Any thoughts on which is better to use while in Vietnam. Bangkok and Siem Reap? I have always used my ATM card and credit card (AMEX) while in Europe. I am really at a loss as to how much to bring with me. I am told that many merchants accept US dollars (low denominations and good condition). Plus there are the tips for tour director and local guides.... Just how big of a wad can you carry with you???? Any suggestions????

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam all accept US dollars in good condition. The merchants at the open markets will actually examine the bills -- if frayed, ripped or old looking, no go.

Thailand wants nothing to do with your US dollars. We used ATMs in Vietnam and Thailand, but brought back-up $2000 in travelers checks which we cashed at the hotel desks. More convenient. Came home with $1000 in travelers checks.

ATMs will only give you the local currency. Take US dollars, including plenty of low demonination notes - and make sure they are in good condition. As Sass says, frayed, torn and worn will not be accepted. Traveler checks are not worth the hassle.

ATM's in Seam Reap give US Dollars, not Riel.

If your bank has low (or no) exchange and foreign ATM fees, that's the best way to go, since you pay fees to cash travelers checks in most countries.

I like to cover all bases, travellers cheques, ATM card CC $US. ATMs might be a bit thin on the ground in parts of Laos and Cambodia.

Those who say TC's are a waste of time have probably never been robbed!

Hi, bok1!

Concerning credit cards in East Asia: you might want to take a vacation from your American Express card. It is a credit card that charges merchants a high rate of commission, and is not widely accepted nor preferred. Visa and MasterCard, on the other hand, charge lower rates of commission to merchants and are consequently much more widely accepted and indeed preferred. Remember, you CAN leave home without it.

Enjoy your travels!

I go to Bangkok twice a year and take my AmExp card, traveler's checks, and cash. I've had no problem with my AmExp card and I've been going there for nearly a decade.
This last trip to Bangkok...Aug/Sept...it saved me, once again, since when I went to use my either Visa or Mastercard credit union debit card to pay my rent at my serviced apartment, it was declined...although I had gone into the credit union and told them right before I left that I would be using it and in Bangkok. They'd told me no problem.

When I got home and called them to ask why the card had been declined, they said that Thailand was on the list for high theft and that it couldn't be used there. I had JUST told them before departure that I was going to use it in Bangkok. So, once again, the AmExp card saved me...absolutely NO problem going through. It's saved me many times and over many decades of international travel. So, I never leave home without it!.

But whatever kind of card you take, you should contact your credit card or debit card company/bank/credit union to let them know that you will be away and will be using it and hope that they have a sense of geography. The person at my credit union later admitted that she didn't realize that Bangkok was in Thailand...sad...sad..sad...Happy Travels!

Amex is not the problem it once was. I didn't have a Visa or MC card for many of the years I've lived here, and got along without them (I only have a Visa now because my ATM card is now a Visa debit). You can even now use Amex with some of the budget airlines, as well as Bangkok Air's online site.

You will still find many small merchants who either won't accept Amex, or will want to charge you 5% extra to use it. But now it's more the latter than the former.

I agree with Michael. And if one vendor doesn't take AmExp, be well assured that he/she has a vendor friend that does and will run your card through a vendor friend's machine. I've had this done in both Bangkok and Singapore. They don't want to lose a sale. Happy Travels!

|Hi Everyone-We just got back Friday from a month in Thailand & Bali. I have had a heck of a time signing on.
We used ATM cards all over with no problem.
Will report later on my trip but THANKS to all for all info.
Tong was the best. We had her for 3 days. We had Sergeant Kai in Norther Thailand for a 5 day tour and he was wonderful. In Bali we had Puta and he was wonderful.
Sorry I jumped in on this site to talk but like I said I had a problem with my password-Chris

we just got back from VN, BKK and SR. My husband and I took $100 in singles, $100 in 5s and about 300 in 20s for a three week trip. We took no traveler's checks and had our visa as well as our amex cards with us. although we used some dong in VN, they really preferred dollars or our Visa. In SR they want only $s and in BKK we generally used the visa. for small purchases the dollars worked as well as the baht.

I bring cash, travelers checks and a debit card with me. I also bring a credit card too for emergencies but never use it because the fees are too high!

My credit union pays for the first 5 ATM withdrawals even overseas! (Some ATM withdrawal charges can be quite high with other company cards!) Because I travel a lot I looked for a credit union that paid my ATM fees and had free travelers checks - well worth it for over 10 years!

I move money from my bank account to my credit union account before I leave on a trip. No problem in Thailand cashing travelers checks, in Thailand they even get a small bit more than cash in the exchange rates! The fee to cash a TC in Thailand is 33 baht - cheaper than most ATM fees!

With travelers checks only take the large $100 or above amount to cut down on cashing fees. When using an ATM take out the maximum to cut down on lots of fees for small withdrawals.

Don't leave Cambodia or Vietnam with their money - no one wants it once you leave those places! In Thailand you can change Thai baht back to your home currency at the airport when you leave.

I only stay in places that have some sort of security box storage to safeguard my money and other valuables.