Guide to Detecting Counterfeit Vietnamese Dong (VND) Notes

How to Identify Counterfeit Vietnamese Dong (₫) Currency Notes

Vietnamese Dong may not be the strongest currency in the world, but it is one of the most widely circulated in Southeast Asia, and like any currency, it’s vulnerable to counterfeiting. If you’re traveling to Vietnam for work, study, or leisure from India, knowing how genuine VND notes look and feel will help you avoid being scammed. This guide walks you through the key security features across different denominations, so whether you’re exchanging money in India before departure or after landing in Vietnam, you’ll know exactly how to spot a fake note.

Key Security Features of Vietnamese Dong Bank Notes

Vietnam issues both cotton paper notes (₫1000, ₫2000, ₫5000) and polymer notes (₫10,000, ₫20,000, ₫50,000, ₫1,00,000, ₫2,00,000, ₫5,00,000). Common security features across polymer denominations include:

Polymer Substrate:

Authentic notes are printed on a smooth, slightly flexible polymer that is resistant to tearing and water damage. Counterfeit polymer often feels too stiff, slippery, or brittle.

Transparent Window:

Each polymer note has a clear window with an embossed or printed design. The window should be perfectly clear with sharp details.

Watermark:

When held to light, a multi-tone watermark of President Ho Chi Minh’s portrait appears, along with a lighter electrotype showing the denomination in numerals.

Security Thread:

Embedded or partially windowed security threads run vertically through the note. When tilted, the thread exhibits a color-shifting effect, and under transmitted light, it appears as a solid dark line with microtext showing “NHNNVN” (State Bank of Vietnam) and the denomination.

Optically Variable Ink (OVI):

Some denominations have printed elements that change color when viewed from different angles, usually on the denomination numeral or decorative elements.

Raised (Intaglio) Printing:

Portraits, denomination numerals, and the words “Ngan hang Nha nuoc Viet Nam” have a distinct tactile feel due to raised printing.

UV-Reactive Elements:

Under ultraviolet light, hidden fluorescent patterns, serial numbers, or denomination numerals appear in bright colors, while the surrounding polymer remains dull.

See-Through Register:

Partial elements printed on the front and back align perfectly to form the denomination when viewed against light.

A Detailed Guide to Identifying Counterfeit VND Currency by Denomination

The current series of South African banknotes features a portrait of Nelson Mandela on the front and various "Big Five" animals on the back. The most recent upgrades in 2023 further enhanced security features, as mentioned below.

Denomination	Primary Color	Visual Elements (Front / Back)	Watermark	Security Thread	OVI (Optically Variable Ink)	Raised Print	UV Elements	See-Through Register
10000	Yellow-Green	Ho Chi Minh and State Emblem / Bach Ho Oil Field	Ho Chi Minh with "10000" numeral	Windowed, gold to green; demetalized "NHNNVN 10000"	"10000" changes green to bronze	Portrait, numerals, "Ngan hang Nha nuoc Viet Nam"	Green and orange patterns fluoresce; serial number glows	"10000" aligns perfectly
20000	Dark Blue	Ho Chi Minh and State Emblem / Japanese Covered Bridge (Hoi An)	Ho Chi Minh with "20000" numeral	Windowed, gold to green; microtext "NHNNVN 20000"	Wave pattern or "20000" changes purple to green	Portrait, emblem, text	Blue and yellow highlights; bridge details glow	"20000" aligns perfectly
50000	Reddish-Purple Brown	Ho Chi Minh and State Emblem / Hue Imperial City	Ho Chi Minh with "50000" numeral	Windowed, magenta to green; microtext "NHNNVN 50000"	"50000" changes red to green	Portrait, numerals, bank name	Yellow-green and orange designs glow; gate patterns visible	"50000" aligns perfectly
100000	Green	Ho Chi Minh / Temple of Literature (Van Mieu)	Ho Chi Minh with "100000" numeral	Windowed, green to gold; microtext "NHNNVN 100000"	"100000" changes gold to turquoise	Portrait, numerals	Blue and orange fluorescent patterns; temple highlights visible	"100000" aligns perfectly
200000	Reddish-Brown	Ho Chi Minh / Ha Long Bay	Ho Chi Minh with "200000" numeral	Windowed, purple to green; microtext "NHNNVN 200000"	"200000" changes purple to bronze (orbital shimmer)	Portrait, numerals, text	Pink and green designs fluoresce; rock formations glow	"200000" aligns perfectly
500000	Dark Blue-Green	Ho Chi Minh / Childhood home in Kim Lien	Ho Chi Minh with "500000" numeral	Windowed, green to purple; "NHNNVN 500000" visible	"500000" changes green to gold (shimmer)	Portrait, numerals, bank name	Green and yellow fluorescence; house details glow	"500000" aligns perfectly

