OMG, I'm a Millionaire! The Vietnamese Currency Confusion (and How Not to Get Cheated)

Alan Kho Hung Wei
Nov 29, 2025
3 min read

The feeling is incredible: you exchange your hard-earned cash, and suddenly, you’re holding stacks of blue, red, and yellow polymer, seeing zeros like never before. Welcome to Vietnam, where you can instantly become a millionaire—just in Vietnamese Đồng (VND)!

While this "new millionaire" status is fun, the local currency is often the #1 source of confusion for new arrivals. The similar colors and high denominations can lead to mistakes (or worse, getting tricked).

Here is your essential guide to conquering the VND and protecting your wallet on day one!

1. Mastering the Vietnamese Currency: Notes and Near-Misses

Vietnam uses polymer (plastic) notes, which are durable but can be tricky because their colors are confusingly similar, especially when you're in a hurry. You’ll mostly encounter the notes in the table below.

Pro-Tip: The easiest way to tell the notes apart is by the number of zeros (and the material—the smallest notes, 1,000 VND and 2,000 VND, are made of paper).

Note Value (VND)	Color	Quick Distinguishing Feature
500,000	Blue/Light Blue	The highest note. Similar to the 20,000 VND.
200,000	Red-Orange	The next highest. Similar to the 50,000 and 10,000 VND.
100,000	Green / Olive Green	Unique color. Generally safe from color confusion.
50,000	Purple / Violet	Similar to the 200,000 and 10,000 VND.
20,000	Dark Blue	Similar to the 500,000 VND. (Easily mistaken for the highest note!)
10,000	Yellow / Light Brown	Similar to the 200,000 and 50,000 VND.
5,000	Dark Blue/Light Blue
2,000	Brown/White (Paper)
1,000	Light Blue (Paper)

2. Your Millionaire Safety Strategy

To avoid stress and potential scams, follow these two crucial steps the moment you exchange your money (Vietnamese Currency):

A. Divide and Conquer Your Cash

Separate the high-value notes from the low-value notes immediately.

The Power Notes (500k, 200k, 100k): Keep these in a secure inner pocket or wallet for major expenses (hotels, tour payments, large restaurant bills).
The Daily Notes (50k, 20k, 10k, 5k): Keep a separate, small stack of these ready for street vendors, taxi fares, and small purchases.

Mavi Travels Tip : Always remember the saying, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket!" Only carry what you need for the day and leave the rest locked up at your hotel or keep somewhere safe in your bag.

B. The Zero Game: Quickly Check the Zeros

When you pull out a note, don't just look at the color—quickly count the zeros.

500,000 VND has 5 zeros.
50,000 VND has 4 zeros.

A quick count can prevent you from accidentally paying a 50,000 VND bill with a 500,000 VND note (a 10x mistake!).

3. The Street Vendor Trap: Pay with Confidence

You are absolutely right—this is where most travelers get caught out. When you’re at a busy roadside stall buying cut fruit or a snack, the pressure is on:

The price is 36,000 VND. Motorbikes are zooming past. The vendor is waiting. You pull out a wad of cash and... freeze! Which note is which?

In this moment of confusion and nervousness, many travelers panic and simply pull out their entire stack, saying, "Just take it!"

NEVER LET ANYONE TAKE MONEY DIRECTLY FROM YOUR HAND.

While most Vietnamese people are honest and will patiently point out the correct notes, a few bad apples will take advantage of your confusion. They might quickly snatch a large note (like a 500,000 VND note) and hand you change for a much smaller amount, claiming you paid with a 50,000 VND note.

How to Pay Safely and Smartly (Vietnamese Currency Confusion):

Be Calm: Take your time. Slow doesn't matter; paying correctly does. The vendor can wait.
State the Price: Before you pull out your money, confirm the price aloud: "Ba mươi sáu ngàn Đồng?" (36,000 VND?)
Count it Out: Only take out the denomination you intend to use (e.g., a 50,000 VND note). Look at it one last time to confirm the zeros, and then hand it over

Ready to visit Vietnam?

Mavi Travels offers customized Vietnam tours designed for Malaysian, Singaporean travelers.