Dong, Dollars and a SIM Card: Your First Day on Phu Quoc

Short answer: Phu Quoc runs on Vietnamese dong (VND). In October 2026, one US dollar buys roughly 25,700–26,200 dong. Bring a few crisp dollar bills for your first exchange, then use ATMs for cash. Pay by Visa or Mastercard at hotels and bigger shops, and keep cash for markets and small cafés. For mobile data, an eSIM bought before you fly is the easiest option; otherwise, pick up a Viettel SIM at the airport with your passport. Grab and GREEN SM electric taxis cover most of the island.

Here's what to sort out in your first few hours, so you don't overpay or get lost in all those zeros.

Your first-day checklist

• At the airport: exchange a small amount, around $20–50, for the taxi and water. Airport rates are usually worse than in town.
• Data: switch on the eSIM you bought earlier, or buy a SIM at a carrier counter in arrivals. Keep your passport handy.
• Rides: install Grab before the trip and add your card, so you see the fare upfront.
• Main exchange: do it in Duong Dong town, where most banks and licensed exchange counters are, or withdraw cash from an ATM.
• Small notes: ask for part of your cash in 10,000–50,000 VND notes. You'll need them at markets, street food stalls and for tips.

Dong and exchange rates: handling the zeros

The dong is the only legal currency for payments in Vietnam. Some places take US dollars, but at a poor rate, so don't count on them. Notes run from 1,000 to 500,000 dong, and coins are practically out of use. Everything from 10,000 up is printed on polymer, and every note shows Ho Chi Minh, so they're easy to mix up.

The two pairs people confuse most:

• 20,000 and 500,000: both are blue;
• 10,000 and 200,000: both are brown-orange.

Count the zeros, and keep your notes sorted by value. Menus and price tags often drop the zeros: "100K" or just "100" means 100,000 dong.

Rates for October 2026: Vietcombank was buying dollars at about 25,760 dong and selling at 26,160–26,170. Rates move daily, so check your banking app for today's figure. For quick mental maths, drop three zeros and divide by 26 to get the price in US dollars.

Where to exchange money and withdraw cash

Exchange. Under Vietnamese law, currency can only be exchanged at banks and licensed counters. Duong Dong usually has the best rates on the island. Hotel front desks pay less, but they're fine for small amounts. Bring $50 and $100 bills in good condition, with no tears or markings. Worn notes may be refused or exchanged at a lower rate.

ATMs. You'll find them at the airport, in Duong Dong, in malls and near the larger hotels. Keep in mind:

• local banks typically charge around 50,000–55,000 VND per withdrawal on a foreign card, and the ATM shows the fee before you confirm;
• most machines let you take out 3–5 million VND per transaction, and some allow more;
• your home bank may charge its own foreign withdrawal fee, so check before you travel;
• if the ATM or card terminal offers to charge you "in your home currency", say no and choose VND. The machine's conversion rate is almost always worse.

Card, QR or cash?

Visa and Mastercard work at hotels, resorts, bigger restaurants, supermarkets and malls. Some places add a 2–3% card surcharge, so ask first. Markets, street food stalls, small massage places and beach vendors want cash.

QR codes are everywhere in Vietnam, even on coffee carts. Locals pay through banking apps on the VietQR standard. Visitors can only do the same if their bank or wallet is connected to the Vietnamese network. As of August 2026, that covered apps from China, South Korea, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Singapore. Kazakhstan's Kaspi.kz supports Kaspi QR payments in Vietnam too. Mastercard is rolling out QR payments with its cards, but coverage is still patchy. Ask your bank whether its app works with Vietnamese QR codes.

SIM card or eSIM?

There are three major carriers on Phu Quoc: Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone. Viettel is the largest and the usual pick for the islands, with steady signal both on the beaches and inland. The other two work fine around the main tourist areas.

Local SIM. You can buy one at carrier counters in the Phu Quoc airport arrivals hall or at official carrier stores in Duong Dong. You'll need your passport, because the SIM is registered in your name. Don't accept a card handed over without a passport check, as unregistered numbers get blocked. In 2026, a 7–30 day tourist package with plenty of data costs roughly 100,000–250,000 VND. The SIM itself sometimes costs extra, and airport prices are higher than in town, so check the exact price on the spot.

eSIM. Buy it online before your flight and switch it on when you land. It comes already registered, so there's no queue. As a 2026 guide, expect around $10–15 for a week with a large data allowance, and less for 1–3 day packages. Make sure your phone supports eSIM and isn't carrier-locked. Most eSIMs are data-only and come without a local phone number.

Wi-Fi is available at nearly every hotel, café and restaurant, but you'll still want mobile data for Grab, maps and translation apps.

Grab, taxis and tipping

Grab works on Phu Quoc with both cars and motorbikes. You see the price before booking and can pay by card in the app or in cash. Coverage is best in Duong Dong and along Long Beach. Expect longer waits in remote areas, late at night and during peak season.

GREEN SM (formerly Xanh SM) runs electric VinFast taxis and has operated on the island since 2023. Book through the app or call 1900 2088. Mai Linh is another reliable company with metered taxis; just make sure the meter is on.

As a 2026 guide, fares run about 13,000–17,000 VND per km. The airport is roughly 10 km from Duong Dong, and the ride costs about 180,000–220,000 VND. Prices change, so check the exact fare in the app.

Tipping isn't required in Vietnam, but it's appreciated:

• in cafés and taxis, rounding up is enough;
• if the restaurant bill already includes a service charge, you can skip the tip;
• housekeeping usually gets 20,000–50,000 VND per night;
• for guides and boat crews, tipping is up to you if you enjoyed the day, typically 50,000–100,000 VND per person.

Paying for RUVI tours

RUVI Travel has been running tours on Phu Quoc since 2016. Our guides speak Russian and English, and most tours include pickup and drop-off at your hotel, so you won't need cash to get to the pier.

Your booking is confirmed once you pay a deposit of at least 30%. Your manager sends the payment details and will explain the easiest way to pay the rest. There's no need to prepay your whole holiday.

If you'd like an easy first day, start with the southern islands boat trip. Transfers, snorkelling gear and lunch are included, so a little cash for drinks and souvenirs is all you'll need.

Tour #1Sea cruise to the southern islandsfrom 70$ · 08:00 — 16:30Details →

Tours from this article

Tour #1Sea cruise to the southern islandsfrom 70$ · 08:00 — 16:30Details →