Do Cambodia, Vietnam & Thailand prefer USD even in the markets?

UK Monzo Chat Travelling with Monzo
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I am travelling to Cambodia, Vietnam & Thailand in February - is it best to take USD, will this also be accepted at the markets & tourist sites?

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This seems like a question for Google.

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Iā€™ve done both Vietnam and Cambodia.

Use Dong in Vietnam (although just get it out of the hole in the wall rather than getting it upfront). Use USD in Cambodia would be my advice (and you can also get it from ATM). Although any change you get after paying with USD will be Riel.

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I have lived in Vietnam and Cambodia and recommend local currency in both, prices tend to drop and things like street food will usually just be in local currency.

In Cambodia you can spend dollars in hotels and tourist restaurants, and actually in most places but you will get change in riel at the currency rate the person giving you the change makes up on the spot :smile:

In Vietnam, just use dong all the time. A few places might accept dollars, but itā€™s not worth keeping them. Thailand doesnā€™t accept dollars anywhere as far as I know.

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I found in all three destinations that merchants mostly accept card, even contactless. Itā€™s very dominate in Thailand.

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Iā€™ve only been to Vietnam and Thailand but both countries Iā€™d use the local currency. Particularly Thailand which is a fairly advance financial setup - cards widely accepted in shops.

In fact in Thailand Iā€™d be surprised anything other than the Baht is accepted. Iā€™ve never seen anyone use dollars or anything else really. Itā€™s a pretty modern country.

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Really that nice

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Vietnam really is local currency VND (Vietnamese Dong) only, you can possibly use USD at some hotels or touristy places in an absolute emergency but even then probably a lot better to just exchange at a good currency exchanger. The VND is quite stable currency internally and most places price in VND only.

Only sort of places I have ever seen USD on a menu card is the touristy type of places, like some massage places with advertisement boards outside. Not entirely sure if the USD on the advert board is just for indicative purposes only for tourists or if they accept that currency also (though may not be completely legal to accept currency in anything other than the local).

Any local establishment where mainly only Vietnamese go, or any correctly registered business (e.g. a chain or international business) would usually be VND only. Some more ā€˜dodgyā€™ places may take USD, or someone trying to help you out. Or some established places may give you the option to pay in your bankā€™s currency (though it is always best to pay in local currency and let Monzo handle the transaction as it uses Mastercardā€™s exchange rates with no mark up)

In conclusion I would only really recommend using VND in Vietnam. Note that most ATMs will charge you a fee, and have restricted withdrawal limits per transaction (common is 3m). So if you think your card doesnā€™t work it may just be because you are hitting the per withdrawal limit of the cash machine. Or the cash machine doesnā€™t have specific notes to dispense. Top tip: use your Monzo card at a TP Bank or VP Bank ATM and there is no low limit withdrawal limit + NO FEE at those ATMs. (note that this is for Monzo European/UK issued Mastercards, charges at different machines may be different for visa and/or if the card is registered locally or in Europe or elsewhere)

I have extensive travel experience in Vietnam over multiple years and I have only ever paid in VND here.

Cambodia on the other hand I have heard more places accept USD, so maybe some for emergency is fine.