200 Vietnamese Dong Foreign Exchange Certificate Banknote

200 Ðồng B Dong (Issued 1987)

Few banknotes from the late socialist era of Vietnam are as specialised in purpose as this 1987 Foreign Exchange Certificate issued in the Dong B denomination — a parallel currency system designed exclusively for use by foreign visitors and overseas Vietnamese, entirely separate from the domestic dong circulating among ordinary citizens. A currency expert would immediately recognise the “Dong B” designation as the distinguishing hallmark of this dual-currency arrangement, marking the note as one of a restricted series that saw limited circulation and was eventually abolished as Vietnam opened its economy. The absence of any portrait — itself an unusual design choice — reflects the functional, transactional nature of these certificates rather than the nationalistic iconography typical of standard Vietnamese banknotes. The combination of that Vietcombank institutional identity and the tightly controlled numbering system makes this a document of considerable monetary history.

On the front, the note is dominated by deep olive-green tones across its entire face, with no portrait present — instead, the central design features a large, boldly printed numeral “200” rendered in dark green ink within an elaborate guilloché rosette, its fine concentric lathe-work patterns creating an intricate oval medallion of interlocking curves that serve as the principal security element against counterfeiting. Above the central numeral, the issuing authority is identified in capital Latin-script lettering reading “NGAN HANG NGOAI THUONG VIET NAM” — the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam, commonly known as Vietcombank — printed in a clean, authoritative serif typeface along the upper margin. The denomination is confirmed beneath the central medallion in two lines of text: “HAI TRAM” above “DONG B,” the former being the Vietnamese-script romanisation for two hundred, both printed in bold uppercase lettering that anchors the lower central field. The serial number “AD 0091137” is printed in red ink in the upper right section of the note, providing a sharp chromatic contrast against the overall green palette and serving as the primary individual identifier. Flanking the central medallion on both the left and right margins are elaborate decorative corner elements and border panels filled with fine geometric and floral guilloché patterning, the detail of which is consistently rendered throughout the frame. The overall border is formed by a repeated ornamental chain of small floral and lozenge motifs, reinforcing the note’s structured, formal appearance. The paper itself carries a light texture visible across the field, and the printing is flat rather than intaglio-raised, consistent with the functional certificate printing standards of the period.

The reverse presents a markedly different character — rendered in pale, washed celadon green on an aged cream-white paper ground that shows considerable patina from circulation. The central design features a lightly printed architectural vignette depicting a large, formal multi-storey building rendered in fine line engraving, identifiable as the headquarters of the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam in Hanoi, with its colonnaded facade, broad horizontal windows, and domed or flat-roofed central section clearly delineated in the delicate linework. To the left of the building vignette, a circular official seal is printed in slightly deeper green, bearing the interlocked initials “VCB” — the Vietcombank monogram — at its centre, surrounded by a ring of text in Latin script reading “BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIET NAM” and “VIETCOMBANK” around the circumference, confirming the institutional identity of the issuing body. The reverse carries no serial numbering, denomination text, or additional security features beyond these elements, and the aged paper shows some light soiling and edge wear consistent with its withdrawn status. A faint rectangular stamp impression is visible in the right-hand portion of the reverse, likely an administrative or exchange cancellation mark applied during the note’s operational life.

Webuyallcurrency.com buys foreign coins and banknotes for cash, including this 200 Dong B Foreign Exchange Certificate from Vietnam. Send it in with any other Vietnamese Dong banknotes you have and we will handle the exchange in a single straightforward process.

• Indicate the quantity of 200 Ðồng B Dong banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

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