash declaration fits your own tax filing.
You could…
- Keep your cash under US$5,000 or VND 15,000,000 and skip the declaration.
- Declare more at the border and keep the paperwork.
- Ask your bank about card use and ATM limits before you go.
How much cash do you want in your hand on your first day?
Figures are estimates for planning, based on public data. Date read: 10 October 2026.
Sources
- Ministry of Justice of Vietnam, English portal, "New stipulation on the carrying of cash in foreign currency, Vietnamese dong by individuals upon entry into and exit from the country"
- Vietnam Customs, "Unlimit the amount of cash that individuals are allowed to carry upon exit"
- State Bank of Vietnam, Money issuance
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