Bangkok (AP) - Vietnam has issued two new banknotes in larger denominations, easing

the load for shoppers weary of toting bundles of less-valuable currency, the Vietnam

News agency reported.

The new notes with values of 20,000 and 50,000 dong, will supplement existing denominations

that range from 100 to 10,000 dong. One dollar is equal to about 10,500 dong.

"The new banknotes will help form a balanced monetary structure convenient to

the people ," Le Thi Ngot, deputy governor of the State Bank said in Hanoi.