Money at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City uses the VND (₫). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly 200,000–300,000 VND. Cash preferred; small VND notes. Grab is safest for card-on-file.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)?
Vietnam uses the VND (₫). Airport ATMs dispense VND directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from SGN to the city cost?
Expected fare on the SGN → District 1 route is roughly 200,000–300,000 VND. Around 500,000+ VND is already high, and 1,000,000+ VND rigged is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at SGN?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Vietnam don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at SGN?
Cash preferred; small VND notes. Grab is safest for card-on-file. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of VND notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at SGN?
Only if you need $10–20 of VND to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.