Counterfeit currency is a concern in Vietnam, especially for polymer banknotes of ₫50,000 and ₫100,000 denominations. According to a report by Vina.com, Vietnam’s polymer currency in recent years has been over-faked at a higher rate than the world’s currency circulation standard. In Vietnam, counterfeit polymer money at ₫100,000 is 169 to 416 sheets, and at ₫50,000 is 106 to 370 sheets.
Counterfeit money is often used by criminals to buy goods or services from unsuspecting vendors or customers. Sometimes, counterfeit money is also traded on the black market for real money or other currencies. For example, during the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army used counterfeit Military Payment Certificates (MPCs) to exchange for South Vietnamese currency and US dollars.
If you wind up with counterfeit cash in Vietnam, you may face legal consequences or lose your money. According to Article 139 of the Penal Code of Vietnam, producing, storing or using counterfeit money is a crime that can be punished by imprisonment from six months to 20 years, depending on the severity of the case.
Needless to say, you should do your best to avoid accepting or using counterfeit money, but if you run into any trouble, contact your local embassy or consulate in Vietnam.
Here are some tips for determining if your banknotes are real or fake:
- Check the watermark: Real polymer banknotes have a watermark of Ho Chi Minh’s portrait on the left side of the note. The watermark should be clear and visible when you hold the note up to the light. Fake banknotes may have a blurry or distorted watermark or no watermark at all.
- Check the security thread: Real polymer banknotes have a security thread embedded in the note that changes color from green to red when you tilt the note. The thread also has micro-texts that read “Ngan hang nha nuoc Viet Nam” (the State Bank of Vietnam). Fake banknotes may have a printed thread that does not change color or have no thread at all.
- Check the hologram: Real polymer banknotes have a hologram on the right side of the note that shows different images when you tilt the note. For example, the ₫50,000 note has a hologram of a lotus flower and the number 50. Fake banknotes may have a printed hologram that does not change images or have no hologram at all.
- Check the serial number: Real polymer banknotes have a unique serial number printed on both sides of the note. The serial number should match and be clear and sharp. Fake banknotes may have a repeated or illegible serial number or no serial number at all.
- Check the texture: Real polymer banknotes have a smooth and slightly elastic texture. They are also resistant to water and tearing. Fake banknotes may have a rough or stiff texture. They may also fade or tear easily when exposed to water.