vietnam tourism budget

The Cost of Travel in Vietnam: A 2023 Budget Breakdown

Vietnam is one of the greatest countries in the world.

I should know: I’ve spent a almost full year travelling across this country, making my way from the very top to its southernmost point and exploring a hell of a lot along the way.

I’ve spent months living in Hanoi and Saigon, and celebrated birthdays in Hoi An and Mui Ne. I’ve rented apartments with local families in lesser-known neighbourhoods, diligently worked my way through every street food cart in the area, then partied my way through all of the best backpacker haunts. I’ve travelled solo in the country, with my boyfriend and with friends, and even spent a month showing my boyfriend’s parents around the country. I spent two weeks riding a scooter through the smallest of towns in the Mekong Delta, visiting places that few tourists have ever passed through.

I’ve seen so much of this country and yet there’s something that still continually pulls me back.

(Confession: it’s the food. Vietnamese food is the best .)

But beyond the incredible meals, there’s also the beautiful scenery, the friendly people, the amazing architecture, and the most bustling cities. From the awe-inspiring views up in Sapa and the beaches of Da Nang, to the beauty of Hoi An, the scenery at Halong Bay, and the chaos of Saigon, Vietnam offers something for everyone.

Today, I want to focus on what you’ll pay for all of this magic. Of course, being in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is an affordable country to visit, in comparison to countries in North America and Europe, so your Dong will take you far. Yep, that’s the name of the currency here: the Vietnamese Dong, and you’ll find yourself with plenty of opportunity to make jokes about it.

I usually travel on a mid-range budget in Vietnam, along with occasional splurges, and often average around $50 — I’ve managed to get by on $10 a day when I was a tight backpacker, and splurged on a five-star hotel and been blown away by how much $100 a night can get you.

At the time of writing this, in 2023, $1 equates to around 24,000 VND. You’ll usually get 500,000 VND notes out of the ATMs, so remember that those are worth just over $20 each. Be careful with the 20,000 and 500,000 notes, though — they look very similar and could make for quite the expensive mistake!

A quick housekeeping point before we continue: everything in the post I paid for myself – as always, this is a comp- and press trip-free article.

With all that being said, it’s time to take an in-depth look into just how much it costs to travel in Vietnam. Let’s get started.

Where to Go in Vietnam

I recommend allocating a full month to travel in Vietnam. Here’s how I recommend spending your time over those four weeks:

• Hanoi: 5 nights
• Sapa: 2 nights
• Halong Bay/Bai Tu Long Bay: 1 night
• Ninh Binh: 3 nights
• Phong Nga: 2 nights
• Da Nang: 2 nights
• Hoi An: 5 nights
• Dalat: 3 nights
• Saigon: 3 nights
• Can Tho: 1 night

What’s Included in This Post

The budget breakdown you’re about to read covers accommodation, transportation, activities, food, and miscellaneous costs. All prices are in U.S. dollars, as that’s where most of my readers are located.

Flight costs will vary, depending on where you’re travelling in from. I recommending using Skyscanner’s flight comparison search engine to find the very best deals.

I often book activities and transport online, but generally have found that local travel agents offer cheaper prices. You’ll find one on practically every street in tourist-popular destinations, so there’s always many places vying for your custom; amounts can usually be haggled.

But if that’s not your thing, or you prefer the peace of mind of having things booked in advance, online booking works well, too. More on that below.

Vietnam offers up amazing value for money. Yes, I often splashed out on fun excursions that are a bit pricier, but even then, costs didn’t spiral. It’s all about balance. 

My ethos is: if I’m not going to experience at least some of the sights and activities a place is known for, what’s the point? But equally, I’ve also found some lesser-known – and free – things to do along the way that I’ll be mentioning as well.

Time to jump in.

How to Save Money on the Cost of Accommodation in Vietnam

As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer.

Housesitting  is a great option for free accommodation. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house while they’re away, and usually look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees as you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you do have that freedom, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. I have friends who have housesat in castles before! For free!  Trusted Housesitters  is the best site for getting started with housesitting, as they have the highest number of listings.

I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you.

The first of these are  hostels . In Vietnam, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, in large cities, and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.

Hostels in Vietnam  are on a par with the rest of Southeast Asia, and you can expect to spend around  $5 a night for a dorm bed  for a well-reviewed hostel in Vietnam, with the price increasing to slightly about  $15 a night  for the absolute best of the best.

When it comes to private rooms in hostels, you can expect to spend around  $20 a night  for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room.  $40 a night  will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel or hotel.

I use  HostelWorld  to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices.

