Using ATMs in Vietnam: fees, withdrawal limits and the banks that charge least

How ATM fees in Vietnam actually work

Four separate charges can land on a single withdrawal. Understanding them is the difference between paying 0.55% and paying 5%.

The local operator fee

This is what the Vietnamese bank owning the machine charges your foreign card. It is usually a flat sum between 20,000 and 55,000 VND (about 0.80 to 2.20 USD), and occasionally a percentage.

Vietnamese banks generally publish fees excluding 10% VAT. That is why travelers see 55,000 VND rather than 50,000, and 33,000 VND rather than 30,000. A percentage fee of 3% plus VAT becomes 3.3%. The odd numbers are not random; they are tax-inclusive. Confirm the current VAT rate applied to bank service fees before relying on the arithmetic.

The home bank fee and the FX markup

Your own bank usually adds two things: a flat international withdrawal fee, reported at roughly 3 to 5 USD in some guides, and a currency conversion markup of roughly 1% to 3%. Some account tiers waive the flat fee or reimburse operator fees. Check your own tariff before departure rather than assuming.

Why some guides misquote fees

Bank fee schedules published in Vietnam are written for Vietnamese-issued cards. A domestic schedule quoting 9,090 VND at off-network ATMs, or interbank fees in the 1,100 to 11,000 VND range, has nothing to do with a foreign Visa or Mastercard. If a figure looks suspiciously precise and small, it is almost certainly a domestic tariff.

What the Wise data really says

Wise analyzed 9.7 million withdrawals made with its cards between February and July 2025, covering ATMs with at least 500 transactions in that period. It found an average declared third-party fee of 27.1% in Vietnam, the highest of any country surveyed.

Read that number carefully. It is a percentage of the amount withdrawn, and small withdrawals inflate it. A 50,000 VND fee on a 500,000 VND withdrawal is already 10%. The lesson is not that Vietnam takes a quarter of your money. The lesson is that small withdrawals are disastrous.

Bank-by-bank comparison of fees and limits

Published sources disagree, sometimes within the same guide. The table below shows both values where that happens. The on-screen fee is the only authoritative number on the day.

Bank	Reported fee for foreign cards	Reported max per withdrawal	Source type and date	Notes
VPBank	Free	10,000,000 VND	Travel guides, 2025 and 2026	One older guide gives 5,000,000 VND. Fewer machines than state banks
ACB	Free (one guide reports ~50,000 VND)	3,000,000 VND	Travel guides, 2025	Verify on screen
Vietcombank	50,000 VND	2,000,000 or 5,000,000 VND	Travel guide, 2025	The same guide gives both caps
BIDV	3% + 10% VAT = 3.3%	Not stated	Traveler report, 2017	Old and unverified
Agribank	22,000 VND (another guide groups it at ~55,000 VND)	3,000,000 VND	Travel guide, 2024	Widest rural network
VietinBank	Not reliably published	3,000,000 VND	Travel guide, 2025	Check on screen
TPBank	~3.3% since June 2025	Not stated	Travel guide, October 2025	Was free before June 2025
Sacombank	50,000 to 100,000 VND	10,000,000 VND	Travel guides and forum reports	Forum users describe a percentage fee
Techcombank	~50,000 VND	5,000,000 VND	Travel guide, 2025	Forum users report higher fees and lower limits
MB Bank	49,500 VND	5,000,000 VND	Forum post, April 2024
HSBC	Free for some account tiers	4,800,000 VND	Travel guide, 2025	Limited network
Shinhan	Charges foreign cards	Not stated	Travel guide, 2025	Took over ANZ's retail business in 2017

Banks reported as free or cheapest for foreign cards

VPBank is the option most consistently reported as free for foreign cards, with a 10,000,000 VND cap in two travel guides published in 2025 and 2026. One older guide gives 5,000,000 VND. The branding is green and red, and the network is thinner than the state banks, usually at least one or two machines per city.

ACB is reported free with a 3,000,000 VND cap by two guides, while another lists it at around 50,000 VND. Treat ACB as "reported free, verify on screen."

State-owned banks

Vietcombank is reported at 50,000 VND, with the cap given as both 2,000,000 and 5,000,000 VND in the same guide. BIDV appears in a 2017 traveler report at 3.3% on a Visa debit card, which is old and unverified. Agribank is reported at 22,000 VND with a 3,000,000 VND cap in a 2024 guide, though another groups it with banks charging around 55,000 VND. VietinBank has a reported 3,000,000 VND cap but no reliable foreign-card fee.

Private banks

TPBank was free until June 2025, then introduced a fee. One guide reports around 3.3% of the amount as of October 2025, making it among the most expensive options: on 5,000,000 VND, that is 165,000 VND (about 6.50 USD). Sacombank is reported at 50,000 to 100,000 VND with a 10,000,000 VND cap. Techcombank sits near 50,000 VND with a 5,000,000 VND cap. MB Bank was reported at 49,500 VND with a 5,000,000 VND cap in April 2024.

