By Linh Pham, Nha Trang Travel Editor · Updated July 2026
Quick answer: In the arrivals area of Cam Ranh Airport (CXR) you will find bank ATMs, currency exchange desks and SIM card counters from Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone. The practical play: withdraw or exchange a small amount (about 1 to 1.5 million dong covers the transfer and your first day), grab a tourist SIM at the counter or land with an eSIM bought online, and do the bulk of your money-changing in Nha Trang, where rates are better. Everything is priced in Vietnamese dong; have your passport ready for SIM registration.
Vietnam is a cash-friendly country with cheap mobile data, and Cam Ranh Airport is small and easy to navigate. That works in your favour: within half an hour of landing you can be connected, funded and on the road to Nha Trang. Here is how to spend that half hour wisely in 2026.
At a glance
| Need | Where at CXR | Cost & tips |
|---|---|---|
| Cash (dong) | Bank ATMs, arrivals | limit ~2-5M VND/withdrawal + small fee |
| Exchange | Desks in arrivals | change a little; better rates in the city |
| SIM card | Viettel / Vinaphone / Mobifone counters | tourist data SIMs; passport required |
| eSIM | Buy online before flying | connected on landing, similar price |
| First-day budget | — | ~1-1.5M VND covers transfer + day one |
ATMs: the quickest way to get dong
ATMs from major Vietnamese banks sit in and around the arrivals hall. They dispense Vietnamese dong, usually with a per-withdrawal cap of roughly 2 to 5 million VND depending on the bank, and a local fee of a few tens of thousands of dong on top of your home bank's charges. Two tips: withdraw one larger amount rather than several small ones to pay the fee once, and always choose to be charged in dong, not in your home currency, when the machine offers "conversion", since the machine's own rate is the worse one.
Currency exchange: airport vs the city
The exchange desks in arrivals are safe and convenient, but like airports everywhere their rates run a few percent below what banks and licensed exchange offices in Nha Trang offer. The sensible pattern is to change just enough for the transfer and your first day, then do the rest in the city. US dollars, euros and most major currencies are easy to change; crisp, undamaged notes get the best treatment.
SIM cards at the arrivals counters
Right after customs you will see counters for Viettel (the biggest network with the widest coverage), Vinaphone and Mobifone. All three sell tourist SIMs with large data allowances for a modest price, activated on the spot; Vietnamese law requires passport registration, so hand it over together with your phone. Prices at the airport are slightly above the city shops, but the difference is small enough that most travelers happily pay it to leave the airport online.
eSIM: land already connected
If your phone supports eSIM, you can buy a Vietnam data plan online before you fly and switch it on when the wheels touch down. Prices are comparable to physical tourist SIMs, and it saves you one queue. The trade-off: eSIMs are data-only in most cases, so if you want a local number for calls (useful for taxi apps and hotel callbacks), the physical SIM from the counter still wins.
How much cash do you actually need?
Vietnam feels very affordable once you are out of the airport. For day one, plan roughly: the ride to your hotel (see our guide to getting from Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang and the resorts), a meal or two, and small purchases; about 1 to 1.5 million dong covers it comfortably. Hotels and larger restaurants take cards, but street food, markets, and many taxis are cash-first. Keep small notes handy: breaking a 500,000 note at a noodle stall is a national sport you do not want to play.
Before you fly: paperwork first
Money and SIMs are the easy part; the document that actually gates your arrival is the visa. If you have not sorted it yet, read our guide to the Vietnam visa and e-visa for Cam Ranh Airport first, then come back to the fun logistics. With the e-visa approved, a SIM in your phone and a million dong in your pocket, Nha Trang is a very smooth landing.
