Where to exchange money in Da Nang: banks, gold shops and the airport compared

The short answer: the best way to get dong in Da Nang

• Change or withdraw a small amount at the airport, enough for the first evening.
• Do the main exchange in the city, at a licensed gold shop with a visible certificate, a bank, or a bank counter inside a mall.
• Keep an ATM with a low-fee card as the backup.
• Always choose VND on card and ATM screens.

Put the stakes in proportion before you start comparing rate boards. On USD 300, the gap between the worst legal option and the best is usually a few dollars, not tens of dollars. Losing a single 500,000 VND note through a counting mistake costs more than any rate difference you will find in Da Nang. The rate is the small game. The counting is the big one.

Option	Typical rate vs bank cash buying rate	Hours	Passport needed	Receipt	Main risk	Best for
Airport counter	About 1 to 2% below the best city counters	Around international arrivals	Often yes	Yes	Lower rate, but small sums	First transport, SIM, first meal
Bank branch	Benchmark	Mon to Fri, morning and afternoon, some Saturday mornings	Yes	Yes	Queues, lunch closure, not every branch trades cash	Large amounts, paperwork
Licensed gold shop near Han market	Often equal to or slightly above the bank cash rate	Roughly 7:30 to 19:00, some later	Rarely	On request	Unlicensed points, note confusion	Best rate on clean large notes
Mall bank counter	Close to bank rate	Mall hours, including weekends	Yes	Yes	Fewer counters than expected	Sundays and evenings
Beach-area agent (An Thuong, My Khe)	Mixed, better on large notes	Long hours	Sometimes	On request	Licence status	Less common currencies, SIM bundles
Hotel	Usually the weakest	Always	No	Rarely	Poor rate, low limits	A taxi fare
ATM	Wholesale rate minus fees	24/7	No	No	Operator fee, DCC, empty machines	Backup, small withdrawals

Which option fits your arrival

Late-night arrival: the airport counter or an ATM, nothing else. Sunday or public holiday: banks are closed, so use gold shops, mall counters or an ATM. Weekday daytime: any option works. Large amount, over about USD 1,000: a bank or an established licensed agent, with your passport and a receipt.

Currency matters too. USD, EUR, JPY, KRW, AUD and SGD are easy to exchange anywhere. INR, PHP, MYR, IDR and TWD are harder. Some agents in the beach area list PHP, INR and TWD on their boards, but call ahead rather than assume.

A note on Da Nang addresses after the 2025 merger

Since 1 July 2025, the former Quang Nam province, including Hoi An, has been merged into Da Nang city. Districts such as Hai Chau and Son Tra were abolished as administrative units under the two-tier local government reform. Many published bank and shop addresses still use the old district names, and Google Maps and taxi drivers mostly still understand them.

Navigate by street name and landmark, not by district. "Tran Phu street, two blocks from Han market" gets you there. "Hai Chau district" may not.

Before you fly: which notes to bring and what to set up

This decides how good your rate will be before you land.

Best currencies and denominations

USD, EUR, KRW, JPY, AUD and SGD are the easiest currencies to exchange in Da Nang. Large, crisp notes usually get the best rate: USD 100 in the current blue-stripe series, EUR 50 to 100, KRW 50,000. Small USD notes (1, 5, 10, 20) are often quoted lower at gold shops. Older USD series, and notes that are torn, written on, stamped or heavily folded, may be refused or discounted.

Do not assume larger notes always get a better rate. Ask for the quote on a 100 and on a 20 before you hand anything over.

Cards to bring

Bring two cards on different networks, ideally one with no foreign transaction fee. Travel-focused debit cards and multi-currency accounts do this well. Tell your bank you are travelling if it requires it, and know your home bank's overseas ATM fee before you land. Keep the second card separate from the first.

Customs cash limits

Foreign cash above USD 5,000 (or the equivalent), or more than VND 15,000,000, must be declared on entry and exit. Check the current threshold with Vietnam Customs or the State Bank of Vietnam before you travel, because the figure is adjusted from time to time.

