Is it true that Police at Ho Chi Minh Airport in Vietnam will confiscate local currency (Dong) on arrival?

Question

My bank has advised that I only take US dollars and not any Vietnamese Dong to Vietnam as Police will take local currency from you at the airport.

Answer 1

I have never heard of that. The Viet police are very relaxed concerning tourists. I have never been asked to open a bag or explain what I was carrying (aside from the immigration card) on any of my 20 or so visits.

It really doesn't matter though, The one hundred dollar bill is Vietnam's "unofficial" currency. Just make sure they are clean, crisp and in good condition. Shops won't change damaged bills and banks will discount them.

BTW, I regularly return to Vietnam with any currency that I have not given away as souvenirs and have never had anything confiscated.

Enjoy your trip.

Answer 2

I have never been asked on arrival at either the Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) or Tan Son Nhut Airport (HCMC or Saigon) whether I carried any Dong so how would they know whether I carried any?

Most people who have visited Vietnam before return there with some Dongs in their possessions because the Dongs cannot be easily exchanged to other currencies outside of Vietnam so the best thing is to save what you happen to retain from the previous trip and bring them back to spend.

Answer 3

I don't think so. The police there in Vietnam are really quiet good.

On a recent trip overseas I had my camera stolen from a cafe shop. No one seemed to want to help me, as they feared the police. I reported it to them and believe it or not they went back and got he camera back for me.

The camera didn't mean much but more important was the principle that is happened to me.

The police were excellent.

I felt sorry for the police officer because he had to file a report which took nearly two hours of writing on pen and paper.

Answer 4

first off ;how would they even know you have it ? second :absolutly not. i ALWAYS make sure i bring vn dong home w/ me so i will have some  in my pocket when i go back to viet nam. the ONLY thing customs at a viet nam airport EVER checked on me was a casset video tape, and after warching 30 seconds of my home movies they permitted me to take the tape and go on.  OH, and you dont have to [ and should not] put $5 in your pass port to bribe anyone.. its all very ligit in vn nowadays.... naw laos and cambodia are a diffrent story.....

Answer 5

I don't think so, Police don't take any local currency from you at the air port

Answer 6

o_o n trust me they wont confiscate it. ive been there a bunch of times.

Answer 7

Just been to vietnam a month ago. The people in general are very nice and the policeman are very friendly. Never had the problem of having my money confiscated. Even at the immigration it was smooth sailing!

Answer 8

It's an untruthful story from your bank. Vietnamese police never confiscate any thing from tourism (except for illegal things).

You can easily see that, Vietnam need to keep foreign's currency for the development of the country not her own money.