cmlong

Leaving Friday! for 3 weeks in Vietnam & Cambodia, and have a couple of questions:
1. Footwear: Trying to travel LIGHT, can I get away with a pair of sports sandals (Keen closed toe) and sneakers, or do we really need hiking boots for walking around Angkor Wat temple area, Mekong Delta, etc.
2. Need to pay guides and drivers in cash US dollars, and have heard that US$ is the preferred currency that most vendors, in Cambodia, not sure about Vietnam. They don't seem to take travelers checks from what I hear. Don't want to carry TOO much cash with us, and I hear that ATM's only dispense local currency. Will banks (or hotels) in Vietnam & Cambodia cash US traveler's checks for US dollars? What have others done for currency?
THanks!

Kathie

You won't want or need hiking boots - way too hot. And sneakers most people find too hot. You want something closed toe for Angkor, so your Keens should be perfect. You might take one more pair of very comfortable sandals with good support.

In Cambodia, the US dollar is the preferred currency. This is, of course, very unusual as almost all countries prefer to use their own currency. In VN you are best advised to use the dong. Some vendors will ask for or take US dollars, but you peg yourself as someone who will gladly over-pay. Remember, the dong is worthless outside of VN so spend them or give them away before you leave VN.

kmkrnn

Your keens are perfect and leave the hiking boots home...too heavy and too hot.

gailmo

1. I wore sturdy sandals most everywhere in Vietnam and Cambodia. I also had a pair of very light mesh sneakers that worked well. I like to have a change of shoes available and this duo of sandals/sneakers worked like a charm. I also took a couple pair of light cotton low crew socks and wore them with the sneakers. Swapping back and forth kept me and my feet happy!

2. Use a debit card in both Vietnam and Cambodia. ATM's are everywhere. In Vietnam they will give you dong...and in Cambodia you will get US Dollars. I think my total bank charges for using the card to get money was about $3 each time...not too bad. The other important thing to remember in Cambodia is that they REQUIRE new dollars. Any money with minor rips/tears or other signs of wear will be rejected. We even had problems paying the $25 exit fees when leaving Cambodia because our money was not perfect. Thus if you are paying a guide or driver, make sure you have new bills. The ATM machines will give you "good" dollars.

In Vietnam use dong...otherwise you will get ripped off as Kathie stated above. The ATMs will have English instructions and it is very easy to use them.

One glitch I ran into using my debit card in Vietnam was that I had not authorized it to be used in that country. So the first time I tried to use it....REJECTED! I ran back to my room and logged into the bank from my computer and "authorized" the card to be used in Vietnam. I quickly ran back to the ATM and in a manner of seconds I was able to get money. I was lucky because the ATM was only meters from my room and computer. So don't forget to do this before you leave.

Have a GREAT trip! I am jealous as .....

offwego

Yes you can take travelers checks, but will pay as much at the Bank (or more) to cash them, than the fees at the ATM's. Banks aren't always convenient; ATM's are.

cmlong

Actually the traveler's checks worked out pretty well. I found that most banks would cash them for 1 to 2% fee. For an ATM withdrawal, many banks charge $3 to $5 for foreign transactions. So for $100 the fee was much less for travelers checks. In Cambodia, they'd give dollars, which is what everyone wanted anyway. In Vietnam, hotels would cash them for vietnamese dong only, not dollars, but banks gave a choice, dong or dollars (slightly different fee by 1/2%).