Before you fly	Why	Action
Note condition	Torn or marked notes get refused or discounted	Request clean, unmarked large notes from your bank
Two cards, two networks	One card will fail at some point	Pack the second card in a different bag
Home bank ATM fee	It stacks on top of the Vietnamese operator fee	Check the fee schedule before departure
Customs threshold	Undeclared excess cash is a problem at the border	Declare anything above USD 5,000 or VND 15,000,000
Passport	Required at banks and often at airport counters	Carry it, or a clear photo if the counter accepts one

Da Nang airport: exchange counters, ATMs and how much to change

Where the counters are

International arrivals (Terminal 2) have bank-run counters near baggage claim and in the arrivals hall. The domestic terminal (Terminal 1) has counters as well, and published sources place an Eximbank counter on the second floor near the souvenir shops.

The airport's official page lists these currencies for the Terminal 1 counters: AUD, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, KRW, SGD, THB and USD. INR is not listed. Re-check the list and the opening hours on the airport website before you rely on a specific currency, and treat "24/7" claims with caution. Counters are generally staffed around international arrivals, which is not the same thing.

Is the airport rate really bad?

Published sources disagree. Some call the airport rate the worst in the city. Others say it is close to city banks and occasionally better than some of them. The typical reported gap is about 1 to 2% below the best city counters.

Photograph the airport rate board and the Vietcombank published cash buying rate on the same day, then compare. That is the only honest way to know what the gap is on your travel date.

A passport may be requested at the counter.

How much to change on arrival

Enough for transport, a SIM and the first meal:

• Taxi or Grab from the airport to My Khe or An Thuong: roughly 80,000 to 150,000 VND (about USD 3 to 6)
• Tourist SIM: roughly 150,000 to 300,000 VND (USD 6 to 11)
• First meals

About USD 50 to 100 covers this comfortably. There is no fixed rule. Changing more at the airport costs little, but there is no reason to change everything there either.

Airport ATMs

There are ATMs in arrivals, and the same fee and currency conversion rules apply as in the city. Withdraw in VND and decline any offer to convert into your home currency.

Han market gold shops and exchange counters

Why locals and travellers use gold shops

Gold and jewellery shops trade foreign currency as licensed exchange agents. Rates are often close to, or slightly above, the bank cash buying rate. Service is fast: usually no queue numbers and little paperwork. Shops are open evenings and weekends, which banks are not.

Where to find them

The main cluster sits on Tran Phu and Hung Vuong streets around Han market, and along Bach Dang near the river. There is another cluster around Con market. On the east bank, look at shops on Trieu Viet Vuong near Ha Than market, and some on Le Duan.

Several shop names circulate online. Treat them as leads, not recommendations, because licences and rates change. Learn the cluster and the checking method instead of chasing a single shop.

The licence question and the February 2026 rules

Only authorised foreign exchange agents, under conditions set out in Decree 89/2016/ND-CP and later amendments, may exchange cash. Under sanction rules, the customer exchanging at an unlicensed point can also be penalised, not only the shop. Penalties have historically ranged from a warning for small amounts to fines in the millions or tens of millions of VND.

Local sources report that stricter sanction rules took effect on 9 February 2026, and that some Da Nang gold shops suspended exchange services as a result. Confirm the current decree number and fine bands with the State Bank of Vietnam or the government legal portal before you rely on a specific figure.

How to spot a licensed counter

Look for an agent certificate on display (a "đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" certificate naming the partner bank), a posted rate board with both buying and selling rates, willingness to show the calculation on a calculator, and a receipt or transaction slip on request.

Red flags: someone approaching you in the market offering a rate, exchanges done outside the shop, and any refusal to show the rate before you hand over cash.

Hours and seasonal closures

Typical hours run from about 7:30 to 19:00, with some shops open later. At least one widely cited Han market shop closes at 19:00. Many gold shops close for several days around Tet, the Lunar New Year. The next Tet falls on 6 February 2027, with closures typically running from a day or two before to several days after.

