US dollars flow into banks
Since March 6 the State Bank of Vietnam and police and market officials have raided many unauthorised foreign-exchange counters around the country, especially in big cities.
As a result, people have shifted forex transactions from the black market to commercial banks, also causing an appreciation in the value of the dong.
Since March 6 the State Bank of Vietnam
and police and market officials have raided many unauthorised
foreign-exchange counters around the country, especially in big cities.
As a result, people have shifted forex transactions
from the black market to commercial banks, also causing an appreciation
in the value of the dong.
At Agribank's Ben Thanh
branch, for instance, the dollar buying price on March 11 was 20,860 VND
and the selling rate, 20,875 VND, down 5 VND from the day before.
Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy director of the central bank's HCM City
branch, said forex counters at banks had become busier in the last few
days, with the number of people selling dollars increasing.
He hailed the change, saying it would help stabilising the domestic foreign currency market as well as the forex rates.
But while the foreign exchange market has become better regulated,
with moneychangers' exchange rates coming closer to banks', individuals
are unable to buy the greenback at banks even for legitimate purposes.
Tran Nguyet Anh of Tan Binh district said she wanted
to buy 3,000 USD to visit her son who is studying in Australia , but
has been refused by seven different banks.
"Some
banks told me they did not have dollars to sell to individuals while
others said they were not allowed to sell since forex rates were
fluctuating dramatically," she said.
Nguyen Thuy
Thanh of district 7 said she wanted to buy a mere 500 USD for an
official trip to Singapore . "All the banks I went to told me they
did not have dollars to sell to individuals for tourism," she said.
Minh admitted that people were unable to buy dollars at banks.
"Banks have limited dollar volumes and therefore cannot meet customers' demand," he said.
Most banks gave priority to import-export firms and individuals going abroad to study or for medical treatment, he said.
The deputy general director of a major bank said for several months
banks had been unable to buy dollars from individuals getting overseas
remittances or having savings and so did not have enough to meet demand,
especially that of individuals. /.