Why do ATMs in Nha Trang run out of cash and how to avoid being stuck without money?

At Gach Gach, an RSHB card that had worked before was declined, but the venue accepted US dollars. Carry USD or keep a backup foreign-bank account in case a card payment fails.

One traveler ran completely out of cash and couldn't even pay for food at the hotel — card payment failed. Tip: always keep a small cash reserve for such situations.

In the morning an ATM showed 'no cash', but a few hours later there was already a line at the same machine — after a 30-minute wait, cash was available. Lesson: ATMs get refilled during the day, so it's worth trying again later.

To avoid carrying a big wad of cash, one approach is to exchange USD in small batches (around $100 at a time) and spend it fully before exchanging more.

A guide at one hotel refused to accept old or worn USD bills — the exchange rate didn't matter, but the condition of the bills was critical. Bring only clean, newer USD banknotes.

At a Lotte store, one traveler's card payment repeatedly failed — she ended up relying on cash for the rest of the day.

Another traveler withdrew 20,000 (local currency) in cash at once and tried to avoid exchanging USD, paying via QR code wherever possible.

Some travelers deliberately avoid carrying large amounts of cash at once, preferring to withdraw smaller amounts regularly as needed.

According to one long-term resident, ATMs always had cash available — withdrawals worked fine in the morning, late evening, and on weekends. Cash shortages seem to depend on the specific ATM or area.