First time using the ATM's in VN.

@Dannyroc3

I find TP bank to be the best. I think it allows you a 5million vnd withdrawal and there are no charges.

Thanks.

1. It depends upon the card you are using, meaning, the sponsoring financial institution and the payment network that they use.

We are always getting outlier reports from people about certain banks being more favorable, but then those same results cannot be repeated by other forum members.

I've never been able to recreate the higher VP Bank numbers and I was definitely charged for my ₫3 million VNĐ withdrawal.

2. All ATMs in Vietnam are not created equal, even ATMs from the same bank.

Some banks simply don't access the international payment system and they are indeed only for domestic accounts.

Sometimes they are side-by-side with an ATM that does access the international system, so you have to look closely and even ask for help (girlfriend?)

Other ATMs won't work if your card doesn't have the latest chip technology OR, if it's an older ATM that won't work with a chip card.

3. The best bank ATMs I've have discovered are at MB (Military Bank).

With my Charles Schwab Visa debit card (The one I PREVIOUSLY highly recommended that you activate before you left the United States) I can pull ₫5,000,000 VNĐ repeatedly during the same ATM visit, up to the individual limit on my account set by Schwab.

I've withdrawn ₫45,000,000 VNĐ previously during a single ATM visit (to pay 6 months rent) and Schwab then rebated all of my withdrawal fees.

Schwab gives me the "mid market rate" which is usually about ₫200 VNĐ better than the State Bank rate.

So if my withdrawal is equal to $200 USD I save ₫40,000 VNĐ - enough for breakfast and coffee in my neighborhood.

When I withdraw ₫45 million VNĐ I save about ₫360,000 VNĐ in exchange fees.

The savings on ATM fees is about ₫50,000 VNĐ per ₫5 million VNĐ.

4. A lot of good advice goes totally out the window when you allow yourself to be distracted at an ATM machine...

@Dannyroc3

I've had ATMs which I've used in the past now state "Your card is not valid" (paraphrased). Other ATMs have reported "Insufficient funds in this account", which was certainly not the case.

Any time you try an ATM and the transaction fails, regardless of the reason stated at the machine, it is important that you check your account once you get back home to see whether the funds might have actually been deducted from your account in error. This is not an uncommon occurrence. If you do see a debit from your account, call your own bank and report the non-disbursement of the funds from the machine. This has happened to me on multiple occasions. The funds are generally credited back to my account within 3 days.

@Aidan in HCMC

Wow good call. Ive had my ATM card denied many times for no good reason and never even thought to check if funds were taken out. I need to remember to check this in the future. Thanks for the heads up.

@Aidan in HCMC

Thanks for that good info. I called my card and was told the only one that went through was the one I did receive money at. 

Then she mentioned an attempt at withdrawing $30,000 that was declined.

That doesn't even sound logical, would anyone try to get 30K from an ATM machine?

Is it possible,  me trying to withdraw 3 mil. VND was entered as 30K US?

    @Aidan in HCMCThanks for that good info. I called my card and was told the only one that went through was the one I did receive money at.  Then she mentioned an attempt at withdrawing $30,000 that was declined. That doesn't even sound logical, would anyone try to get 30K from an ATM machine? Is it possible,  me trying to withdraw 3 mil. VND was entered as 30K US?        -@Dannyroc3

I highly doubt you are willing to hear the likely answers.

Maybe Yogi will end his hiatus and chime in.

Good luck

...Is it possible,  me trying to withdraw 3 mil. VND was entered as 30K US?        -@Dannyroc3

No way that's possible.

Did you note the date of the attempted $30K withdrawal? Did the bank representative state specifically that it was through an ATM? Something that large would almost certainly be through a vendor at point of sale.

Call them back and ask for details (date, vendor, city etc).

I'd also suggest changing your PIN, like, pronto.

@OceanBeach92107

I miss Yogi's blunt wit.

@Aidan in HCMC

Any time you try an ATM and the transaction fails, regardless of the reason stated at the machine, it is important that you check your account once you get back home to see whether the funds might have actually been deducted from your account in error.

I opened an account with Chase bank in the UK (part of the US JP Morgan Chase group) a few years ago having read excellent reviews. It's an App based account so if the ATM decides not to 'spit out' the readies you will know immediately if you have been charged. Great customer service. You can call the bank or message them and get an immediate response via the phone app. I've used the card in several Asian countries but alas not yet in Vietnam. I will be in Ho Chi Minh in November so will soon find out.

