It is always stated that US dollars remain legal tender regardless of the age or the design of the note, and I made the mistake of taking this maxim at face value when I set off travelling in Southeast Asia.

I’d had some US dollars left over from a previous trip to America and, knowing they were widely accepted in Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos, I scooped them up before I began my travels, pleased that I was saving myself the extra expense of buying new currency.

I realised my error soon after landing in Hanoi.  US dollars were accepted, but only crisp, new-circulation notes.  My eight year old – and older – rather crumpled bills were regarded with frank suspicion.  Thankfully, I had a few new €20 notes, which saw me through until I could reach an ATM.

Now, a word of advice about ATMs in Vietnam and Cambodia.  Vietnamese ATMs only issue Vietnamese Dong, not US dollars, whereas it is possible to get both US dollars and Cambodian Riels directly from ATMs in Cambodia.

In both countries, a similar system applies when receiving change.  Typically, even if you make a purchase with US dollars, you will receive change in the local currency or, sometimes, a mixture of US dollars and local currency, if a large amount of change is required.

Ideally, before returning home, you will want to offload any small denomination (and I mean anything under 50,000 Dong) Vietnamese notes, and all Cambodian Riels if possible, since they are unlikely to be accepted in currency exchanges outside of the region.

This all sounds rather officious, which is not the impression that I want to create.  In both Vietnam and Cambodia one of the things that most surprised me was their laissez-faire attitude when it came to different currencies – at different times, I was told I could pay in Sterling, in Euros; rarely did a shop or a restaurant or a market stall not have a handy calculator ready, and an up-to-the-minute knowledge of currency conversion rates available, so that a transaction could be made, regardless of the origin of the notes. 

In Southeast, it is the actual sale that is paramount.

© E. C. Glendenny

E. C. Glendenny is a bit laissez-faire with her own coppers.