Out with my Dong

[munitalP]

Just before Xmas (day after AFF Party) SHMBO and I are heading up to Macau, Hong Kong, Vietnam (meeting oz_mark & Mrs. oz_mark there) then Thailand. For the first time ever, I have decided to carry cash for the entire journey.

So after decisions as to currency to carry, I have gone the following:

80% US Dollars
10% Hong Kong
10 % Vietnam Dong

I only intend to use CC for hotel deposits as I have advance purchased hotels, so I am hoping the extortion CC fees will not be as prevalent as previous years.

I guess my biggest concern is theft, so I will be making use of the hotel safes wherever possible.

Has anyone else done this and what precautions did you take keeping the cash safe?

munitalP

 

[moa999]

Why ???
Do you have a 28Degrees card.
Otherwise even with a regular card, a 2-3% premium is probably worth it for peace of mind.

 

[Shelf]

Keep the cash in several locations?

 

[amaroo]

I wouldn't bother with the dong. .....you''ll end up getting a billion in change after paying with USD.

 

[Mattg]

That's probably a good combination of money to have. I would make use of the hotel safes and keeps notes on your person (e.g. in a travel money pouch) when travelling between hotels and when out take a limited amount with you. With simple precautions you should be fine.

 

[Simo]

Make sure you don't break the rules about carrying cash.

PHP is only 8K in PHP which is just under $200 AUD.

 

[jetlagger]

Make sure you don't break the rules about carrying cash.

PHP is only 8K in PHP which is just under $200 AUD.

Oh dear.. Usually have about 5 times that amount on me at any given time.
Had many times of the 'offline" at banks when I really need it in the provinces.

 

[oz_mark]

Make sure you don't break the rules about carrying cash.

PHP is only 8K in PHP which is just under $200 AUD.

Interesting, the IataTravelCentre says 10000!

Residents and Non-residents: local currency (Philippine Peso-PHP): up to PHP 10,000.-. Exceeding amounts require an authorisation from the Central Bank of the Philippines. foreign currencies : up to USD 10,000.-, or its equivalent. Amounts exceeding USD 10,000.-, or its equivalent must be declared.

IATA - Philippines Customs, Currency & Airport Tax regulations details

 

[Hvr]

I wouldn't bother with the dong. .....you''ll end up getting a billion in change after paying with USD.

I guess there is a lot of shrinkage with the dong when you do the change to USD?

Why take all that foreign currency? If you really want to carry lots of cash then take AUD$. It is accepted for exchange in all of the countries you've listed and you will only pay forex transaction fees once.

 

[amaroo]

I guess there is a lot of shrinkage with the dong when you do the change to USD?

Why take all that foreign currency? If you really want to carry lots of cash then take AUD$. It is accepted for exchange in all of the countries you've listed and you will only pay forex transaction fees once.

IMO street vendors, taxi's & most small local restaurants will only take USD, Dong or if you are lucky CC.

It's good to have some dong in your pants however, this is easily achieved after your first purchase using USD.......the dong will then be plentiful as they love receiving USD & giving you back the Dong!

 

[jetlagger]

IMO street vendors, taxi's & most small local restaurants will only take USD, Dong or if you are lucky CC.

It's good to have some dong in your pants however, this is easily achieved after your first purchase using USD.......the dong will then be plentiful as they love receiving USD & giving you back the Dong!

+1... The USD is still the king in Vietnam. They somehow historically liken it to a currency of worthiness.

 

[medhead]

I'm reminded of Pulp Fiction.

 

[JohnK]

I guess my biggest concern is theft, so I will be making use of the hotel safes wherever possible.

Has anyone else done this and what precautions did you take keeping the cash safe?

I generally have AUD2,000-3,000 with me in wallet at beginning of trip. I make sure the wallet is on me at all times and in room safe at nights. I keep the AUD locked in zipper pocket and I only ever open it to exchange. When I exchange I usually have up to 10,000 baht in wallet (but not zipped up) and I also keep the small change in shirt pocket so I do not open wallet all the time.

I don't flaunt what I have.

I try not to go into dark areas and stick to main roads and areas I know.

So far so good and I see no reason to change in the foreseeable future....

 

[dajop]

In Vietnam, I've found no difficulty finding someone (hotel, or other) to change SGD or AUD if I want to, only when I was there in 1999 did I have a stash of USD (back then a small stash, as that's all you needed) . Probably handy to have some 1 USD notes at the very least. Also I often find the USD amount quoted somehow ends up being quite a bit more than VND quote but I am sure this is a case of YMMV.

Oh, and of course there will be people, the moment they find out you're from Australia, wanting to sell you AUD coins at about double the going exchange rate!