Practical Travel Advice
Cash is still expected at markets, street food stalls, and smaller family-run guesthouses, so carry small denominations for anything under a few hundred thousand dong. Cards are widely accepted at hotels, malls, and restaurants in major cities, though a small surcharge sometimes applies.
Setting up a local e-wallet is worth it mainly for ride-hailing and food delivery apps rather than everyday purchases, and it usually requires a local phone number to register.