Where to change money in Nha Trang legally — and not lose it all
In Nha Trang you can only change currency at a bank or a bank agent with a "Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" sign. How to spot an agent, roubles and worn notes, when an ATM is easier, and the penalty for street exchange.
You can legally change money in Nha Trang in two places: a bank, or an exchange agent working for a bank. An agent has a "Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" sign at the door with the bank's name on it. Exchanging with private individuals, at shops without the sign or through Telegram changers is illegal in Vietnam — you risk a fine and losing the whole amount.
Where can you change money, and where not?
| Where | Legal? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | yes | passport usually needed; closed at weekends |
| Bank agent ("Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ") | yes | sign with the bank's name, rates on display |
| Jewellery shop without the sign, private person, Telegram | no | fine and confiscation of the currency |
| ATM | yes | you withdraw dong with your card; your bank's and the ATM's fees apply |
Addresses are in currency exchange and banks.
How do you spot a real exchange agent?
Look for the "Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" sign with the partner bank's name, and buy and sell rates on display. Many agents are jewellery shops, but a jewellery shop without that sign is not an agent. No sign, or they can't name the bank — walk on.
Vietcombank agents in the catalogue: - Anh Minh — 22 Hung Vuong. Buys foreign cash, so you can bring dollars here. - Nam Anh — in Gold Coast, 1 Tran Hung Dao. Only sells foreign currency, so you can't change dollars into dong here.
Which banks change money?
Banks in town that offered currency exchange: Vietcombank (17 Quang Trung), BIDV (35 Duong 2/4), ACB (80 Quang Trung) and VietinBank (4 Hoang Hoa Tham). Banks usually open 8 am–5 pm with a lunch break 11:30–1:30, and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Call before you go and ask whether they take your currency. Also in the catalogue: Nam A Bank in Nha Trang Center on the seafront (20 Tran Phu; weekdays until 5 pm), VRB, the Vietnam–Russia joint bank (159 Thong Nhat), BIDV at 11 Quang Trung, and VIB at 50 Le Thanh Phuong (opens at 8 am).
Dollars or other currencies?
US dollars are what people change most often. Other currencies, such as roubles, are accepted less often, so ask in advance. Pay in dong everywhere: if a café or shop agrees to take dollars, the conversion usually isn't in your favour.
Which notes should you bring?
Flat, preferably new ones. Torn, ripped, old or badly worn notes are often refused or changed at a lower rate. Bring your passport: banks usually ask for it, agents vary.
Is an ATM easier?
If you only need dong, yes — just withdraw with your card. Where the 24-hour ATMs are and how not to overpay: see ATMs in Nha Trang. Expect two fees: from the bank that issued your card and from the ATM itself, and limits vary. For opening an account here, see opening a bank account in Vietnam as a foreigner.
What's the penalty for street exchange?
Decree 340/2025/NĐ-CP has applied since 9 February 2026. Exchanging less than the equivalent of 1,000 US dollars outside a bank or agent brings a warning; larger amounts bring a fine and confiscation of all the currency involved. Under the previous decree, the fine for 1,000–10,000 dollars was 10–20 million dong. Whenever you change money, count it on the spot and take a receipt if one is offered.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I legally change dollars in Nha Trang? At a bank or at a bank agent with a "Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" sign. Not with private people or at shops without the sign.
Can I change roubles or other currencies? Less often than dollars and not everywhere. Call the bank or agent first.
What happens if I change money on the street? Under 1,000 dollars — a warning; above that — a fine and confiscation of all the currency.
How do I recognise a licensed agent? By the "Đại lý đổi ngoại tệ" sign with a bank's name and rates on display. No sign — don't change there.
Will they take old or creased notes? Often not, or at a lower rate. Bring flat, new notes.
Do I need my passport? At a bank, usually yes. At an agent, ask on the spot.
Which is cheaper — exchange or an ATM? It depends on your card: an ATM means two fees. Compare your bank's terms before the trip.
Sources and verification
Rules are based on Decree 340/2025/NĐ-CP (signed 25 December 2025, in force from 9 February 2026; article 27 covers exchange between private individuals) on the government portal vanban.chinhphu.vn. It replaced Decree 88/2019/NĐ-CP (article 23: a fine of 10–20 million dong for 1,000–10,000 dollars). According to cand.vn (10 January 2026), the fine amounts did not change in the new decree; we have not checked the full text of article 27 line by line. This is reference information, not legal advice. Anh Minh and Nam Anh come from Vietcombank's list of exchange agents (PDF, October 2022); whether it is current today is not confirmed. Banks offering exchange come from a 2019 roundup, with no fresh confirmation per branch. Bank hours are as reported by the catalogue owner (29 September 2026); sources differ for individual branches. The note on roubles is a general observation from reviews. We don't publish rates: they change during the day. Text updated 12 October 2026.