Around the God of Wealth day, the 10th day of the first lunar month (about 15 February 2027), gold shops are packed with gold buyers and exchange can mean long waits. Confirm both dates locally before planning around them.

Safety around the market

The area is busy. Keep exchanged cash out of sight, split it between pockets or bags, and be aware that bag snatching from motorbikes is reported along riverside roads.

Banks in Da Nang: the formal option

How a bank exchange works

Take a queue ticket and show your passport, which is usually required. Staff check the notes with a counting and verification machine. You sign the slip and receive a receipt, which is useful if you later want to change leftover dong back. Allow 15 to 40 minutes.

Opening hours

Typically Monday to Friday, about 7:30 or 8:00 to 11:30, then 13:30 to 16:30. Some branches open on Saturday morning. All are closed on Sundays and public holidays. The lunch closure catches many travellers out.

Which banks and where

Vietcombank, BIDV, VietinBank, Agribank, ACB, Techcombank, Sacombank and Eximbank all have central branches. Look along the Le Loi, Tran Phu, Nguyen Chi Thanh and Le Duan corridors, plus branches on the east bank along Ngo Quyen and Tran Hung Dao.

Not every branch exchanges foreign cash over the counter, and a branch having an ATM does not mean it does. Call ahead or check the branch list before making a trip.

Bank rate versus gold shop rate

Banks are not automatically better. Gold shops are often equal or slightly better for USD 100 notes. Banks win on paperwork, receipts and large amounts, and they are the right choice if you want a documented transaction.

Mall counters, beach-area exchange shops and hotels

Bank counters inside malls

Published sources describe bank-operated counters at Vincom Plaza on Ngo Quyen, at Lotte Mart (Eximbank, ground floor) and at GO! Da Nang (Eximbank). Their advantages are posted electronic rate boards, mall hours that include weekends and evenings, and a formal bank process. Confirm which counters are operating before you go, since mall tenants change.

An Thuong and My Khe exchange shops

Dedicated exchange agents operate in the An Thuong backpacker and expat quarter and on Loseby street. Some handle less common currencies such as PHP, INR and TWD, and some sell SIM cards. One published source reports better rates for exchanges of USD 100 or more and weaker rates for USD 20 to 50. The same licence checks apply here as at Han market.

Hotels

Convenient for small amounts, with the least favourable rates and low limits. Fine for the equivalent of a taxi fare, not for a week's budget.

ATMs: fees, limits and the cheapest way to withdraw

What you pay

There are two layers of cost. The Vietnamese ATM operator fee is shown on screen before you confirm, commonly reported from about 20,000 to 110,000 VND per withdrawal (USD 0.75 to 4.20). Your home bank's foreign transaction or withdrawal fee sits on top.

Fewer, larger withdrawals usually cost less, because the operator fee is charged per transaction, not per dong.

Withdrawal limits

Per-transaction caps commonly sit between about 2,000,000 and 10,000,000 VND, depending on the bank and the machine. Daily limits are set by your own card. Check the cap on screen before choosing the amount, because a low cap forces a second withdrawal and a second fee.

Dynamic currency conversion

If the screen offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and continue in VND. The machine operator's conversion rate typically carries a markup of several per cent. Your own bank still applies its rate on top.

Practical ATM safety

Prefer machines inside bank branches or malls. Cover the keypad and check for loose card slots. Avoid late-night withdrawals on empty streets. Some machines run out of cash on weekends and holidays. If a machine retains your card, the bank branch is usually the only route, and only during opening hours.

How to check a rate and work out what you actually get

The three rates you will see

The mid-market reference rate on Google, XE or Wise is a benchmark, not what you get. The bank cash buying rate is published daily by Vietcombank on its website, alongside buying transfer and selling rates, and the cash buying rate is the realistic benchmark for notes. The counter rate is the number on the board.

Buying versus selling is where most people slip. You need the rate at which the counter buys your currency, not the higher selling rate it charges someone buying that currency from them.

A worked example

Take USD 300 through four channels. All figures are illustrative, using a reference of about 26,300 VND per USD in late 2026. Update them with the live rate on the day you publish or travel.