Foreign banks and the Citibank and ANZ myth

HSBC has a reported 4,800,000 VND cap, and withdrawals are fee-free only for some account tiers. Shinhan charges foreign cards.

Older guides still recommend Citibank and ANZ ATMs. Those retail networks no longer exist under those names in Vietnam: ANZ sold its Vietnam retail business to Shinhan in 2017, and Citi's Vietnam consumer business moved to UOB in 2022. Verify current branding before hunting for a branch.

The highest reported fee

A forum thread from December 2025 reports a fee of 132,000 VND on a single withdrawal with a 5 million VND cap. Treat it as a cautionary data point, not a bank tariff.

Calculating the real cost of a withdrawal

Flat fees shrink as a percentage the more you take out. Percentage fees do not.

Amount withdrawn	55,000 VND flat fee	3.3% fee	Fee-free machine
3,000,000 VND	1.83%	99,000 VND	0
5,000,000 VND	1.10%	165,000 VND	0
10,000,000 VND	0.55%	330,000 VND	0

Add the home bank layer and the picture changes again. Take 3,000,000 VND from a 55,000 VND machine, add a hypothetical 3 USD home fee and a 2% markup, and the total cost lands near 5% of the cash in hand. That is an illustration with stated assumptions, not a quote for your card.

The rule of thumb: a percentage fee only beats a flat fee below a certain amount. At 3.3% versus 55,000 VND, the break-even is roughly 1,670,000 VND. Above that, the flat fee wins.

For USD conversions in this article, 1 million VND is roughly 38 to 40 USD at 2025 to 2026 rates. Fix one dated rate from a named source before publishing.

Withdrawal limits and how to get more cash per fee

Three different limits apply at once, and travelers confuse them constantly.

Per-transaction caps at Vietnamese ATMs usually run from 2 to 5 million VND, with some machines allowing 10 million VND. The cap can differ between machines of the same bank, for example a branch machine versus a street kiosk.

Daily and weekly limits set by your home bank are the ones that actually stop you. Vietnamese ATMs generally do not impose a daily total on foreign cards, but your issuer does. Raise the limit in the banking app before departure.

Fintech free allowances. Wise, Revolut and similar cards have monthly fee-free withdrawal allowances that vary by country and plan, and one guide notes these cover only around 7 to 8 million VND. Check current terms for your region.

At a fee-free machine, several consecutive withdrawals cost nothing locally, though each may trigger a home-bank fee. At a flat-fee machine, always take the maximum.

Expect large withdrawals mostly in 500,000 VND notes. Break them at supermarkets, convenience stores and hotel reception. Watch for the 500k and 20k colour confusion, a known swap trick with taxi drivers.

Dynamic currency conversion and why to always decline it

DCC means the ATM operator, not the card network, sets the exchange rate. One guide estimates the result at 5% to 10% worse than the interbank rate. Wise also warns about markups hidden inside "fee-free" claims.

On screen, the prompt typically reads "with conversion / without conversion," "accept / decline," or shows a home-currency amount next to a VND amount. The correct choice is always the option that charges in VND, even when the button is labelled "decline."

If the machine offers to charge your home currency, say no. The rate is set by the machine's owner, not your bank, and it is rarely in your favour.

The same choice appears on card terminals in shops, hotels and restaurants. Separately, some merchants add a card surcharge of 2% to 4%, which is a different cost from DCC.

Card networks accepted: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, Amex

Visa and Mastercard work at almost all ATMs. Debit cards without chip and PIN may fail, so carry cards on both networks.

JCB and UnionPay are accepted at many major banks' ATMs. Confirm the current list, starting with Vietcombank, BIDV and Agribank, on the banks' own websites. Look for the network logos on the machine.

American Express and Maestro are harder. Readers report needing to try several machines. Vietcombank is historically associated with Amex in Vietnam, but verify current acceptance before relying on it.

US dollars cannot be withdrawn from standard ATMs. Some tours and hotels still quote in USD; most places do not.

Where to withdraw safely: skimming, card retention and smart ATM choices

Check the card slot and keypad before inserting anything, and cover your PIN. Prefer machines inside bank branches, malls, supermarkets and hotel lobbies over isolated street kiosks, especially at night.

The bigger Vietnam-specific risk is card retention. On many machines the cash comes out before the card. Travelers take the cash and walk away, and the machine keeps the card after a short timeout. Network errors, repeated wrong PINs and issuer fraud blocks cause the same result.

Withdraw during bank opening hours, typically weekday mornings and afternoons with a lunch break, plus some Saturday mornings. Staff are then on hand if the card is retained. Airport ATMs are sometimes said to charge more, though this is unverified. Withdraw a small amount on arrival and the rest in the city.

