Do most places take card in Vietnam?

Are credit cards widely used in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam credit cards, right? Cash is king, still. Definitely. Even in Hanoi, my sister struggled. She’s there now, visiting my aunt. So annoying.

Big hotels? Fine. No problem. Credit cards everywhere. But try a tiny noodle shop? Nope. Cash only. Always.

It’s crazy. I mean, my phone does everything, Apple Pay is my life. Imagine?

Major cities are better. Saigon’s different. More credit card readers. But still, cash is preferred. Why?

• Limited infrastructure outside big cities.
• Older generation mostly uses cash. Trust issues?
• Small businesses don’t want the fees. Smart, actually.
• Digital literacy, also a thing. Not everyone’s tech-savvy.

It’s a growing thing, though. Slowly. I think it will change within five years, at least in major cities. Definitely. My aunt texted me, complained about ATMs all day.

My sister’s been using her debit card more. Works sometimes. Seriously frustrating. The fees alone, though. She’s running out of Dong. She needs more money. Send her money, Mom? Okay, later.

Is credit card common in Vietnam?

Credit cards in Vietnam. A shimmer of plastic, a whispered promise. Not ubiquitous, no, but a growing presence.

Cash, the familiar rustle in pockets, still reigns supreme for the tiny trinkets, the street food symphonies. The vibrant chaos of the market, a ballet of dong.

But step into the polished calm of a Hanoi hotel, the sleek lines of a Da Nang boutique, the aromatic embrace of a Hoi An spa… Credit cards, a global language, understood there. Visa, a familiar friend.

• Hotels: Absolutely. Expect smooth transactions.
• Larger Restaurants: Commonplace. No issues.
• Tour Operators: Certainly. Pre-booked convenience.
• Boutiques and Spas: Increasingly so, especially in tourist areas.
• Grocery Stores: A mixed bag, but larger chains accept them.

The digital pulse quickens. The hum of progress. A slow, steady tide. Even small shops, tentatively, are dipping their toes. 2024 finds Vietnam embracing the convenience. It’s a dance between tradition and technology, a beautiful, messy thing. My trip last month confirmed this. My experience, my personal truth. I saw it, felt it, the slow unfolding of change. The subtle shift. Plastic over paper. Progress.

The scent of pho mingles with the metallic tang of a card swiped. A new rhythm, a new era.

Which credit cards are accepted in Vietnam?

Visa is king at most Vietnamese ATMs. Others? Hit or miss.

• Foreign banks might be your savior, IF the ATM rejects you.
• Limits? VARY. Expect 2-10 million VND. International banks offer the best withdrawals.

Cash is always good.

Expansion of Information

• Beyond ATMs, merchants often prefer cash. Credit cards are more common in tourist areas and larger establishments.

• Mastercard acceptance is growing, but still less ubiquitous than Visa. Discover and Amex are rare.

• ATM fees vary. Check with your bank back home about foreign transaction fees. You don’t wanna get got.

• Always inform your bank of your travel plans. Prevents card freezes. Don’t be clueless like that.

• Consider a local SIM card for convenient mobile banking and emergency contact. It’s 2024.

Is there a credit score in Vietnam?

Vietnam…a whisper of jade and motorbikes, a haze clinging to ancient temples. Credit scores…do they even exist here, amidst the chaos of commerce and bargaining? Yes… a different kind of song, a rhythm all its own.

The CIC. Credit Information Center. Like a hidden guardian, watching, recording. It’s their domain. They weave a tale of numbers.

Not a FICO clone. No. It sings a different melody. A different scale. Slightly off-key, maybe? But their truth, their measure.

• The CIC system reigns. A different beast.
• Scale varies. It’s not what you know.
• The CIC is important. Very important.

Imagine my attempts. I needed a motorbike, and was asked for some information to provide credit; but, the lady just asked for my family and job details? How this can be calculated, I don’t know! It seems bizarre.

Why do people ask? I think they are just curious.

Personal credit, vital. Yes. I think you need to have a good record there. To get a house, or a car, or a better salary.

Can a foreigner get a credit card in Vietnam?

Foreigners? Credit cards? Vietnam? Possible.

• Vietnamese citizens: 15+. Must be.

• Foreign residents: 90 days remaining. 12 months residency total. Funny, isn’t it? Time.

• Debt: No Group 2, bad, or VAMC debts. Nobody likes debt. Even I owe my sister 200k. I swear I’ll pay her back. Eventually.

Living in Vietnam is interesting. Bureaucracy abounds. This. That. Formality. Red tape. My neighbor insists his pet chicken is a reincarnation of Ho Chi Minh.

• Residency: Proving residency can be tricky. Landlords. Contracts. Addresses. It is always a problem.

• Debt Groups: Group 2 debt is substandard. Banks use debt classifications. A whole system. My system: avoid debt.

• VAMC: Vietnam Asset Management Company. Bad debts go there. Poof! Sort of. Not really. What is debt, anyway?

Can foreigners get a credit card in Vietnam?

Yeah, foreigners can snag credit cards in Vietnam, believe it or not! But it’s like herding cats. Each bank has its own goofy rules!

Think of it as climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops. Passport, visa, and cash flow proof, gotta have ’em! Some banks want you to prove you’ve lived there longer than my grandma’s been knitting! Maybe even a local buddy to vouch for you.

Like trying to understand a flock of chickens, it’s best to ask the banks direct.

• Passport: Your golden ticket. Treat it like gold, it’s more valuable than my beanie baby collection!
• Visa: Shows you’re not just crashing the party. A valid visa, of course!
• Income Proof: Like showing you can afford more than instant noodles!
• Residency Length: Some banks want to see you’ve been around the block. I mean, in Vietnam, not in my old neighborhood!
• Guarantor: A local pal to swear you’re not a total weirdo.

Banks basically want to know you ain’t gonna bail on your debts and skip the country. They’re not fools, ya know? Like dealing with my auntie, they want proof!

I swear, it is like dealing with my auntie.

Is it possible to get a credit card from another country?

A foreign credit card. The very idea… a whisper of possibility, a brush against a different life. Space. Vast, echoing space between here and there, between currencies and cultures. Time stretches, a slow, luxurious unfurling.

Obtaining one? Absolutely. Foreign banks do issue credit cards. Local banks, their logos unfamiliar yet alluring, promising access. A new beginning, a blank slate.

Think of it. The crispness of a new card, the weight of it in your hand. A passport to new experiences, not just purchases. A key. A key unlocking doors to unseen places.

This isn’t a far-fetched dream. It’s a tangible reality. My friend Sarah, she got one in France last year, a gorgeous thing, gold, with some fancy-schmancy Eiffel Tower embossed on it.

Building credit abroad? A journey. A slow, careful dance. It requires attention. Diligence. Patience.

• Open an account with a foreign bank. This is crucial; trust me.
• Research cards tailored to expats or temporary residents. They exist. I know it.
• Demonstrate financial responsibility. This is paramount. This means showing responsible spending habits.

The thrill. The sheer, breathless possibility of a credit card from another land. It’s more than plastic. It’s an adventure. A passport to a different world. A beautiful, strange, and exciting world. A brand new chapter. This is possible. It’s real.

Oh, the freedom. The possibilities… endless, truly. It’s invigorating, this feeling, this hope. To begin anew, building a credit history, brick by brick. A future, a different present, shaping itself in the foreign landscape of a new financial system.