Lessons · Level 2
2-4. Banking 1 — using ATMs and cards
Rút tiền ATM & thẻ ngân hàng
🎯 Goal Read a Vietnamese ATM screen and withdraw cash, and ask the bank for help if the ATM keeps your card · about 35 min
Most ATMs have English, but…
Most ATMs in Ho Chi Minh City let you choose English with the Ngôn ngữ (language) button. But some machines have no English, some screens switch to Vietnamese partway through, and receipts and notices are often in Vietnamese.
How to withdraw: insert card → Nhập mã PIN (enter PIN) → Rút tiền (withdraw) → choose amount → In biên lai? (print receipt?) → take your card → take your cash.
Withdrawing with a foreign card usually means a per-transaction fee, and the per-withdrawal limit differs by bank (roughly 2–10 million VND). Fees and limits change often, so check the amount shown on the machine's screen.
ATM screen words
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ngân hàng | bank | nguhng hang |
| thẻ | card | teh |
| Ngôn ngữ | language | ngohng ngew |
| Nhập mã PIN | enter your PIN | nyuhp ma PIN |
| Rút tiền | withdraw cash | rook tee-uhng |
| Số dư | balance Balance inquiry = Vấn tin số dư / Tra cứu số dư | soh yew |
| Chuyển khoản | transfer | chwee-uhng khwang |
| Số tiền khác | other amount | soh tee-uhng khak |
| In biên lai | print receipt Có / Không = Yes / No | in bee-uhng lai |
| Xác nhận | confirm | sak nyuhng |
| Hủy | cancel | wee |
| phí giao dịch | transaction fee | fee yao yit |
| nuốt thẻ | swallow the card | noo-uhk teh |
At the bank counter
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Em lấy số ở đâu? | Where do I get a number ticket? | em luhy soh uh duh-oo? |
| Em muốn rút tiền. | I'd like to withdraw money. | em moo-uhng rook tee-uhng. |
| Máy ATM nuốt thẻ của em. | The ATM swallowed my card. | mai ATM noo-uhk teh koo-uh em. |
| Máy không nhả tiền. | The machine didn't give out the cash. | mai khohng nya tee-uhng. |
| Tài khoản bị trừ tiền rồi. | The money was already deducted from my account. | tai khwang bee chew tee-uhng roy. |
| Đây là thẻ ngân hàng nước ngoài. | This is a foreign bank card. | duhy la teh nguhng hang new-uhk ngwai. |
| Khi nào em lấy lại thẻ được? | When can I get my card back? | khee nao em luhy lai teh dew-uhk? |
| Phí rút tiền là bao nhiêu? | How much is the withdrawal fee? | fee rook tee-uhng la bao nyee-oo? |
| Mỗi lần rút tối đa bao nhiêu? | What's the maximum per withdrawal? | moy luhng rook toy da bao nyee-oo? |
Real conversation — the ATM swallowed my card
Minsu was withdrawing cash at an ATM next to a bank branch in District 2 when his card didn't come out. He goes into the bank and tells the teller.
| Staff | Dạ, chào anh. Anh cần giúp gì ạ? | Hello. How can I help you? |
| Minsu | Chị ơi, máy ATM ngoài kia nuốt thẻ của em rồi. | The ATM outside swallowed my card. |
| Staff | Dạ, chuyện xảy ra lúc mấy giờ anh? | What time did it happen? |
| Minsu | Khoảng mười phút trước. Em nhập mã PIN xong thì máy báo lỗi. | About ten minutes ago. After I entered my PIN, it showed an error. |
| Staff | Thẻ của ngân hàng nào vậy anh? | Which bank is the card from? |
| Minsu | Dạ, thẻ ngân hàng nước ngoài. | It's a foreign bank card. |
| Staff | Anh cho em xem hộ chiếu nha. | May I see your passport? |
| Minsu | Dạ, đây chị. Hôm nay em lấy lại được không? | Here you go. Can I get it back today? |
| Staff | Thẻ nước ngoài thì phải kiểm tra trước. Có thể mất vài ngày làm việc. | Foreign cards need to be checked first. It may take a few business days. |
| Minsu | Dạ, vậy chị gọi cho em khi có thẻ nha. | Then please call me when the card is ready. |
| Staff | Dạ được. Anh ghi số điện thoại ở đây giùm em. | Sure. Please write your phone number here. |
Using ATMs smartly
- Use ATMs inside or right next to a bank branch. If the card gets swallowed, you can go straight to the counter. Withdrawing during bank opening hours (usually weekday daytime, excluding lunch and weekends) is safest.
- Each bank has different fees and limits for foreign cards. Taking out more at once saves on fees. Always check the fee shown on the confirmation screen.
- If the screen offers a currency conversion option like 'charge in your home currency', continuing in Vietnamese đồng (VND) usually gets a better rate.
- If your card gets swallowed, don't panic — call the hotline number on the machine or go to that bank's branch. Foreign cards need your passport and may take a few days.
- If no cash came out but money left your account, note the receipt, time and ATM location and report it to the bank.
ATM warnings
- Don't use an ATM if there's an extra device attached to the card slot or it feels loose (card skimmer). Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN.
- Vietnamese ATMs often return the card before the cash. If you don't take the card within a set time, the machine swallows it again. Grab your card first.
- Withdrawing at a roadside ATM at night makes you a target for snatch theft. Put the cash in your wallet right there at the machine.
- Never hand your card or PIN to anyone near an ATM who offers to 'help'.
- Entering the wrong PIN several times (usually 3) can lock or swallow your card.