Job Discussion Forums

tomaschonnie · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 59 Location: HCMH Saigon

i went into Techcombank earlier today to exchange some dollars into dong but they wouldn't accept my notes coz they were 'too old'. what kind of crap is this I ask ye??? i walked out in disgust. ridiculous.

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

Common in Viet Nam! It's THEE most idiotic thing I have ever seen in my life, but, yeah - that's commonplace.....had that happen to me a couple of times!!

tonyjones01 · Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Posts: 67

I think main concern is with counterfeit money. This country is rampant with fake money. Keep this in mind when exchanging money on the streets. The Viet money is especially hard to detect.

Also, for anyone bringing money from the US, get the newest bills you can find. Many places will give you a lower exchange rate (or wont take it) if the money isn't in good condition.

TravelnLass · Joined: 25 Apr 2011 Posts: 21 Location: Seattle

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

When I was in India, I recall making a withdrawal at a teller, and getting a few "dirty" looking notes from the teller. I asked her to change them for newer ones. She told me they were counterfeit and it was not her banks policy to accept counterfeit notes. I pointed out that I had just got them from her not 20 seconds ago, and indeed I was still standing there from that transaction. Her reply? "I have never seen you before in my life-if you continue to ask me to change your counterfeit notes I will have to call security".
"But madam, your last transaction was with me"--"Sir. I am calling security right now" Bye.

tomaschonnie · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 59 Location: HCMH Saigon

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: Counterfeit

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

Place your euors, dollars, kroners, whatever, in the middle of a thick tome of your choosing. "Practical English Usage" would be a fitting example. There are two benefits to this approach. One, you may forget about the currency and later discover it when you're fumbling with the concept of phrasal verbs with the conventions of transitive and intransitive usage, and it will be like Christmas. Two, on a serious "note" (terrible pun totally intended), the Vietnamese tellers will take a grammar-sodden, flattened bank note much more readily than one which bears the signs of non-horizontal wear and tear.