What to do when a card is swallowed, blocked or declined

Problem	Likely cause	What to do immediately	Who to contact	Typical delay
Card swallowed	Cash taken before card, timeout	Note ATM ID, location, time	Hotline on the machine, then the branch	Several working days
Card blocked	Fraud system on first foreign withdrawal	Check banking app	Your issuer's international line	Same day to 24 hours
Declined	Network or issuer block	Try another bank's machine	Your issuer	Immediate
Debited, no cash	Dispenser or network error	Keep receipt or screenshot	Your issuer, dispute process	Days to weeks
ATM empty	Rural location or pre-Tết rush	Try another machine or town	Nobody useful	Varies
Fee not shown	Some machines hide it	Check app right after	Your issuer	Immediate

If a card is swallowed, note the ATM's ID number and location, the bank name and the time. Call the hotline printed on the machine, then visit the managing branch with your passport. Expect delays: retained cards may be held for several working days, some banks require written confirmation from the issuing bank, and some destroy retained cards after a set period. If you are leaving town, freeze the card instead of waiting.

For a blocked card, set a travel notice where your bank offers one, keep the app working with roaming or an eSIM, and know how to receive SMS codes abroad.

For "debited but no cash," keep the receipt or a screenshot, contact the issuer, and allow processing time. "Card not supported" usually means a network issue, so try another bank.

Carry two cards on different networks, kept separately, plus an emergency cash reserve. One guide suggests at least 200 USD.

ATMs in rural areas and on islands

Machines thin out fast on the Ha Giang loop villages, in the rural valleys around Sapa, in parts of the Central Highlands, on Mekong Delta backroads and floating markets, and on small islands. Provincial towns usually have at least one.

Agribank has the widest presence in small towns and villages, including forum reports of ATMs in rural villages. Its caps are low, so plan on several withdrawals.

Estimate your cash needs from daily costs for homestays, food, fuel and entrance fees, then withdraw in the last large town before heading off-grid.

Before and during Tết, ATMs empty quickly and banks close for several days. The next Lunar New Year falls on 6 February 2027, with official holiday dates confirmed by the government closer to the time. Withdraw well in advance, and plan the same way around 30 April and 1 May and the 2 September national holiday.

Alternatives that reduce how often you need an ATM

Foreign cards are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets and tour operators in cities, subject to surcharges. VietQR dominates local spending, but foreign cards usually cannot pay it directly; some third-party travel apps and wallets bridge the gap, so compare their fees and rates. Ride-hailing apps can be paid by foreign card.

Exchanging cash remains useful. Banks require a passport, licensed exchange counters often offer good rates, and airports and hotels usually offer the worst. Unlicensed gold-shop exchanges carry real legal risk: Vietnamese authorities have fined individuals for currency exchange at unlicensed shops. Bring undamaged 50 and 100 USD notes for better rates.

Arrivals and departures carrying more than 5,000 USD in foreign cash (or equivalent) or more than 15,000,000 VND must declare it. Verify the current regulation before travelling.

A step-by-step withdrawal routine

1. Before the trip: check home bank fees, raise limits, pack two cards on different networks, save the issuer's international hotline.
2. Pick the machine: a reported low-fee bank, inside a branch or mall, during opening hours.
3. On screen: read the fee prompt and cancel if it is too high, take the maximum, choose VND, decline conversion, wait for the card.
4. After withdrawing: count the notes, check the banking app, break a 500k note at a supermarket.

FAQ

Q: How much does it cost to withdraw money from an ATM in Vietnam? A: Flat fees run roughly 20,000 to 55,000 VND (about 0.80 to 2.20 USD), and some banks charge around 3.3%. VPBank is the most consistently reported free option, with ACB possibly free. Add your home bank's fee and markup on top.

Q: How can I avoid ATM fees in Vietnam? A: Use a reported fee-free bank and confirm the fee on screen. Withdraw the maximum per transaction, always choose VND, and use a card that waives or refunds fees. Pay by card where no surcharge applies to cut the number of withdrawals.

Q: Can I withdraw 10,000 USD from an ATM in Vietnam? A: Not in one go. Per-transaction caps are 2 to 10 million VND, well under 400 USD, and home bank daily limits apply. For large sums, use a bank transfer or a branch cash advance with a passport.

Q: Why did the ATM not show a fee, but my statement shows one? A: Some Vietnamese ATMs do not display the access fee. The charge may also come from your home bank or appear as an FX markup. Check the banking app immediately after withdrawing.

Q: What should I do if an ATM in Vietnam keeps my card? A: Note the ATM ID and time, call the hotline on the machine, then visit the managing branch with your passport during opening hours. Expect a delay of several working days, and freeze the card if you are leaving before it can be recovered.

Q: Should I choose my home currency or VND at the ATM? A: Always VND. Choosing your home currency triggers dynamic currency conversion at a rate set by the ATM operator, estimated at 5% to 10% worse in one published guide.

Q: Are there ATMs in rural Vietnam? A: Most provincial towns have them, with Agribank the most widespread. Villages on the Ha Giang loop, around Sapa and in the Mekong Delta may have none. Withdraw enough in the last large town and keep a cash reserve.