The currency of Vietnam is the Dong. All goods and services can and should be paid for in Dong. Exceptions are made in hotels and when buying international air tickets. Shops and restaurants in the bigger cities will also accept US dollars, but you should be aware of the fact that usually a lower exchange rate will be used. It is therefore advisable to change a certain amount of Vietnamese Dong to cover your day-to-day expenses.
The exchange rate in December 2008 was 17,000 Dong to US$1.

Travellers Cheques
Must be in US dollars. You can change them to Dong or to US dollars (with a 2% commission). Those issued by American Express, Bank of America, Citicorp, First National City Bank, Thomas Cook, and Visa are accepted. They are also accepted at major tourist hotels, but not in most shops. Vietnam is still very much a cash economy.		  

Credit Cards
Visa, Mastercard and - with exceptions - American Express are accepted in virtually every hotel in major cities throughout the country, as well as in upmarket restaurants especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Nowadays there are many ATMs throughout the country where travellers get the best exchange rates.