And, of course, there are always hotels, which will usually come in at around  $20-$60 a night  for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use  Booking , as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices. I share my personal recommendations below:

The Cost of Accommodation in Vietnam

Places to stay in Vietnam are excellent value.

There were a couple of exceptions where we treated ourselves and upped the budget a bit, but that’s not to say we didn’t see quality options within both price brackets.

For the most part, we stayed in hotels and guesthouses and picked places where breakfast was included. That way, our first meal of the day was covered by what was without exception a first-rate buffet, often with eggs made-to-order any which way we preferred. Going forward, whenever I mention breakfast, you can assume it was part of the rate.

Mid-range properties were super-reasonably priced. And even 5* accommodation doesn’t cost an arm and a leg – much less than a hotel room in Western Europe, Australasia or the USA, for example.

Hotel staff couldn’t do enough for us, from the concierge and the tour desk to the staff at breakfast. Honestly, the Vietnamese people were a delight: really friendly and helpful. Often they were keen to practice their English on us and claimed to not be very good, when in actual fact they were fluent. It put us to shame.

Read on for recommendations on places to stay in Vietnam.

Hanoi: Our stay at this contemporary hotel in the Old Quarter cost us $49 a night , and we can’t speak highly enough of this gem.

Just a five-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and tons of restaurants and bars, our superior double was spacious and modern, with wooden floors, splashes of colour throughout, and a feature wall. The breakfast buffet was varied and staff were incredibly helpful, going above and beyond to help us with forthcoming bookings.

For us, the historic centre was definitely the best area to stay in. It was bustling, atmospheric, and within ambling distance of most attractions. Talking of walking: make sure you watch out for the pesky mopeds in Hanoi, and Saigon too. In fact, there were even more zipping about down south.

Sapa: We opted for a homestay in Sapa, because we really wanted to throw ourselves into things. If you go down that route, Mao and her family are the people to choose.

After an overnight train ride northwards from Hanoi, we were met by Mao’s sister-in-law. We paid $68 per person for a one-night stay in Mao’s home. But that price also covered a two-day excursion. More on the details in the activity section.

It was Mao’s mountainous family home that we stayed in. It was basic, but comfortable: mattress-style beds on the floor enclosed by mosquito nets and shared bathroom facilities. The hospitality was warm, and the family were generous with their time.

We loved our night there and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Bai Tu Long Bay: Boat time! Bai Tu Long Bay is just eastwards of the more famous Halong Bay, but doesn’t attract the crowds of the former. It’s just as beautiful, so if you want to see those limestone karsts without hundreds of boats surrounding you, this is the way to go.

We chose a two days/one night trip here. Our boat – Viola – was striking yet comfortable – a traditional wooden vessel with 16 cabins featuring dark wood and large windows. We were lucky: the boat wasn’t full, so we managed to bag an upgrade to the Honeymoon suite with a balcony to admire the spectacular scenery from.

Our cost came in at $149 per person for the two night trip, but that did include transfers, separate excursions off the boat, and food.

Ninh Binh: Just a couple of hours south of Hanoi we reached Ninh Binh, and this rather lovely homestay . Run by a family of four, the hospitality was first-rate, and our room was large, with pretty views out to the mountains. There was a roof terrace for drinks and excellent local food, and complimentary bicycles.

The property is outside the centre of town on a quiet residential stretch. We were there to get out and about on bikes, so the quiet location worked well for us. We paid $19 a night and were impressed. The family even invited us to join them one night for a home-cooked meal – an unexpected and kind gesture that we took them up on. That was our first taste of jackfruit.

Phong Nha: We pushed the boat out in Central Vietnam – for us anyway – and spent $45 a night . Located off the beaten path a little (about 15 minutes from the centre of town), this peaceful hideaway was set among lush greenery and rice paddies, and came complete with a swimming pool, wonderful views, complimentary bikes, tasty food, and quaffable fishbowl gin and tonics.

Situated just outside the National Park and the caves the area is famous for, we enjoyed sitting al fresco watching the sunset, sipping on a drink with a plate of crispy spring rolls to munch on.

The vibe was French colonial, with plenty of dark wood, wicker furniture and colourful tiles. And the ethos was ethical, sustainable and local, which got a thumbs up from us.

Danang: We continued with a slightly increased budget here, and spent $62 a night at this stylish beachfront property in a bright and airy superior double. .

Just a couple of minutes’ walk from the white sands of My Khe beach and about 25 from the famous Dragon Bridge, this spot offered us the best of both worlds.

We made the most of the glorious rooftop pool and terrace and the plentiful breakfast buffet. And friendly staff were on hand to answer our questions – such as where to get the local bus to Hoi An from.

