• Visa and Passport
• Foods and Drinks
• DOs and DON'Ts
• Histories
• Pucblic Holiday
• How to Go There
• Populations
• Clothes
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Speak others
• Musices & Dancing
• Embassie & Goverment
• Geography and Religion
• Time & Currencies
• Weather & Climate

• Vietnam Multiple Packages
• Thailand Multiple Packages
• Cambodia Multiple Packages

• Cambodia Attraction
• Laos Attraction
• Thailand Attraction
• Myanmar Attraction
• Vietnam Attraction

Cambodia Time & Currency
US dollars are as commonly used as the Cambodian Riel and even Thai Baht is acceptable in many places. Most hotels and many restaurants and shops set their prices in dollars. Small transactions are usually done in Riel. Always carry some small Riel for motorcycle taxis, snacks, beggars and other small purchases.

Riel notes come in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000 denominations, but the distinctive red 500 Riel note is the most commonly used.

Please click here for the exchange rate with your own currency.

Credit cards and travelers checks are not common but are catching on. US dollar travelers checks are much more easily encashed than any other kind.

Money changers cluster around the markets. When accepting money, inspect the bills. Marred Riel is acceptable tender, but the tiniest tear in a large US note renders it worthless.

There are banks in all of the larger provincial capitals, including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang. Banks can change money, effect telegraphic transfers and some banks can cash travelers checks and accept Visa cards.

There is only two ATM in Cambodia, at the Canadia Bank in Phnom Penh and ANZ Royal Bank in Phnom Penh, and you must have a local account in order to use it. You cannot access foreign accounts from this.

Laos Currency
The local currency is the KIP. Notes come in denominations of 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10.000 and 20.000 Kips.

The rate of exchange as per the time of printing is approximately 10,450 Kip to one US Dollar and 13,340 Kip to one Euro. In Vientiane, notes of most international currencies can be exchanged either at banks or at licensed moneychangers.  Outside Vientiane, most provincial banks and licensed moneychangers accept only US Dollars, Thai Bahts and sometimes Euros. Only major banks accept traveler’s cheques. It is best to carry U.S Dollar bills in small denominations. Credit cards are accepted only at major hotels and up-market shops and restaurants in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Laos Currency Exchange rate in Jan 07
Laos  - LAK (lao Kip)

100 LAK = US$0.01

500 LAK= US$0.05

1000 LAK = US$0.10

2000 LAK = US$0.21

5000 LAK = US$0.51

10.000 LAK = US$1.03

20.000 LAK= US$2.06

30.000 LAK = US$3.09

50.000 LAK = US$5.14

100.000 LAK = US$10.29

150.000 LAK = US$15.43

200.000 LAK = US$20.58

300.000 LAK = US$30.87

400.000 LAK = US$41.16

500.000 LAK = US$51.44

1.000.000 LAK = US$102.89

Myanmar Time and Currency
We recommend visitors bring US Dollars cash only - small denomination notes are preferable. US Dollars are easily exchangeable for Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC's) at authorized money changers throughout the country. Other foreign currencies such as euros, Japanese Yen, and pounds sterling can only be exchanged into FEC's at the Currency Exchange Counter inside Immigration at Yangon International Airport on arrival. Authorized money changers throughout Myanmar will usually only accept US Dollars. They will also exchange your FEC's into the local Myanmar currency "kyat" ( pronounced "CHAT") US Dollars or FECs can be easily used for payment of purchases throughout the country. One FEC = I USD.

LOCAL TIME IN MYANMAR

Thailand Currency & Exchange Services

Thai Currency
The Thai unit of currency is the Baht which is worth a little less than 4 US cents. One US dollar = approximately 40 baht. The baht is divided into loo satang. "Copper" coins are valued at 25 and 50 satang. "Silver" coins are in denominations of 1' 2 and 5 baht. A 10 baht coin is composed of both "silver" and "copper". Banknotes are valued at 10 baht (brown), 20 baht (green), 50 baht (blue), 100 baht (red), 500 baht (purple) and 1,000 baht (khaki).

