Foreign exchange brand Travelex has reported an increase in demand for the Vietnamese dong, with sales up 14.1 per cent in January to June, compared to the first six months of 2025.
Monthly visitors to Vietnam from Australia peaked at 72,620 in January, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with demand for the dong recording a 17.29 per cent year-on-year increase for the first two months of the year.
Inbound international visitors to Vietnam increased by 14.9 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, with the country seeing 12.3 million arrivals in that period, according to the country’s national statistics office, with visitors from Australia at an all-time high.
Other currencies that recorded an increase in popularity included the Chinese yuan, up 26.6 per cent; Hong Kong dollar, up 16 per cent; and Philippine peso, up 6.6 per cent.
Australian travellers have taken advantage of favourable exchange rates against the dong, with the strength of the Australian dollar against the currency at a five-year high.
Aussies in Vietnam now looking for wellness and luxe not just a tailored tuxe
Where the dollar goes further
“With living costs rising in Australia, travellers are considering destinations where the Australian dollar can go further – and many South-East Asian destinations such as Vietnam are offering favourable exchange rates,” Asokan Sathurayar, Travelex managing director – Australia and New Zealand, said.
“This has also meant Australian travellers have been seeking experiences closer to home, with destinations such as Fiji and the Philippines notable favourites in the first half of the year.
“Experiential tourism is also booming worldwide and Australian and New Zealand holidaymakers are no exception. Social media influencers have played a significant role in driving interest in off the beaten track destinations.”
According to the recent Travelex Travel Money Insights Report, 84 per cent of Australians are taking cash on their travels, and nearly half of them are acquiring it a month or more before they fly. Reloads of the Travelex Money Card (TMC) were also up 33 per cent in New Zealand and 15 per cent in Australia year-on-year.
In New Zealand, the Saudi riyal saw the biggest increase in the first six months of the year (up 568 per cent), followed by the Polish zloty (up 91 per cent), Swedish krona (up 89 per cent), Swiss franc (87 per cent) and Czech koruna (65 per cent).
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its tourism industry as the country looks to diversify its economy and has seen international visits increase by 67 per cent since 2019, according to economics organisation OECD, though the volume of sales remains much lower compared with currencies such as the Australian dollar, US$ and euro.
Also in New Zealand, the Vietnamese dong and Chinese yuan have both seen strong increases, up 27 per cent and 51 per cent respectively, likely due to China’s extension of visa-free travel for Kiwis for up to 30 days until the end of 2026.
