Hi

Does anyone know any resuraunts, shops, etc in Saigon will accept credit cards? I'm flying to Saigon (EVA arilines) on September 11th to see Thi. When I was there in March, I didn't see any places that accepted credit cards except the jewelery shops (and some of them didn't). So I was able to buy her engagement ring with my AMEX card. We went to a member only warehouse called Metro. I thought I was in Costco except everything was in Vietnamese. While I did find lots of American products, including apples from Yakima, Wa (where I grew up!), they didn't take credit cards. I've tried searching the net and this forum but I hven't found much.

I stay with her sister's family. They have an extra room I can use so I didn't get around the hotels, etc. I'm sure they accept credit cards. We went to places she or her family liked and knew so there it was cash. I'd like to have credit card receipts as much as possible because that would be the best evidence to support any gifts, taking her and her family out to dinner, etc.

Any recommendations or ideas would be great.

Thanks

Peter

Our current timeline:
May 26,2007 Sent I-129f
June 11, 2007 Web site confirms petition (Still no NOA1 in the mail)
June 14, 2007 Touched (Web site update)

Pete, it is very hard for me to give you a list of shops, restaurants that accept credit cards in Saigon but I know for sure that the following shops do since I had shopped there and used my CCs: Diamond Plaza Shopping Center, Thuong Xa Tax (the one across the street from the Rex Hotel, I do not remember the new name so I gave you the old name, any Saigonese should know this place), the Duty Free Shop which is also across from the Rex Hotel, the shopping section inside the Caravelle Hotel, Saigon Square Shopping Center, Zen Plaza, An Dong Plaza and Thuan Kieu Plaza. The majority of jewelery shops around Ben Thanh Market do take CCs. Most upscale restaurants in District 1 and 3 take CCs. Other than that, look for shops that display the Visa/Master card logo.

What I always do whenever I go to VN is to carry with me a combination of cash/traveller checks and ONLY 2 credit cards, one Visa and one Master and these cards are designated as my travel cards which has low credit limit. I do not carry my Amex at all.

Have fun in Saigon.

Also, when you do use your CCs, be aware of transaction fee and conversion fee. They are not much but will pill up very quickly if you swipe and swipe and swipe ... Also, you can also withdraw cash from your checking/saving account with your check card/ATM card in Saion at all Vietcombank ATM machines and of course, for a fee. 3 bucks per transaction, I think. ATMs from other banks, as far as I remember, would not let you do so.

Make sure you notify your credit card company that you will be using the card overseas and you might let them know what countries you plan to use it in. I did this when I went to the Philippines and had no problems in most places. I would think you shouldn't have problems in Siagon either. Good luck

Be careful when using ATM/debit cards, Vietnamese lost their money and judges in VN did NOT defend ATM users saying that it was the user's fault ... lots of stories about these cases

I used to use my Vietnamese/Korean bank ATM frequently, no problem and I really never heard of others having problems either. Finally, you can take your credit card into the HSBC (other intl Banks also) to get cash advances. (pay fee for convenience)
Just bring lots of $$$$ with you....most families have a big safe in their house? (that's what I do....)

Thanks for your help. I did notice some places inside Ben Thanh Market with the Visa/MC logo. I've sent your post ot Thi so we can check them out when I get there. She and her sister left earlier to go shopping at An Dong Plaza but I hadn't seen your post yet so she doesn't know to look for the CC logos. Like most Vietnamese, she uses only cash.

I'm going to take 3 cards, a Visa, Mastercard and AMEX plus cash/traveler's checks. The Visa and Mastercard have low limtis. I'm taking the AMEX just in case.

Peter

Thanks, I forgot to do that. On my first trip I told AMEX but not the others. Since I used my Amex only once, it worked fine. That was in a jewelery shop to buy her engagement ring. This time I plan on using a Visa and Mastercard since it looks like more places in Saigon accept them.

Peter

I'm going back over in Oct. The first time I was there i brought my Debit card and a Visa and i did just fine. I could swipe at all the "major" stores i went to and i could get cash out at the ATMs and did some cash advances. it was pretty rare for me to take more than 100 out at any time (except the $1000 cash advance i did for the wedding party). I NEVER kept cash or anything on my person and instead i gave cash, credit, passport, etc to Tram to carry. I figured i'd be more of a target than she would, plus she knew the exchange rate a LOT better and did all my price negotiations.

For evidence i also used a CC card for the last trip and the next one for the tickets so that they could see they were purchased, etc.

I had 0 issues with theft and money the entire time i was there.