Is it profitable to use a UnionPay card in Vietnam?

Using a UnionPay card in Vietnam is possible, but it is not always profitable. Compared to cash dollars that you bring with you and exchange at jewelry stores, the card loses. According to our calculations, losses when paying with a ruble UnionPay card (for example, from Rosselkhozbank) range from 4% to 6% compared to exchanging cash dollars. This is due to double conversion: first from dong to yuan, and then from yuan to rubles.

It is much more profitable to use a UnionPay card opened in yuan currency. If you top it up in the bank app just before making a purchase, the losses will be only 2–4% — which is quite acceptable. However, if you need to withdraw cash, the UnionPay card loses even more: in addition to conversion losses, there are fees from the Russian bank (for example, at RSKhB it is 1.5% of the amount, minimum 250 rubles for ruble cards) and the fee of the Vietnamese ATM itself (on average about 50,000 dong per transaction).

Thus, the UnionPay card is a good backup option for travel, but not the most profitable. If you have a long trip and large expenses, it is better to bring cash dollars or euros. For small expenses during a short vacation, the card is quite suitable, especially if it is a yuan card.

You can learn more in our reliable and honest guide in the article Currency and Money in Vietnam. We have detailed all payment and exchange methods, including a comparison of all options with real figures.

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