Bringing US$ vs. getting cash in banks

We will be travelling through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia for a few months. Mainly going to not so touristy areas. The question is: Do we need to bring a lot of US$, or can you rely on getting cash in the local banks in the larger cities? The questions are then?

1) How readily can you use your Visa card in the large cities?
2) Do you get better exchange-rates on the street than in the bank?
3) Can you get US$ in the banks?

It boils down to this: Can you rely on just using your Visa-card in the main cities, or do you need to plan ahead?

Help is much appreciated.

Christian

first of all there is a difference between laos and cambodia. in cambodia atm distribute us dollar cash. there are atms in larger cities so no problem. you dont need to change that much in riel because dollar are widely accepted and you get your change in riel. if you plan to travel into really remote areas it is advisable to change some riel.

now laos. 1st thing there are no atms in laos (i think one in vientiane and thats it). you can do cash advances on your visa card in larger cities. i personally travel with 2 card visa and master because some banks dont accept visa and some dont accept master. in laos you need to change into kip there are only a few tourist places (vang vieng, luang prabang) where you can use dollars.

so to be really safe i would take some traveller checks and cash with me as backup.

make sure to spend all your kip and riel before leaving the country because outside they are only useful as wall decoration or toilet paper.

hope you have a nice trip both countrys especially laos are among the nicest countrys ive ever been to.

oh vietnam. there are atms in vietnam. so you can stock up in the big citys. dollar are accepted in tourist areas. dong are required in the more remote areas.

In Laos,

Vientiane has many ATMs, Luang Prabang has a couple, and Vang Vien one, there might well be more by now, machines are reported to be tempermental though. All banks will give a cash advance on Visa, but you are probably going to pay some fees at the other end. There are branches at all major towns.

1) At expensive hotels and restaurants only, also travel agents in the big towns. Almost nowhere in the "non touristy areas" you are headed for.
2) Perhaps slightly or maybe worse. I use the big changers at the markets for convienience or if a town has no bank, often the case off the beaten track.
3) Yes, but don't let them give you old ones or small bills. For my stash I use the big thousand baht notes from Tland. Accepted everywhere, worth about thirty US convertible once out of the country.

You do need to plan ahead. Figure out how much you will need until the next big town.

Have fun.

Cash is always best, you might find that with ATM's you will get charged especially Vietnam [around $2 per transaction] and with a lousy rate of exchange, whereas the Chinese jewellers seem to give better rates for cash.
As said Phnom Pen they ATM's spit out $US, check also if abroad your bank will charge you commercial rate on transactions, for me at an ATM in Thailand, this meant 5,000 baht transaction cost me £7.50 on the differences posted between the daily rate at the ATM and HSBC's commercial rate that I was charged. cash all the time but in crisp clean notes without tears only, even if in return you get your kip/real/dong as if it's been snotted on and through a shredder.

In Laos all ATMs give out KIP

There are lots of ATMs in VTE, most take both visa and MC but some only MC

In LP they only take MC

As in Vangvieng, MC.

Banks will give the best rate. And the best rate can be found in VTE. Once you move away from VTE the same bank in say VV will give a lower rate.

If you are exchanging USD in banks, about 9600 is right.

In shops anything over 9300 is acceptable.

Thai Bart is more welcome and banks range from 278 to 283 BCEL Rates

In shops, anything over 275 is ok.

But, your better exchanging at a bank and using kip or you will make small loses each time on the rates.

Nic

USD readily available from ATMs in Cambodia. Check whether you have a 'maestro', 'plus' or 'cirrus' symbol on your card. Have the local currency if you're going up country in all of Indochina.

MN, did somebody pull your ear?

WHOS MN?

AND WHOS EAR?

Well, I noticed a strange metamorphosis in your posts, MN is you, your ear pulled? :)))

ear pulled?

explain, getting slow in my old age

he's saying you got big ears like dumbo.