I seem to remember that on a trip to (sort of socialist) Uganda a few years back, the battleship grey banknotes were adorned with pictures of electricity pylons. They now show some lovely animals, and a big map in a range of exciting colours. Laos, bless, hasn't quite caught up with this approach, and one of its biggest notes still appears to boast a collective farm. Vietnam, meanwhile, is so far ahead that for its latest series, it's gone for the trendy Australian plastic banknote style, ditching what appears to have been three ladies in a sweat-shop (2000 dong) and a hydro electric dam (5000 dong) in favour of a selection of charming temples.
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| Sweat-shop & Hydroelectric Dam |
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| Charming temples |
But at least most of them do have one thing in common: the size and colour of the banknote helps you sort them in your wallet. Big red note = different value from smaller blue note. That's just common sense, surely?
Not judging by the one banknote so many countries seem to actually want, the US $. So do us all a favour, Uncle Sam. Drop those dreary presidential portraits, get the design team in, and try to catch up with Vietnam's Uncle Ho.
John
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