Job Discussion Forums

[longdistancewalker]

Hello.

I will be paid in Chinese RMB at the end of a job in July. I'm flying out of Beijing to Hanoi a few days afterward. I'd like to know the best option for changing the money. Is there a way to deposit the cash into my savings account (BofA) through a third party? I definitely want it in my account. Because the job is short term the employer does not offer direct deposit. My second choice is turning the money into VN Dong. Its equivalent to $2k so I'd prefer to not enter VN with it on my person.

Thanks.

[Mattingly]

[roadwalker]

If you have a Chinese national friend that you trust, bring him or her and your RMB to the Bank of China and ask your friend to exchange for US dollars. (It's just easier for a local to do it than for a foreigner.) Then you can carry the US money to Vietnam or you or you friend can wire it from the same Bank of China branch to your BofA account. Have your ABA routing and account numbers ready but also contact BofA and ask for their SWIFT number for international wires. It should cost you 200 RMB. Check in the China forums under "sending money...."

I couldn't tell you if it is better to exchange for Dong in Beijing or Hanoi, sorry.

[imjustme]

My own experience went like this:

At Bank of China in Nanning, when I asked about converting RMB to VND, the information gal said, "I don't know. Goodbye."

Other banks then pointed me back toward that original Bank of China.

At the hostel, I was told, "Don't worry; just change your money in Hanoi."

So I arrived in Hanoi, by train from Nanning, without any VND in my pocket. None at all. Happily, the cabbie took my Chinese money (though he wanted a LOT, of course, and even after bargaining down I paid too much). That first night, the hotel changed a single 100 RMB note for me, but at a very bad rate.

Next day I tried a bank or two before getting directed to Ha Trung street, in Hanoi's Old City (Hoan Kiem district).

Along this street you will find a string of gold shops. They look a bit dodgy, but in fact they give excellent rates, as I subsequently confirmed on wikitravel.org (Hanoi page). Totally no-nonsense. They quote you a rate; you hand over the RMB; they hand back the VND; done! No queues to stand in, no forms to fill out. Nothing but BANG, Vietnamese money for Chinese at an excellent rate.

So there you go! Finished and done! Sorted!

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[imjustme]

[quote="1st Sgt Welsh"I don't want to sound horrible, but, in my experience, almost all of the rip offs that I've heard about here seem to happen to people who I'd unfortunately consider to be 'accidents-waiting-to-happen'. Of course, this doesn't mean that ripping off people is in anyway acceptable. However, those who have, for want of a better term, a bit of 'street smarts' about them usually don't get taken or, when they do, it's very mild. Anyway all the best with the rest of the trip![/quote]

Welsh,

Are you really a 1st SGT?

With unmilitary-like subtlety, you ever so subtly suggest that I'm "an accident waiting to happen."

Hurrah! Hurray! Unintended (if so) compliment accepted! I'm wide-eyed and loving Vietnam, having been here just two-and-a-half days.

In that time, everyone has attempted to rob me. With absurd blatancy, too. If one pack of cigs costs 30,000 VND (and likely less than that for locals), how can 4 times 30,000 possibly equal 130,000? Yes, we'll take your 10,000 VND (fifty cents US) just because we can.

The hotel attempted a 50% overcharge after my first night. Again, I pointed out the "error," which they then acknowledged.

Et cetera.

So in fairness, it's probably only a matter of time before I start ranting about how thieving and dishonest the Vietnamese are.

BUT, the food is good. The women are sexy. Even in a cheap hotel I get TV from all over the world (as compared with China, Korea). The Internet is apparently uncensored (as compared). People here are alive. They quote a price (which may well be inflated); I quote back a price. Gee, whaddaya know, it's business!

God bless this country. Warts and all, it's a blast!

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[LettersAthruZ]

[kurtz]

^ Dude, I know you see people exchanging cash filled manila envelopes in your sleep; it's a full monomania not seen since Poe's obsession with Bernice's teeth... "and the teeth maintained their terrible ascendency"...if you're just after the cash, perhaps try a more lucrative country than Vietnam as your cynicism needs a time out

[LettersAthruZ]

......or you can just follow the toadie army to the march of their siren song - "Sunshine and Roses"......

[The Mad Hatter]

[LettersAthruZ]