The main language spoken in Vietnam is, of course, Vietnamese. But Sóc Trăng is special as it is home to some of the largest ethnic communities in the country–the Khmer and the Hoa. These communities have their own distinct cultural and linguistic traditions. Historically, they originated in Cambodia and China, respectively, so if you travel down one of the main roads to a neighborhood outside of the city center or to the mini-Chinatown you will see and hear Khmer and Chinese languages. This unique diversity of Sóc Trăng is also the reason for the overflowing number of pagodas within the city and surrounding areas, where people of different religions in the city can go to pray.
The currency used in Vietnam is VND, Vietnamese đồng. Currently, the exchange rate of USD to VND is 1 USD to 25,886 VND. Vietnam’s economy has a complicated history, shaped in part by the destruction of the Vietnam War and the economic challenges that followed reunification in 1975. The country later began a series of major economic reforms called Đổi Mới (renovation) in 1986, helping transform its economy and connect it to the global market. The lowest bill is 1,000 VND.