@Lotus Eater

Do expats in the Philippines experience the same not uncommon trouble with the ATMs there as we do here? 

@Dannyroc3

I want to add that in the event that an ATM transaction fails, best not to immediately attempt the transaction at that same ATM again. Better to leave and try a different bank's ATM.

My multiple android smartphone alerts are chiming like crazy every time I make a Schwab Visa Debit card ATM withdrawal OR point of sale (POS) or online transaction.

I get immediate alerts from the Schwab app, plus through email AND by text message to my USA T-Mobile phone number.

The OP has a Schwab account so he could easily set up immediate alerts as well as using the app to update his travel status.

    @Lotus Eater
Do expats in the Philippines experience the same not uncommon trouble with the ATMs there as we do here? 
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

Yes indeed. Sometimes there is no specific reason. Lack of cash in the machine perhaps or they are not geared to take your specific card. Years ago I would only use HSBC (my main account is with them) ATM machines as they always worked but are only available in the large cities. Last time I was in the Philippines only one bank ATM rejected my Chase card (Bohol). Walked along the street 100 metres to the next bank and that ATM was fine. A nightmare scenario for me is if the ATM does not eject the card. OK if its on the bank premises but if you are in a shopping mall where several are based you are well and truly stuffed. A well known American Express commercial in the 70's ran the catch line 'never leave home without it' I never leave home without two debit cards

Just to follow up on my ATM experience (for whoever it might benefit)  I followed someone's advice upstream and went to TP BANK which had a good result. I must say it was the most hi-tech ATM I have ever used but more importantly, it allowed me to withdraw 5mil rather fast and 2 times. 

After we left my GF said the security guy said there was a 30 mil limit, can this be right?

The unusual part was a security guy kinda ran things which was unusual. The machine was in the bank, not sure if there is access after-hours.

When I revisited my bank about transactions from a few days ago, the final tally was 2 mil. VND withdraw with about 3 service charges costing about $8.  I wonder if service charges from my failed attempts were mixed in but its not a big deal.

As a side problem, trying to follow these transactions through my bank website has led to being blocked,  both on the VPN browser mode and on other browsers, my bank app is still working.

If I call my bank about being blocked, I am not sure how fruitful that will be.

So the good news is now I have a good ATM to use.

    Just to follow up on my ATM experience (for whoever it might benefit)  I followed someone's advice upstream and went to TP BANK which had a good result. I must say it was the most hi-tech ATM I have ever used but more importantly, it allowed me to withdraw 5mil rather fast and 2 times. 
After we left my GF said the security guy said there was a 30 mil limit, can this be right?
The unusual part was a security guy kinda ran things which was unusual. The machine was in the bank, not sure if there is access after-hours.
When I revisited my bank about transactions from a few days ago, the final tally was 2 mil. VND withdraw with about 3 service charges costing about $8.  I wonder if service charges from my failed attempts were mixed in but its not a big deal.

As a side problem, trying to follow these transactions through my bank website has led to being blocked,  both on the VPN browser mode and on other browsers, my bank app is still working.
If I call my bank about being blocked, I am not sure how fruitful that will be.

So the good news is now I have a good ATM to use.
   

    -@Dannyroc3

When are you going to tell us the name of the bank you are using (issuer of your card)?

It could be the most pertinent piece of information, especially considering the website blocking, even with VPN.

You are as anonymous as you want to be in this forum so it's absolutely safe to share pertinent details without fear.

As for the interaction with the security guard at the ATM inside the bank:

He is indeed a bank employee and is attempting to be courteous as he helps maintain a secure environment for you.

The better banks all provide security at their ATMs, both inside the bank and outside. 

The guard may also be encouraging you to make more withdrawals so the bank will make a greater profit from your visit in the form of more withdrawal charges.

His information about maximum daily withdrawal limits is almost certainly correct, although he may not be aware that certain cards (such as the Schwab Visa debit card) might be able to exceed that limit.

Most ATMs will charge extra for a simple balance check, so if you previously did that, it would account for one or more charges.

I have two bank accounts in the US Tr uist and another which I only have as a backup card with enough to buy an airline ticket

When I return to the US, I will look into the schwab card.

Yes I was surprised that even the VPN was flagged, I think it is showing me in France but I cant figure out how to change location, but with a free VPN, I cant expect too much.

I think the block must be tied to my computer. Generally, if you are blocked by a website, like Facebook, you can just use another browser to make a new account. But w/my bank, it seems several different browsers are flagged.

I think you are right, I did check the balance once and the other two charges would have been the two transacting banks.