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vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

I went to Agribank today, for the second time, to change money. The first time went without incident. I got a receipt and a fair exchange rate. All the calculations were done in front of me. Now, this time I went in I must of had the word 'mark' on my forehead. I should of realised when it took twice as long to figure out the rate and that no receipt appeared. I changed 200 euro which should of given me 5,700,000 and change. The first quote I received was for 5,000,000. Thank God I managed to bargain up to 5,500,000, as it was only afterwards that I realised what had happened. '

It was so bloody childish, they kept on going up, on paper, in increments of 100,000 until they gave a loud "NO", then I felt that, ok, thats the best I can do. Still, of course, I lost.

I really didn't think that I would have to be on my guard in a bank. Today p*ssed me off.

I must always ask for a receipt, even in a bank; Jesus, the rates were there right in front of me.

Andy123 · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 206

They have many tricks. They are true experts when it comes to handleing the money.

Try withdrawing a large amount of money and they will mix 10,000 D notes with 100,000 D notes. They will even pass you funny money. They are the experts and there is not much you can do. Try to learn as fast as you can.

s10czar · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 60

you gotta be shitting me...the BANK is passing off counterfeits???

Oh My God · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 273

Andy123 · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 206

The funny money was excellent in quality. I went to several banks and each time they simply touched/rubbed the paper and knew. No machine needed.

I was impressed!

baygioimdi · Joined: 28 Jan 2011 Posts: 44

I have had some interesting experiences at banks in hcmc.

I was changing usd to vietnamese dong at a bank and they decided to check if my usd notes were counterfeits. They left with the notes and returned shortly stating that 2 of my USD 100 notes were not real-i then checked on the note for the gold shop small chop and it was not there-they switched them.

Another time i was getting usd and they tried to give me counterfeit 100 usd notes,

another time they gave me counterfeit vietnamese dong and after i walked away from the teller i noticed them, i tried to return the notes but the bank stated that they did not accept fake currency

another time they tried to give me cambodian riel instead of thai baht.

another time, another time, another time, Of course the above stories are figments of my imagination i just want to follow in the footsteps of the previous posters.

looking forward to reading more creative stories-keep them coming!

shanewarne · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 146

I tried to change my dong into dollars the other day and the man behind the counter started laughing. Poor service!

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

I won't go so far as to doubt the veracity of claims previously made here, but I personally haven't experienced short-changing or counterfeits (that I have known of or any subsequent merchant has known of) from banks.

The one thing I have experienced, often, and would remind people to be aware of is the actual condition of the notes. Both at shops and the bank, employees will frequently try to sneak into your transaction notes with cracks, worn out ink, corners cut off, and taped-up scars and rips. This is not even mentioning the ever-present threat of those small, filthy paper notes that feel as if they'll disintegrate in one's hand. It can be a problem at cash points as well.

The trouble, if you've not guessed already, is that no one else will accept such bills for payment. I recall having already eaten once, handing over the last note I had in my wallet to pay the bill, and it being refused due to a small crack. It caused a bit of a scene (I refused to find a cash point and return), but of course when they realized it was the cracked note or nothing, they took it Wink

So always check through your cash at banks, preferably on the actual desk or whilst watching the teller count it out. People are usually quite reasonable with sorting you out with a better note once you've "busted" them (I usually get a kind of shy "Aw, you caught me" smile, and the bad note promptly changed).

I've heard that Vietnam has a policy by which one can exchange "reasonably" damaged VND for new notes, but I'd expect that to be flying pig scenario in practice.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:58 am Post subject:

Personally I have never had any problems with the banks here, but I have only dealt with the ANZ and they have been really good.

Oh My God · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 273

baygioimdi · Joined: 28 Jan 2011 Posts: 44

This thread is like most other threads on the vietnam site. Full of exaggerations, distortions and outright fabrications. Of course, it should be up to the readers and not the posters to evaluate and judge their posts.

This thread is here for one purpose-to misinform readers about the banking system in Vietnam, in particular, to provide negative information to prospective teachers etc about Vietnam. If it isn't, why mention something about a country if it rarely and possibly never happens? I would also like to clarify that this thread is not about the black market, buying usd etc thats on a different thread.

The facts-foreigners in Vietnam will not have any issues concerning exchange rates(state bank of vietnam exchage rate)-when selling foreign currency-counterfeits are rare in Vietnam, a few issues with torn or marked notes, but generally easy to pass on depending on the transaction.

As I stated before, keep the stories coming. LOL

LettersAthruZ · Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Posts: 466 Location: North Viet Nam

No, I think this thread is here for one purpose - to educate the less experienced here about a VERY REAL threat/scam that is focused on separating the Tay and their hard-earned cash!

Rant over - gonna put on my rose-coloured glasses and see that all is well with the world here now!

Few more posts like that attempting to explain the purpose of certain threads and ya might make moderator! Razz

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

bobpen · Joined: 04 Mar 2011 Posts: 89

JonnyBBad · Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 19 Location: UK

Back in 2004, I remember when I parked my moped in Lao Cai... came back after a half-hour refreshment stop and the thing wouldn't start. Conveniently the six guys standing across the road came over and said they knew somewhere just around the corner to get it fixed. It was obvious that a part had been removed while I was gone. Not being a mechanic I paid the 30 or so dollars and was back on the road in 30 mins. Apparently it's a popular scam.