Channel	Rate applied	Fees	VND received	Difference vs best (USD)
Airport counter (about 1.5% below bank cash rate)	25,900	0	7,770,000	About 4.50
Bank, cash buying rate	26,300	0	7,890,000	About 0
Licensed gold shop (slightly above bank cash rate)	26,350	0	7,905,000	Best
ATM withdrawal with 2% card markup and 50,000 VND operator fee	About 25,770 effective	50,000 VND	About 7,680,000	About 8.50

The spread between the best and worst legal option is roughly USD 8.50 on USD 300. Real, but not life-changing. Now imagine handing over a 500,000 VND note instead of a 20,000 one: that single slip costs 480,000 VND, about USD 18.

Ask the one question that matters

"How much dong do I get for this, in total?" Have it typed on a calculator before handing over your cash, and check whether any separate commission applies.

How to count your notes and avoid the classic mistakes

Know the notes

Polymer notes run from 10,000 to 500,000 VND. Paper notes cover 1,000 to 5,000 VND, and the smaller ones are rarely seen. Two pairs cause most of the trouble: 20,000 and 500,000, which are both blue and differ 25-fold, and 10,000 and 200,000, which share brownish and reddish tones.

Denomination	Material	Dominant colour	Easily confused with	Approx. USD
10,000 VND	Polymer	Brownish yellow	200,000	0.38
20,000 VND	Polymer	Blue	500,000	0.76
50,000 VND	Polymer	Pinkish	500,000 at a glance	1.90
100,000 VND	Polymer	Green	10,000 at a glance	3.80
200,000 VND	Polymer	Reddish brown	10,000	7.60
500,000 VND	Polymer	Blue-green	20,000	19.00

Read the zeros, not the colour. Menus often use the "K" shorthand, where 100K means 100,000 VND.

A counting routine at the counter

1. Agree the total first.
2. Watch the shop's machine count if one is used.
3. Then sort the notes yourself by denomination and fan them out, because new polymer notes stick together.
4. Count before leaving the counter, never on the street.

Counting in front of staff is normal practice in Vietnam and nobody takes offence.

Ask for a useful mix

Ask for some 50,000 and 100,000 notes. Street stalls and drivers often cannot change 500,000. Break large notes by buying something at a convenience store or supermarket.

Scams and errors to watch for

A rate quoted for 100-dollar notes, then a lower rate applied to your 20s. A "commission" added after counting. Short-counting through sleight of hand, which is rare in established shops but is the main risk with street exchangers. And change given in the wrong denomination when you pay later.

Exchanging before Hoi An, Ba Na Hills and other day trips

Hoi An

Hoi An has banks, ATMs and gold shops around the central market and along Tran Hung Dao and Le Loi, and rates are broadly comparable to Da Nang. Exchanging in Da Nang first matters mainly for early departures and Sundays. Cash is still needed for the Old Town ticket (120,000 VND, about USD 4.60 for foreign visitors, though the price should be checked), basket boat rides, market stalls, and lantern and street food vendors. Tailors and some restaurants accept cards, often with a 2 to 3% surcharge.

Ba Na Hills

There are no exchange counters on site, and foreign cash is not accepted. ATMs exist at the base station and the summit but may run short at peak times. Major ticket desks, restaurants and shops accept cards. Change money in the city beforehand if you want cash for snacks and small purchases. Ticket prices are high, reported from about 850,000 to over 1,000,000 VND per adult (USD 32 to 40+), so verify the current rate before you go.

Marble Mountains, Son Tra, My Son and the Hai Van pass

Entry tickets, elevators, parking, drinks and roadside stops are mostly cash. Exchange options are sparse or absent near these sites.