Hoi An: Just 45 minutes southwards on that bus we were advised about, we reached our next stop. We split our time here: three nights a short cycle from lovely Cua Dai beach at this contemporary hotel with a pool overlooking the Co Co river (we paid $40 per night ).

Our room was spacious, clean, and it was fab to have a balcony. Plus, we were just a 20-minute ride to the sea. And at the latter smaller property, we loved the eye-catching colourful tiles throughout and enjoyed a splash in the dinky pool.

Saigon: We stayed in this first-rate hotel in Saigon, with pale wood and bamboo decor, knowledgeable staff, a quality buffet breakfast, and a rooftop pool with city vistas. We paid $90 per night and were very happy.

Can Tho (Mekong Delta): We were here for just one night, and up very early for a Mekong Delta boat ride the following day. So we opted for a lower end of the price bracket option. And we couldn’t find fault with this virtually riverside boutique hostel , where we paid just $20 per night .

You can expect funky monochrome decor and air-con. Breakfast wasn’t included here, but we knew we’d be eating on our floating market trip.

OUR TOTAL COST OF ACCOMMODATION IN VIETNAM CAME TO $1178. THAT’S AN AVERAGE OF $42 PER DAY, OR $21 EACH.

Reminder: in Sapa and Bai Tu Long Bay, the cost I’ve used in the calculation included a whole excursion – so food, walks etc.

THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION IN VIETNAM

We chose to travel by bus throughout Vietnam for the most part. We generally found these to be clean, efficient and comfortable. Some had reclining seats that were bedlike, for longer journeys.

To reiterate: shop around for prices; we found there were deals to be had. If, however, you break into a sweat when you think about masterfully haggling with the experts, 12Go Asia is my go-to site for booking overland travel in Southeast Asia. They’ve got buses, trains, and private transport listed, and it’s usually only a dollar or two more than you’ll pay in person, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Keep in mind that sometimes the buses take less time than advised and you may have to swap buses, which you’re not always pre-informed about. For example, from Phong Nha to Danang we switched buses in Hue. And from Hoi An to Dalat, we changed vehicles in Nha Trang (but did get to see a lovely sunrise at the beach there). Really, for the prices we paid, we couldn’t complain.

Here’s a breakdown of our journeys:

Train from Hanoi to Sapa: $32 per person . Note: we shared our cabin with two other (snoring) people, so would recommend opting for a private cabin if funds allow (around $61 per person).

Bus from Sapa to Hanoi: $12 per person . We used Sapa Express : comfy seats, lovely views, and a very friendly member of staff was on board. Water and a snack were provided, too. The company was also very accommodating when we nearly missed the bus.

Bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh: $7 per person

Bus from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha: $12 per person

Bus from Phong Nha to Danang: $12 per person

Local bus from Danang to Hoi An: $1 per person

Bus from Hoi An to Dalat: $16 per person

Bus from Dalat to Saigon: $17 per person

Bus from Saigon to Can Tho: $6 per person

Shuttle bus from Can Tho to Ha Tien: $6 per person. Tip: don’t buy your ticket from the office, go directly to a shuttle and ask a driver for a price – they charged us less than what was quoted inside.

There are other modes of transport if buses aren’t for you. Trains are an alternative ( 12Go is a top website for those, too), and Grab was available in Hanoi, Danang and Saigon.

Similar to Uber, you just need to download the app. Scooters are an option with Grab; cheaper than booking a car. Watch out for taxis you hail off the street – they have a reputation for trying to rip off tourists, so it’s easier to use the app.

OUR TOTAL COST OF TRANSPORTATION IN VIETNAM CAME TO $242. THAT’S AN AVERAGE OF $8.60 PER DAY, OR $4.30 EACH.

THE COST OF ACTIVITIES AND ENTRANCE FEES IN VIETNAM

We saw and did a lot in Vietnam, ranging from rice paddy walks and scenic boat rides to food tours. There were also some well-known activities that we chose not to do, because of personal preference. For example, Phong Nha is famous for caves, but we opted for a bike ride into the countryside instead.

Here’s a rundown for you, with costs.

Halong Bay two-day/one-night tour from Hanoi: $150 per person. If there’s one thing you have to do when you’re in Vietnam, it’s to visit their most famous attraction. Halong Bay is incredible and well-worth taking the time and spending the money to see it. The rock formations are breathtaking! We opted for a tour that took us to both Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, as the latter is free of the tourist crowds. That way, we got the best of both worlds. You can check availability for the tour we booked using the widget below (it is popular, so book well in advance!)

