Vietnam Workers: Weak Won Means 2 Million VND LESS (What to Do)

Vietnam Workers: Weak Won Means 2 Million VND LESS (What to Do)
Anh chị em người Việt ơi! (Vietnamese brothers and sisters!)
The Korean won just hit 1519 per dollar. This is bad news for sending money to Vietnam.
Let me show you exactly what this Vietnam remittance weak won situation means—your family receives LESS money, not more.
📌 Quick Answer: At 1519 rate, sending ₩1,000,000 gives your family only 16,447,000 VND. At strong won (1350), they would get 18,519,000 VND. That's 2,072,000 VND LESS—almost 2 weeks of groceries.
💡 Related Guides:
📊 What Weak Won Means for Vietnam Remittance
Let's understand the Vietnam remittance weak won impact:
How Your Money Converts
KRW (Your salary) → USD (Middle step) → VND (Family receives)
Current vs Strong Won
| Rate | ₩1,000,000 Becomes | Family Gets (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Strong won (1350) | $741 | 18,519,000 VND |
| Normal (1400) | $714 | 17,857,000 VND |
| Weak won (1519) | $658 | 16,447,000 VND |
Your family loses 2,072,000 VND at current weak rate.
💰 Real Impact: How Much Your Family Loses
By Amount Sent
| You Send | Strong Won (1350) | NOW (1519) | Family LOSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₩500,000 | 9,259,000 VND | 8,224,000 VND | -1,035,000 VND |
| ₩1,000,000 | 18,519,000 VND | 16,447,000 VND | -2,072,000 VND |
| ₩1,500,000 | 27,778,000 VND | 24,671,000 VND | -3,107,000 VND |
| ₩2,000,000 | 37,037,000 VND | 32,895,000 VND | -4,142,000 VND |
Monthly Impact
If you send ₩2,000,000 per month:
- Lost per month: 4,142,000 VND
- Lost over 6 months: 24,852,000 VND
That's almost 25 million VND lost in 6 months if rates don't improve.
🏠 What 2 Million VND Means for Your Family
2,000,000 VND (Monthly Loss per ₩1M) Can Buy:
| Item | Cost | How Much |
|---|---|---|
| Rice (10kg) | 180,000 VND | 11 bags |
| Cooking oil (1L) | 45,000 VND | 44 bottles |
| Eggs (30) | 55,000 VND | 36 trays |
| Electricity bill | 300,000 VND | 6-7 months |
| Mobile top-up | 50,000 VND | 40 times |
| School lunch | 30,000 VND | 66 meals |
2 million VND = 2 weeks of family groceries lost.
🎯 Smart Strategy for Vietnam Workers
Here's how to handle the Vietnam remittance weak won situation:
Strategy 1: Send Urgent, Save Extra
| Money Type | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, food, medicine | Send now | ₩1,200,000 |
| Regular monthly support | Send now | ₩500,000 |
| Extra savings | Keep in Korea | ₩300,000 |
Why: Family gets what they need. Extra money waits for better rate.
Strategy 2: Compare Services Every Time
At weak rate, service choice matters more:
| Service | Family Gets (per ₩1M) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Best service | 16,500,000 VND | Baseline |
| Worst service | 16,200,000 VND | -300,000 VND |
300,000 VND difference just from choosing wrong service!
→ Always compare on RemitBuddy
Strategy 3: Timing Around Vietnamese Holidays
Plan your remittance around family needs:
| Event | 2026 Date | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Tết | Jan 29-Feb 2 | Send by Jan 20 (banks close) |
| Reunification Day | Apr 30 | Send by Apr 25 |
| Mid-Autumn | Sep 21 | Send by Sep 15 |
Tết is most important: Send before Jan 20, even if rate is bad. Family needs money for Tết.
📱 MoMo Strategy for Vietnam
Most Vietnamese families use MoMo. Here's how it works:
Sending to MoMo
You cannot send directly to MoMo from Korea. The process:
Your remittance app → Vietnam bank account → MoMo wallet
Step by Step
- Choose service (Hanpass, E9Pay, Gmoneytrans)
- Send to family's bank (Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank)
- Family transfers from bank to MoMo (instant, free)
Tell Your Family
If their bank isn't linked to MoMo:
- Open MoMo app
- Go to "Ví của tôi" (My Wallet)
- Select "Liên kết ngân hàng" (Link Bank)
- Add their bank account
- Now bank deposits appear in MoMo
📞 What to Tell Your Family
Share this with your family in Vietnamese:
Message to send:
"Anh/chị ơi, tỷ giá won đang yếu (1519 won = 1 đô la). Nghĩa là tiền gửi về ít hơn bình thường—khoảng 2 triệu đồng ít hơn mỗi 1 triệu won. Đây là tình trạng tạm thời, khoảng 4-6 tháng có thể sẽ tốt hơn. Em vẫn gửi tiền cần thiết, còn tiền dư em để dành đợi tỷ giá tốt hơn rồi gửi thêm."
Translation: "The won exchange rate is weak (1519 won = 1 dollar). This means remittance is less than normal—about 2 million VND less per 1 million won. This is temporary, about 4-6 months it may improve. I'll still send necessary money, and save the extra to send when rates are better."
📊 Rate Monitoring for Vietnam
Your Target Rates
| Rate | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Below 1,350 | 🟢 Excellent | Send everything you can |
| 1,350-1,400 | 🟢 Good | Send regular + saved |
| 1,400-1,450 | 🟡 Normal | Send regular amount |
| 1,450-1,500 | 🟠 Poor | Send minimum needed |
| Above 1,500 | 🔴 Bad (now) | Send urgent only, save rest |
When Will Rate Improve?
Nobody knows exactly. Historical pattern:
- Weak periods usually last 4-6 months
- Rate tends to recover to 1,400-1,450 range
❓ FAQ
How does weak won affect Vietnam remittance?
When the Vietnam remittance weak won rate is high (1519), your Korean salary buys fewer dollars, which means fewer VND for your family. At 1519 vs 1350, your family gets about 11% less VND—that's over 2 million VND less per 1 million won.
Should I send money to Vietnam now or wait?
For urgent family needs (rent, food, medicine, Tết), send now. For non-urgent amounts, consider saving in Korea until rates improve below 1,450.
Which app gives best rate for Vietnam?
Rates change daily. Generally Gmoneytrans offers competitive Vietnam rates, followed by Hanpass and E9Pay. Always compare on RemitBuddy.
Can I send directly to MoMo from Korea?
No. Send to a Vietnamese bank account, and your family transfers to MoMo (instant and free). Make sure their bank is linked to MoMo.
How much less does my family get during weak won?
For ₩1,000,000:
- Strong won (1350): 18,519,000 VND
- Weak won (1519): 16,447,000 VND
- Difference: 2,072,000 VND less
✅ Summary: Action Plan for Vietnam Workers
| Priority | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Understand: weak won = family gets LESS |
| 2 | Send urgent amounts now (rent, food, Tết) |
| 3 | Save extra in Korea until rate improves |
| 4 | Compare services on RemitBuddy |
| 5 | Tell family about the situation |
Key Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current rate | 1,519 KRW/USD |
| Target rate | Below 1,420 |
| Loss per ₩1M | 2,072,000 VND |
| Expected recovery | 4-6 months |
The Vietnam remittance weak won situation hurts, but smart strategy minimizes the damage.
📚 Related Guides
- Send now or wait? The math
- Best remittance apps 2026
- 5 things E-9 workers must do
- Dollar at 1519: Full breakdown
Compare Vietnam remittance rates at RemitBuddy
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