Day trip	Exchange or ATM on site?	Card for the main ticket?	Suggested cash to carry
Hoi An	Banks, ATMs, gold shops	Sometimes, with surcharge	500,000 to 1,000,000 VND (USD 19 to 38)
Ba Na Hills	ATMs only, no exchange	Yes at main desks	300,000 to 500,000 VND (USD 11 to 19)
Marble Mountains	No	No	200,000 to 300,000 VND (USD 8 to 11)
Son Tra peninsula	No	No	200,000 to 400,000 VND (USD 8 to 15)
My Son	No	Sometimes	300,000 to 500,000 VND (USD 11 to 19)

Cards, QR payments and when cash is still needed

Where cards work

Cards are widely accepted at hotels and malls, supermarkets and convenience chains, larger restaurants and cafes, and on Grab, paid through the app with a foreign card. Expect surcharges at some smaller merchants.

QR payments

Vietnamese QR (VietQR) is everywhere but generally needs a local bank account. Cross-border QR links exist with some neighbouring countries' banking apps, and availability changes, so check before you plan around it. Most visitors should not rely on QR.

Where cash is essential

Street food and markets, including Han market haggling. Motorbike rental deposits. Small guesthouses. Tips. Local buses.

How much cash per day

A mid-range traveller in Da Nang spends roughly 800,000 to 1,500,000 VND (USD 30 to 57) a day in cash outside the hotel bill. A budget traveller can get by on 400,000 to 700,000 VND (USD 15 to 27). Anchor prices: banh mi 20,000 to 35,000 VND, mi quang 40,000 to 60,000 VND, a short Grab ride 30,000 to 80,000 VND, coffee 25,000 to 50,000 VND.

So is USD 100 a lot of money in Vietnam? At about 26,300 VND per USD, it is roughly 2.6 million VND, enough for one to two comfortable days in Da Nang outside accommodation, or longer on a street food budget.

Leaving Da Nang: leftover dong and buying US dollars

Changing dong back

Selling VND back for foreign currency is restricted. Counters at the international departures area may do it, often only with original exchange receipts and a passport, and in limited amounts. The simplest approach is to spend down or keep small notes for a return trip. Verify current airport practice before you count on it.

Buying USD in Da Nang

Banks sell foreign currency to individuals only for documented purposes, so this is hard for tourists. Some licensed agents sell USD, but at the selling rate, which is worse. Bring any USD you need, such as for a Cambodia visa, from home, or use Cambodia's online e-visa paid by card.

For country-wide rules, other cities and tipping, see the site's general guide to exchanging money in Vietnam.

FAQ

Q: Where is the best place to exchange money in Da Nang? For most travellers, a licensed gold shop near Han market or a bank gives the best cash rate, with a mall bank counter as the weekend option. The difference between these is small. Licence checks and correct counting matter more than chasing a tenth of a percent.

Q: Is it better to exchange money at Da Nang airport or in the city? Change about USD 50 to 100 at the airport for transport and a SIM, and do the main exchange in the city. Published sources disagree on the size of the airport gap. Measure it yourself by photographing both boards on the same day, and expect roughly 1 to 2%.

Q: Are gold shops in Da Nang legal for currency exchange? Only those registered as authorised foreign exchange agents. Customers at unlicensed points can be penalised too, and rules reportedly tightened from 9 February 2026. Look for the agent certificate and the posted rate board before you hand over cash.

Q: Which ATM in Da Nang has the lowest fees? Read the fee on screen before confirming, make fewer larger withdrawals, and always decline conversion into your home currency. Operator fees commonly run from about 20,000 to 110,000 VND per withdrawal, so the difference between banks is real but modest.

Q: Can I exchange money at Ba Na Hills or in Hoi An? Ba Na Hills has no exchange counters, only ATMs, and foreign cash is not accepted. Hoi An has banks, ATMs and gold shops with rates similar to Da Nang. Exchange in Da Nang before early departures or Sunday trips.

Q: Is $100 a lot of money in Vietnam? At about 26,300 VND per USD, USD 100 is roughly 2.6 million VND. In Da Nang that covers one to two comfortable days of food, transport and sights outside accommodation, or longer on a street food budget.

Q: Can I buy US dollars in Da Nang or change dong back before leaving? Both are restricted for tourists. Banks need documented purposes, and changing dong back usually requires exchange receipts and is limited. Bring any USD you need from home and spend down your dong before departure.