Money & Currency in Dalat: ATMs, Exchange Rates & Tips
Vietnam runs on cash and Vietnamese Dong (VND) — and Dalat, being a smaller highland city, is more cash-first than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Here's how to get money, exchange it fairly, and roughly what things cost.
ATMs in Dalat
ATMs are easy to find around the central market and Xuan Huong Lake — look for Vietcombank, BIDV, Agribank and Techcombank. A few things to know:
- Most Vietnamese banks charge a foreign-card withdrawal fee (roughly 20,000–50,000 VND per transaction), plus whatever your home bank charges.
- Withdrawal limits are usually 2,000,000–5,000,000 VND per transaction — you may need a couple of withdrawals for a bigger sum.
- A fee-free travel card (Wise, Revolut and similar) saves real money if you're withdrawing often.
Exchanging cash
Gold and jewellery shops around the market exchange USD reasonably well, but the posted rate isn't always the real one until you ask. For RUB, USDT or less common currencies, a local exchanger who publishes a clear, updated rate is usually the better deal — no guessing, no "special rate for you" haggling.
Exchange with a trusted local
See today's published rate and message the exchanger directly on the Dalat App — the same live rate shown above, no hidden margin.
What things cost in Dalat (rough guide)
- Coffee (Vietnamese drip or egg coffee): 25,000–45,000 VND
- Local meal / street food: 30,000–60,000 VND
- Restaurant meal: 80,000–200,000 VND
- Motorbike rental (per day): 100,000–150,000 VND — see our motorbike rental guide
- Short Grab/taxi ride: 30,000–60,000 VND
Card payments
Bigger hotels, some cafés and supermarkets take cards, but plenty of small local restaurants, market stalls and homestays are cash-only. Always carry some cash, especially outside the very centre.
Avoiding the usual mistakes
- Count your change. Genuine mistakes and deliberate short-changing both happen; it's an easy habit either way.
- Watch for similar-looking notes. The 500,000 and 20,000 VND notes are both blue and occasionally confused, especially at night.
- Don't exchange at the airport if you can help it — rates there are consistently the worst.
- Agree the price before you order at unmarked stalls, especially for anything not on a visible menu.
FAQ
Can I use USD in Dalat?
No, day-to-day payments are in VND. Some tours are quoted in USD but settled in VND.
Where are the ATMs?
Around the central market and Xuan Huong Lake — Vietcombank, BIDV, Agribank, Techcombank all have branches with ATMs.
Cash or ATM — which is better?
ATMs for small amounts in VND. For larger sums or currencies like RUB, a trusted local exchanger with a transparent rate usually beats a bank.