Money in Ho Chi Minh City: where to change currency legally and get cash
Where to change currency legally in Ho Chi Minh City, which banks are in the centre, what street exchange risks, Mir cards, roubles and cash declaration.
You can legally change cash in Ho Chi Minh City at a bank or at a bank's exchange agent that displays an "Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" sign. In the centre of District 1, the Metropolitan building at Đồng Khởi 235 houses two banks from the Ho Chi Minh City banks section: an HSBC branch and a Vietcombank office. We have not confirmed any bank exchange agent in the city. Street exchange breaks the law: the money can be confiscated and fines reach hundreds of millions of dong.
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Where can I legally change money in Ho Chi Minh City?
At a bank. The State Bank of Vietnam says cash foreign currency should be exchanged at commercial banks or at agents holding its registration certificate (LSVN, 5 July 2026). In District 1, HSBC and Vietcombank share the Metropolitan building at Đồng Khởi 235. Bring your passport. More on addresses is in the currency exchange section.
When are the HSBC and Vietcombank offices open?
HSBC's branch in Metropolitan is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 16:30, excluding public and bank holidays, according to the bank's own site (checked 25 October 2026). The Vietcombank office is in the same building, first floor, room 03. It moved there from 5 Công trường Mê Linh on 6 December 2023 (VNBA, 8 December 2023), so an old map may send you to the former address. We did not find Vietcombank's hours on the bank's site: check the map on the day or call.
| Bank | Address | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC Vietnam | Metropolitan, Đồng Khởi 235 | Mon–Fri 8:30–16:30 per the bank's site |
| Vietcombank (Đồng Khởi office) | Metropolitan, 1st floor, room 03 at Đồng Khởi 235 | Moved from 5 Công trường Mê Linh in December 2023 |
What happens if I change money on the street?
It is a violation. Decree 340/2025/NĐ-CP, Article 27, in force since 9 February 2026, allows an individual to be fined up to 250 million dong for illegal currency trading, and the currency can be confiscated (VnEconomy, 12 January 2026). For a private deal under 1,000 US dollars the first offence gets a warning; after that the fine is 10 to 20 million dong. The State Bank also warns about counterfeit notes (LSVN, 5 July 2026). Our advice: skip "good rate" offers from strangers and market stalls.
How do I tell a bank agent from an illegal shop?
By the sign and the rate board. The place must display a sign naming the bank that authorised the agent and the agent itself, plus a public exchange-rate board (SGGP, 27 May 2025). An agent only buys cash from individuals (SGGP, 27 May 2025). No sign means do not exchange: a Ho Chi Minh City lawyer quoted by Pháp Luật TP.HCM confirms that gold shops without State Bank approval may not exchange currency (22 October 2025).
What about the gold shops on Hà Tôn Quyền and Lê Thánh Tôn?
These streets are known for jewellers, but we could not confirm any shop there as a bank agent, so we name none. The rule is simple: a shop is legal only with a bank-agent sign and a rate board. No sign, no exchange. If in doubt, ask which bank authorised the shop and call that bank.
Where do I withdraw cash from an ATM?
Find the nearest machine in your bank's app or on its website. We did not check specific ATMs in the city and name none. If a machine offers to charge in dollars or in dong, choose dong and check the terms with your own bank.
Do Russian Mir cards work in Ho Chi Minh City?
Only at VRB ATMs: Mir was connected to its network in 2019 (VRB, 29 October 2019). VRB has 21 ATMs nationwide and a branch in Ho Chi Minh City (www1.ru, 4 February 2026), but we did not confirm a specific machine in the city. Call VRB's hotline 1800 6656 before you rely on it.
Do banks take Russian roubles?
The rouble is on the currency list of Vietcombank's rates page (25 October 2026), but whether an office takes roubles in cash is up to the office, so call ahead. US dollars or euros are the safer bet.
Can I change money at Tân Sơn Nhất airport?
We found no confirmation. Official pages do not describe exchange or ATMs at the airport, and travel blogs that mention ATMs in arrivals are not a source. Do not count on exchange right after landing: bring a backup way to pay or change money at a bank in town.
Do I have to declare cash?
Yes, on entry and exit you declare more than 5,000 US dollars in cash, more than 15 million dong, or 300 grams or more of gold (Tax and Customs magazine, 28 May 2026). From 1 July 2026 fines for not declaring fall under Decree 169/2026.
FAQ
Where can I legally change dollars in Ho Chi Minh City? At a bank or at a bank's agent with an "Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" sign and a rate board. We confirmed two banks in the centre: HSBC and Vietcombank at Đồng Khởi 235.
Can I exchange money at a gold shop? Only if the shop displays a bank-agent sign. Without it, it is illegal and fines reach hundreds of millions of dong.
What is the fine for street exchange? For a private deal under 1,000 US dollars: a warning the first time, then 10 to 20 million dong. Larger amounts cost more, and the currency can be confiscated.
When is HSBC on Đồng Khởi open? Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 16:30 per the bank's site. Closed at weekends and on holidays.
Where did Vietcombank move from Mê Linh Square? To Metropolitan, Đồng Khởi 235, first floor, room 03, on 6 December 2023.
Do Mir cards work? Only at VRB ATMs. Call 1800 6656 to find a machine in the city.
Must I declare cash? Yes, if you carry more than 5,000 US dollars or more than 15 million dong.
Sources and checks
Exchange rules and fines: Decree 340/2025/NĐ-CP (VnEconomy, 12 Jan 2026; LSVN, 5 Jul 2026). Signs of a bank agent: SGGP (27 May 2025) and Pháp Luật TP.HCM (Tuổi Trẻ, 22 Oct 2025). HSBC branch: the bank's site, 25 Oct 2026. Vietcombank: VNBA (8 Dec 2023) and the VietGid card checked against Google Maps on 25 Oct 2026. Rouble: Vietcombank rates page (25 Oct 2026); we publish no rates. Mir: VRB (29 Oct 2019), www1.ru (4 Feb 2026). Declaration: Tax and Customs magazine (28 May 2026). Bank agents, gold shops on Hà Tôn Quyền and Lê Thánh Tôn, specific ATMs and airport exchange are not confirmed by sources and we promise none. Eximbank is not listed: we only have the bank's own site. This is a guide, not legal advice. Updated 25 October 2026.