1. 10,000 VND Note (Yellow-Green Color)

Visual Elements: Portrait of Ho Chi Minh and State Emblem on the front; Bạch Ho Oil Field on the back.
Watermark: Ho Chi Minh’s portrait with “10,000” numeral in lighter tone.
Security Thread: Windowed thread, color shifts from gold to green; demetalized with “NHNNVN” and “10000”.
OVI: Denomination numeral changes color from green to bronze when tilted.
Raised Print: Notable on portrait, large numerals, and “Ngan hang Nha nuoc Viet Nam”.
UV Elements: Patterns in green and orange fluoresce under UV; serial number glows.
See-Through Register: Incomplete “10000” aligns perfectly when held to light.

2. 20,000 VND Note (Dark Blue Color)

Visual Elements: Portrait of Ho Chi Minh and State Emblem on front; Japanese Covered Bridge (Hoi An) on back.
Watermark: Ho Chi Minh’s portrait with “20000” numeral.
Security Thread: Windowed, color-shifting gold to green; “NHNNVN” and “20000” microtext visible.
OVI: Wave pattern or denomination numeral changes from purple to green when tilted.
Raised Print: Noticeable on portrait, emblem, and text.
UV Elements: Blue and yellow highlights under UV; bridge details glow subtly.
See-Through Register: Perfectly aligned “20000” numeral when held to light.

3. 50,000 VND Note (Reddish-Purple Brown Color)

Visual Elements: Ho Chi Minh portrait and emblem on front; Hue Imperial City on back.
Watermark: Ho Chi Minh’s portrait with “50000” numeral.
Security Thread: Windowed, magenta to green shift; microtext “NHNNVN 50000”.
OVI: Denomination changes from red to green when tilted.
Raised Print: Strong tactile feel on portrait, large numerals, and bank name.
UV Elements: Yellow-green and orange designs glow under UV; gate patterns illuminate.
See-Through Register: The element aligns perfectly to form “50000”.

4. 100,000 VND Note (Green Color)

Visual Elements: Ho Chi Minh portrait on front; Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) on back.
Watermark: Ho Chí Minh with “100000” numeral.
Security Thread: Windowed, green to gold shift; microtext “NHNNVN 100000”.
OVI: Denomination changes from gold to turquoise when tilted.
Raised Print: Textured feel on portrait and numerals.
UV Elements: Blue and orange fluorescent patterns; temple highlights visible under UV.
See-Through Register: “100000” aligns perfectly when held to light.

5. 200,000 VND Note (Reddish-Brown Color)

Visual Elements: Ho Chi Minh portrait on front; Hạ Long Bay on back.
Watermark: Ho Chi Minh with “200000” numeral.
Security Thread: Windowed, purple to green shift; microtext “NHNNVN 200000”.
OVI: Denomination changes from purple to bronze with orbital shimmer effect.
Raised Print: Pronounced texture on portrait, numerals, and text.
UV Elements: Pink and green fluorescent designs; rock formations glow under UV.
See-Through Register: When held to light, the element aligns perfectly for “200000”.

6. 500,000 VND Note (Dark Blue-Green Color)

Visual Elements: Ho Chi Minh portrait on front; his childhood home in Kim Lien on back.
Watermark: Ho iCh Minh aliong with “500000” numeral.
Security Thread: Windowed, green to purple shift; “NHNNVN 500000” visible.
OVI: Denomination changes from green to gold with shimmer.
Raised Print: Strong texture on portrait, large numerals, and “Ngan hang Nha nuoc Viet Nam”.
UV Elements: Green and yellow fluorescence; house details glow.
See-Through Register: “500000” aligns perfectly when held to light.

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