Finding a way to spend 500 coins is so hard.

Staff gives change to 500 VND note when buying ferry ticket - Photo: AN VI

The first time I took the ferry recently, the staff gave me change in 500 dong.

To take the ferry... next time

The listed price here is 4,500 VND/way for motorbikes and 6,500 VND/way for motorbikes and passengers. Other vehicles have different prices, but not odd 500 VND like the two cases above.

Many people who pass this ferry for the first time cannot help but wonder why they are given change in 500 VND bills. Each time, the staff just says "according to the set price".

Mr. Thang (30 years old, Thu Duc City) took his wife to Vung Tau by this route for the first time and couldn't help but feel hesitant: "I asked the staff who still uses 500 VND bills for change, and this person told me to take that money to take the ferry back. But my wife and I planned to go and return via Dong Nai, not here anymore."

Ms. Nhung, a regular visitor to this ferry terminal, said that sometimes she forgets to bring a 500 VND bill to take the ferry. So she has to give the exact amount and receives another 500 VND bill. The change is kept in the house because when she goes to the market to buy a few thousand more onions and cilantro, the seller says she does not accept 500 VND change.

Difficulty spending 500 dong notes

Although the 500 VND bill is still in circulation as usual, it is easy to be refused when showing this bill at many shops.

When I used the 500 VND note that the ferry staff gave me change, plus the small change I had before, to buy a cup of sweet tea from the street vendors right at the ferry, they refused, saying, "No one uses small change anymore!"

I went to a roadside restaurant to buy a bowl of noodles for 25,000 VND. The owner immediately returned two 500 VND bills and asked me to exchange them for 1,000 VND bills.

Even when I entered the hospital parking lot and paid for parking with two 500 dong bills, the parking attendant refused.

The reason this person gave was that 500 dong bills are difficult to spend, even if they take change to give to other customers, they still won't accept it.

Even when I go to a convenience store, although there are many items priced at 500 VND, they still ask customers to pay in exact amounts, then give them extra candy or small bags of sugar!

All money is money, all are precious, but the "journey" of spending a 500 VND note is so difficult. Perhaps it is true as the ferry station employee said: "This money is for the next ferry"!

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tim-cach-tieu-500-dong-tien-le-sao-kho-qua-20240823172508734.htm