Best credit/debit card, cash and phone values for Vietnam
 

I am wondering what people recommend as the best credit/debit card to use for Vietnam.
My banks are quoting me a 3% transaction fee with a at $5/use for debit card withdrawal at ATM and 5% usage fee as well at 3% transaction fee for cash advance at ATM on credit card, with interest rates starting to accure immediately.

What do people suggest about Travelers Checks

Also - Verizon is quoting a $1.99/minute rate to call back to the USA.

Thanks.

Julias Mom - traveling with her in 3 weeks.

Many posts on this, do a search.

Short answer: Capital One (credit cards and online checking account) and ATMs.

Use Skype, or an unlocked quad-band phone (try eBay) and local SIM.

Several general principles: Never get a cash advance on a credit card. Never use your own phone's roaming plan.

To get cash, you want an ATM card that doesn't charge for use of foreign bank machines, and even better if it refunds the ATM's own charges. I have such a card through my brokerage account, but many credit unions offer similar deals. I pay just 1% on foreign exchange.

A credit card that doesn't charge for foreign exchange: there are several, Capitol One is the one most often talked about here.

As Thursdays said about the phone.

PS Don't use a debit card to pay for things, use a credit card as credit cards have better fraud protection. With a debit card, fraudulent use can wipe out your bank account and it takes time to get your money back from fraudulent use of a debit card.

Thanks for your ideas.
I just went to Capital One for a credit and debit card.

Capitol One has a debit card with a $2 ATM use fee but no transaction charges. This will change Aug. 15 to include the 3% transaction fee the other card companies are collecting. There is no charge for purchases. The credit card still appears to have no fees.