Desk

Money — ATMs, cards and cash

Carry one no-foreign-fee debit card, a backup card in another bag, and 2 days of local cash. Withdraw fewer, larger amounts at bank ATMs, and always choose to be charged in local currency.

Not field-verifiedReviewed 2026-09

Country + your card → what to do

Where you land and what you carry decide which ATM, how much per withdrawal, and when to pay cash.

CountryWhat you carry

Answer both questions to see the rule.

Fees are 2026 estimates per withdrawal; your home bank may add its own. The ATM screen shows the fee before you confirm.

Who this applies to

Visa or Mastercard debit with no foreign-transaction fee: Best for ATMs in all four countries; your bank may still add its own ATM fee.
Credit cards: Use for payments, not ATMs — cash withdrawals start interest at once.
JCB, UnionPay, Amex: JCB is strong in Japan; UnionPay is widely accepted; Amex is patchy outside hotels and malls.
Cards that need an SMS code: Keep your home line able to receive SMS (turn off its data roaming, not the line).

Before you fly

Tick as you go · print

0/5 done

Check your daily ATM limit and foreign fees in your bank app; raise the limit if needed.
Carry two cards on different networks (e.g. Visa and Mastercard), kept in different bags.
Save your bank's international phone number and freeze-card link offline.
Bring a small amount of clean, undamaged US dollars as a backup; worn or marked notes are refused.
Vietnam: learn the notes before you land — ₫20,000 and ₫500,000 are both blue.

Country by country

Country	ATMs	Cash vs card	Exchange where
Vietnam	Bank ATMs everywhere in cities; low per-withdrawal caps and a fee each time	Cash for street food, markets, xe ôm and small hotels; cards in malls, chains and mid-range hotels; ride-hailing apps take cards in-app	Bank branches and licensed gold shops in city centres beat airport counters; bring clean US dollars
Japan	7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs take foreign cards; many bank ATMs do not	Cards and IC/phone payments work in cities; cash for small restaurants, shrines, rural buses and IC top-ups	Usually unnecessary if your card works; airport counters for a small first amount
Singapore	Bank ATMs everywhere (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB); fees depend on your bank	Card and contactless almost everywhere, including MRT fares; keep a little cash for older hawker stalls	Licensed money changers in city malls beat the airport
Thailand	A flat foreign-card fee at nearly every ATM, so withdraw large	Cash for street food, tuk-tuks and markets; cards in malls, hotels and chains	Licensed exchange booths in Bangkok often beat ATMs if you carry clean US dollars or euros

Fees

2026 estimates

Item	Cost
Vietnam ATM fee	₫20,000–110,000 (≈ US$1–5) per withdrawal (2026 estimate), plus your bank's fee
Vietnam withdrawal cap	₫2,000,000–5,000,000 (≈ US$80–200) per withdrawal at most banks; some allow ₫10,000,000 (≈ US$400) (check)
Japan ATM fee (7-Eleven, Japan Post)	¥110–330 (≈ US$1–3) per withdrawal (2026 estimate — check)
Japan withdrawal cap	Commonly ¥50,000–100,000 (≈ US$350–700) per withdrawal (check)
Singapore ATM fee	Often free from the local bank, but your home bank may charge (check)
Thailand ATM fee	฿220 (≈ US$7) per withdrawal at most banks (2026 estimate); caps around ฿20,000–30,000 (≈ US$650–950)
Dynamic currency conversion	Typically 3–8% above the card network rate — always pick local currency

Scams and lookalikes

'Charge in your home currency?' at ATMs and card terminals
Tell: The screen offers a 'guaranteed' rate in USD, EUR or GBP.
Do: Decline. Choose local currency (VND, JPY, SGD, THB).
Note swap in Vietnam
Tell: You hand over ₫500,000; the driver shows a ₫20,000 and says you underpaid.
Do: Hand notes one at a time and say the amount; use app rides that charge the card.
Skimmers on street ATMs
Tell: Loose card slot, extra plastic over the keypad.
Do: Use ATMs inside bank branches or malls in daytime; cover the PIN.
'No commission' exchange counters
Tell: No fee, but a rate far below the board next door.
Do: Ask 'how much will I get for 100?' before handing over cash.

When it breaks: Card blocked or swallowed by an ATM

Swallowed: stay at the machine and call the bank number on the ATM; cards are usually returned only at that branch.
Blocked: call your bank's international number or use the app; foreign ATM use often triggers a fraud hold.
Switch to the backup card from the other bag.
Out of cards: exchange your backup US dollars, and ask your hotel if they accept payment by bank transfer.

Questions

Should I pick 'charge in my home currency' at a card machine?

No. That is dynamic currency conversion and usually costs 3–8% more. Always choose the local currency.

How much cash should I carry on arrival?

Two days of small spending: about ₫2,000,000, ¥20,000, S$50 or ฿3,000 (2026 estimate), then use ATMs in town.

Why was my card declined at a Japanese ATM?

Many bank ATMs refuse foreign cards. Use 7-Eleven, Japan Post or AEON ATMs, and check your bank has not put a travel hold on the card.

Can I pay Grab or taxis by card?

Grab takes cards in-app in Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand. Street taxis in Vietnam and Thailand expect cash; Japanese and Singapore taxis take cards.

Official sources

Review log

Desk review September 2026 — ATM fees and caps change by bank; check the machine's screen before confirming.

2026-09Added the country + card finder and FAQ.