Vietnam answers, banking and money
Which ATMs in Vietnam have no fees for foreign cards?
ATM fees in Vietnam are set by the machine's bank, not by yours, and they vary from nothing to several percent. Choosing the right machine matters more here than in most countries because the per-withdrawal limits are low, so a bad choice gets repeated many times a month.
The ranking, as reported in September 2026
| Bank | Local fee per withdrawal | Typical limit per transaction |
|---|---|---|
| VPBank | None reported | VND 10 million |
| Eximbank | 0 to 22,000 VND | VND 2 to 5 million |
| OCB, Agribank | 22,000 to 55,000 VND | VND 2 to 5 million |
| Vietcombank, BIDV | 50,000 to 55,000 VND | VND 2 to 3 million |
| TPBank | About 3.3 percent | VND 2 to 5 million |
These figures come from traveller and expat reports updated in August and September 2026, not from a published tariff, and banks change them without notice. Read the fee screen before you confirm; Vietnamese ATMs must show the local charge and let you cancel.
Why VPBank wins twice
A VND 10 million limit means one withdrawal covers a nomad's cash needs for a week or two. At Vietcombank you would need four withdrawals of VND 2.5 million to get the same cash, paying your home bank's foreign ATM fee four times as well. VPBank machines are common in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, but thinner on the ground in small towns.
The other fee: dynamic currency conversion
Every ATM will offer to convert your withdrawal into your home currency "for your convenience". Decline it and choose VND. The ATM's conversion rate is typically several percent worse than the rate your card issuer applies, and it is charged on top of any fixed fee.
Cutting your own bank's fees
The local fee is only half the bill. Cards from Wise, Revolut, Charles Schwab and similar refund or waive the issuer side; Wise's conversion fees start from 0.26 percent. Pair one of those with a VPBank or Eximbank machine and the total cost of cash drops to almost nothing.
Cash still matters
Vietnam is now largely QR-based, and foreigners with a local bank app can pay by VietQR everywhere. But market stalls, small landlords and the electricity man in the rainy season still want notes, and ATMs go offline in long power cuts, so keep a reserve. Check the day's rate with the Currency Check tool and see the setting up in Vietnam guide for opening a local account, which ends the ATM question entirely.
Sources
- Vietnam With Me, Best ATMs in Vietnam, fees and limits by bank (updated 9 September 2026), accessed .
- Day Trips Vietnam, Vietnam ATM Fees 2026 (5 September 2026), accessed .
- Wise, VietQR for Foreigners: The Complete Guide, conversion fees from 0.26 percent (4 June 2026), accessed .
Facts in this answer last verified .
Read the full guide
- Setting up in Vietnam: residence declaration, SIM, bank account, money, licence and healthcare
Setting up in Vietnam runs in order: address declaration, SIM with face scan, then bank. Plus money transfers, ATM fees, the 1968 IDP rule and Da Nang clinics.
Free tool for this
- Currency Check
Euro, baht, dong and common currencies with a dated reference rate and explicit fees.