Major credit cards (Visa, American Express, JCB, MasterCard, and Dinner’s Club) are gradually becoming more widely accepted in Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. All top level and many mid-level hotels accept them, as do a growing number of restaurants and up market shops catering to the tourist trade. But watch out for the extra taxes they wrap on when using a credit card – these can amount to an additional 5 percent. Outside the major cities you will have to rely on cash.
Cash advances on credit cards are available at the central Vietcombank in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other major cities, for which you will be charged around 3 %. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City also boast 24hr ATMs where you can withdraw cash on MasterCard, Visa and other cards in the Cirrus/Plus networks. In Hanoi, go to the ANZ Bank beside Hoan Kiem Lake; in HCMC both ANZ Bank and HKSB have ATMs.