Traveller's Cheques/ Cheques/Credit Cards
US dollar traveller cheques can be conveniently cashed at all provincial banks and authorised money changers. Traveller cheques in other currencies are best changed in Bangkok where better rates prevail. Generally, hotel exchange rates are lower then those offered by banks and authorised money changers. Major international credit cards, such as American Express, Diners, Carte Blanche, Master Card and VISA are accepted by major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops. Thai and foreign banks provide standard services nation-wide, Monday through Friday, except public and bank holidays, between 8.30 AM and 3.30 PM. Major banks such as Bangkok Bank, Thai Danu Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Siam Commercial Bank operate currency exchange centres in most tourist areas from 7.00 AM to 9.00 PM, seven days a week, including holidays. Many first-class hotels provide 24'-hour money exchange services, but only for major currencies such as American dollars, British pounds, German marks and Swiss francs. Travellers cheques are generally accepted only from bona fide hotel guests.

Exchange Control
Foreign tourists may freely bring in foreign banknotes or other types of foreign exchange. Upon leaving Thailand, a foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payments which he brought in with him, with the exception that foreign notes or coins are limited to a maximum equivalent of US$ 10,000 or the amount declared in writing to Customs upon arrival. Failure to do so may lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount involved and/or prosecution.

For travellers leaving Thailand, the maxi- mum amount permitted to take out without prior authorisation is 50,000 Baht per person

Foreign visitors may bring in personal effects and other goods which are not prohibited by current customs regulation. Other than personal effects, departing visitors are also allowed to take out merchandise bought from duty free shops, precious stones, gold and platinum ornaments.

Foreign visitors are welcome to open a foreign currency account with any commercial bank in Thailand. As a special gesture to non-residents, no restrictions are imposed on the maintenance of and withdrawal from the account, as long as the funds originate from abroad.

Vietnam Currency and Work Hours
Currency

 The Vietnamese currency is Dong (VND). Banknotes in circulation are 100 Dong, 200 Dong, 500 Dong, 1,000 Dong, 2,000 Dong, 5,000 Dong, 10,000 Dong, 20,000 Dong, 50,000 Dong and 100,000 Dong recently issued by The State Bank of Vietnam. The rate of exchange is approximately 1 USD = 14,950 dong. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the bank, exchange bureau or hotel reception desk. Travelers' cheque and most of Credit cards are accepted in the major cities.

Etnamese dong (VND) is the official currency in Vietnam.

- Paper notes include: VND 500,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins include VND 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 and 200

Carefully: Number of VND is big, but cost is not Example : 500VND can get a candy, 10,000VND to 15,000VND can get a glass of tea in coffee shop, Most of Vietnamese are not happy to pay by Coin, because they are too heavy and not much of cost

You should bring enough money for your stay. US$ are most widely accepted. Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, but outside main centres you may find cash the only acceptable currency and find it difficult to cash travellers’ cheques. ATM distribution is still poor and limited to the major cities and tourist areas. It is possible to have funds transferred to Vietnam via international money transfer companies.

The cost of travel in Vietnam varies from pocket change to the platinum card, depending on taste and comfort. Ascetics could just about get by US$20 a day, while a conventional budget traveller can live it up from US$20 to US$50.

Midrange travelers can have a ball from US$50 to US$100 a day, staying comfortably, eating well and travelling comfortably.

At the top end, spending US$200 or more a day, anything is possible.

Dining out is where Vietnam comes into its own. Surfing the street stalls and markets, meals can be found for between US$2 and US$5 ( try it if you have your metal stomach) . Local restaurants are more comfortable and you can eat well for between US$10 and US$20

Then there are the Vietnamese gourmet restaurants, where you can still only spend around US$20 with drinks; with the right wines you could easily spend US$50 to 100.

Business Hours
Office hour is from 07h30 to 12h00 and 13h00 to 16h30 and working days from Monday to Friday. Some offices are open on Saturday until noon. Museums are usually closed on Monday but you can visit temples and pagodas every day. Opening hour for most shops is at about 08h00 till 18h00. In busy streets, shops are closed later at night.