Exchanging GBP in HCMC

First of all IF YOU ARE BRINGING OVER $7,500 into VN you have to declare it at Customs. No proof of importing the money - difficult to remove.

Bringing that much money in to ANY country is less than smart. Unless you have a specific project you are spending the money on

The BEST way is to stash it in an account in the UK with ATM privileges. ATMs are like mushrooms over here, they come and go overnight.

The international currency in this part of the world is the Dollar - all other currencies get much poorer exchange rates.

Putting money in a VN bank account usually means you take less out as the INTEREST is offset by greater INFLATION!

And don't use the HSBC - they are a really scummy bank - ask the US Government who fined them BILLIONS of Dollars.

The poster above suggested jewellery stores on Le Thanh Ton. You might have hassles with GBP - aside from the poor exchange rate - hotels are often a better choice as their FX Desks is used to Foreigners dragging in strange money. These desks are actually licenced, too, and affiliated with banks.

ONLY bring 'clean' money (as new) without tears, writing on them. They like them ironed, too.