Da Nang Currency Exchange: Are the Han Market Gold Shops Still OK? Here's What Actually Changed in February 2026

I'm flying to Da Nang next month. So lately I've been searching every day, trying to figure out where to exchange money — and honestly, it's really confusing.

If you search Korean blogs on Naver, almost every post says, "Go to the gold shops at Han Market, the exchange rate is great." There are posts from March 2026 saying the same thing, and some even point you to a specific shop called "Soan Ha."

But when I checked official sources and news outlets, the message was completely different. "Starting February 2026, Vietnam is cracking down on unauthorized currency exchange. If caught, you face fines and full cash confiscation." Wait — so should I go to the Han Market gold shops or not? Suddenly I had no idea.

Two completely opposite messages, both labeled "2026." I figured I had to dig in and sort this out before flying. Other travelers heading to Da Nang must be just as confused, so I'm sharing what I found.

Why is the information so contradictory?

The reason is simple: a lot of blog posts haven't updated to reflect the new decree. Vietnam enacted Decree 340/2025/ND-CP on February 9, 2026, which formally cracks down on unauthorized currency exchange. But Korean travel blogs are still copy-pasting and republishing old recommendations. That's why posts uploaded in March 2026 — after the decree went into effect — are still saying "Han Market gold shops are great."

Meanwhile, the Korean Consulate General in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, along with Korean-Vietnamese outlets like Inside Vina, have been clearly warning since February 2026: "Gold shops, souvenir stores, and personal exchanges are now enforcement targets. Only use exchange points with proper foreign exchange licenses."

This gap in awareness is what was tripping up me — and probably a lot of other Koreans planning Da Nang trips. Almost the entire first page of Korean search results is still old information.

So what exactly is Decree 340/2025/ND-CP?

Skipping the legal jargon — here's what actually matters from a traveler's perspective.

Enforcement targets: Gold shops without proper foreign exchange licenses, souvenir stores, personal exchanges with guides, restaurant staff, or hotel employees, and street money changers. Yes, the Han Market gold shops are exactly this category.

Penalty structure:
- Under $1,000: First-time warning
- $1,000–$10,000: 10–20 million VND fine (roughly 50–100 USD equivalent... actually about 380–760 USD) plus all cash confiscated
- $10,000–$100,000: 20–30 million VND fine plus all cash confiscated

The amount most travelers exchange (typically $500–$1,500) falls right at the danger threshold. Losing roughly 500–1,000 USD worth of fines plus having your cash confiscated, just to save a couple percent on the exchange rate — the math doesn't work out at all.

The critical point: It's not just the exchangers who get penalized. The travelers exchanging also face the same penalties. "I'm just a tourist, they won't bother me" doesn't fly here. Take this seriously.

So what's happening at the Han Market gold shops now?

After enforcement kicked in, some gold shops in Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City have publicly stopped accepting foreign currency. Even the ones famous among Korean tourists are quietly cutting off foreign exchange. They don't want to take the risk either.

So if you walk into one of those yellow-signed gold shops in Han Market, you might just hear, "We don't take foreign currency anymore." And even if they do, the transaction itself can make you the target of enforcement. Neither option is good.

So where should you actually exchange in Da Nang?

Here's what I dug up — the most current, legal, safe options that still have decent rates.

1. Korean banks before departure. With 80–90% preferential rates, this isn't bad. Mobile pre-orders with airport pickup are convenient. One catch though — direct KRW → VND rates in Korea aren't great. The popular wisdom is: convert KRW to USD in Korea, then USD to VND in Vietnam.

2. Da Nang Airport exchange counters. Rates are bad, but it's safe and convenient on arrival. Use it only for taxi fare to your hotel. About $50 is plenty.

3. Vietnamese local banks (Vietcombank, BIDV, ACB). Properly licensed. Rates are roughly similar to or slightly below the gold shops. Downsides: weekday hours only (8:00–16:30), passport required, and you'll likely wait in line. Best for larger amounts.

4. Government-authorized exchange counters (Authorized Exchange). Look for signs reading "Authorized Foreign Exchange Agent" or "Money Exchange," with a license number displayed. There are several around Da Nang. Rates are slightly better than banks, and they have longer hours.

5. Travel Wallet / Travel Log ATM withdrawal. Pull VND directly from Vietnamese ATMs using a Korean travel card. The rate is essentially the interbank rate (the best you'll get), and Travel Wallet reportedly covers the Vietnamese ATM fees themselves, making it nearly fee-free.

One thing to note: single-transaction withdrawal limits at Vietnamese ATMs range from 2 to 5 million VND (roughly $80–$200) depending on the bank.

Here's my actual plan for Da Nang

After cross-referencing everything, here's the plan I've put together. Sharing it for anyone heading to Da Nang.

Exchange 50% in Korea before flying. Some directly into VND, some into crisp 100-dollar bills. Enough VND on hand for the taxi from the airport and the first day's meals.

Travel Wallet ATM withdrawals as the main method. Best rate, no fees — this is the backbone. I'll pull 1–2 million VND at a time as I need it. Looks like the Vietnamese ATM flow is pretty similar to the AEON ATM flow in Japan.

For larger amounts, use Authorized Exchange counters or Vietcombank. Only when ATM limits aren't enough or I need a bigger lump sum. Check for the license number, and always keep the receipt.

Skipping Han Market gold shops entirely. Not worth risking 500–1,000 USD in fines plus cash confiscation for a 1–2% better rate. Plus, with more gold shops refusing foreign currency anyway, I might just be wasting the trip.

Absolutely no personal exchanges with guides or hotel staff. The decree explicitly lists this as a violation.

To wrap it up

The real reason Da Nang exchange information feels so contradictory comes down to timing. February 9, 2026, was a hard pivot point. Articles written before it were technically correct at the time — but they're now outdated. The problem is that those outdated posts are still dominating Korean search results, which is what's been confusing everyone.

If you're going now, the best combination is Travel Wallet ATM withdrawals + partial pre-exchange in Korea + Authorized Exchange counters when needed. Don't risk fines and confiscation just to squeeze out 1–2% better rates.

I'll head to Da Nang next month and follow up with how the ATM withdrawals actually went, which exchange counters were best, and what I'd do differently. I'll share the real on-the-ground experience after the trip. A real walkthrough is going to be way more useful than reading guides ahead of time. Hope this helps anyone planning a Vietnam trip!