Convert AUD to VND

The lowdown on the Vietnamese dong

Standing proud as the currency of Vietnam since its unification on May 3 1978, the Vietnamese dong may just make you feel like a millionaire – $100 will get you about 1.6 million dong!

The word dong itself comes from the term đồng tiền which simply means ‘money’. It’s related back to the Chinese term tóng qián, which refers to the Chinese bronze coins that were used as currency during the ancient dynastic periods of China and Vietnam.

Before unification, North and South Vietnam each had their own dong. The currency replaced the French Indochinese piastre in 1946, went through several revaluations, and was merged into one national currency in 1978.

Today, the dong is divided into 100 hào, though smaller units are rarely used. Banknotes range from ₫1,000 to ₫500,000. Coins are no longer in circulation.

Australian dollar to Vietnamese dong exchange rates over time

Vietnam introduced major economic reforms in 1986, moving from a planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy. Since then, the dong’s value has shifted significantly against the Australian dollar.

In 2008, 1 AUD bought about ₫10,437. By 2011, it reached ₫21,464. In recent years, it has hovered between ₫15,000 and ₫18,000, shaped by economic growth and currency policy.

How the dong compares with other currencies

The Vietnamese dong is not freely convertible. It is loosely pegged to the US dollar under a “crawling peg” system. US dollars are accepted in many cities, especially for hotels and tours.

However, converting your Australian dollars to dong usually gives you the best value for everyday expenses.

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