Food tour in Hanoi with Ha Food Tours: $25 per person . An amazing evening; we were fit to burst by the end. Our local tour guide was fun, friendly and very informative. She also gave us recommendations for other restaurants to try (Pho 10 below). We wandered our way around the Old Quarter sampling delights such as Bun Cha, egg coffee (nicer than it sounds!), dried beef salad, crab spring rolls, beef noodles, Bahn Mi, sticky rice, and coconut ice-cream. Told you there was a lot of food! We wouldn’t necessarily have known to go into some of the places, and it was lovely to be led by someone with first-hand knowledge of the city. We thought the price offered excellent value for money, when you coupled all of the food with the guided aspect.

Hoa Lo prison, Hanoi (pay at the entrance): 30,000 VND per person (approximately $1.50) . This was an eye-opening and moving experience. The former jail was used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for US Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War.

Sapa walking and homestay with Mao and family : $55 per person (two days, one night). The scenery was amazing in Sapa and the Muong Hoa Valley: rice fields, terraces, tea plants, and lush greenery. If you’re into glorious views and walking (there was a fair amount, and it was medium difficulty at times), this is for you. We met Mao’s sister-in-law in the centre of town, and from there, up we went into the mountains. It was peaceful, picturesque, and a world away from busy Hanoi. Included in the tour were two lunches, plus a plentiful home-cooked dinner and breakfast at Mao’s. Do try the rice wine – ‘happy water’ Mao offers at dinnertime – it was potent, reminding us a bit of sake.

Bai Tu Long Bay boat tour with Premier Travel: $144 per person (two days, one night). Again, the scenery here was pretty spectacular, with limestone rock formations jutting out of the water across the bay. The trip included visiting a pearl farm and an impressive cave, all meals, a summer roll making class, a swim, and a kayak. Just to let you know, it was communal dining, which some people like, and others don’t.

Trang An caves, Ninh Binh (pay at entrance): 200,000 VND per person (approximately $8.50) . We were really pleased we chose to cycle out to the river and the Trang An caves. They were a much quieter alternative to Tam Coc (we rode via there another day and it was busy). At Trang An, we jumped aboard a small boat just before 4pm; it was quiet on the water. The scenery was wonderful and the caves we went through made the journey exciting and interesting. Watch your head in some of the caves – they were low. We made a few stops along the way and helped to row for some of the trip. It was a lovely way to spend a few hours. Lunch tip: Quoc Khanh Bamboo Homestay (great views, and very tasty pomelo, pork and shrimp salad).

Mua Caves, Ninh Binh (pay at entrance): 100,000 VND per person (approximately $4.50) . We cycled from our homestay through paddy fields which was fab. The caves involved a 500-step climb – so it may not be for everyone. Tough, but totally worth it for the amazing and far-reaching vistas.

Scooter food tour in Hoi An: $35 per person . Another fantastic food tour. We sampled a whopping nine dishes on this tour — some of which were served in a local’s home who specialised in that particular item. So good, so fun, and so informative; this is a must-do!

Countryside tour in Dalat : $40 per person . One word: loved! We stopped at a cricket farm, the Elephant Falls, a silk factory, a coffee plant, and wandered around a local market sampling bits and pieces. We also enjoyed a lunch pitstop with a fun fruit tasting, and then came the secret aspect. I won’t reveal what that was – it was worth it though.

Crazy House , Dalat (pay at the entrance): 40,000 VND per person (approximately $1.75) . This really was crazy. An unconventional building constructed by Vietnamese architect Đặng Việt Nga, designed to entice people back to nature. You can also stay there too, if that floats your boat.

Saigon Pho Trail : $55 per person . A food and walking tour highlighting the ‘real’ Ho Chi Minh City. We wandered around authentic markets, enjoyed a first-rate breakfast beef pho, calamansi juice, and then a huge lunch. So much tasty food! And a super friendly pair of guides.

Saigon foot scrub: $15 per person . We’d done an awful lot of walking throughout our trip and our feet deserved some attention! There were so many places offering spa services, so we shopped around. Our treatment also included a quick neck and back massage, and a pedicure for me.

Mekong Delta boat ride: $18 per person . We loved this tour so much. It was an early start down to the water where we took a boat tour to the Cai Rang Floating Market. Next, we stopped at a noodle factory and then a cacao plant. A wonderful morning. Our advice? Don’t book online, ask your hotel for a tour recommendation.  

There were also tons of free activities we enjoyed. They can sometimes be just as enjoyable, we think. Read on for a handful of our faves.

Phong Nha Bong Lai Valley bike ride: This was one of my favourite days. So scenic, not too difficult, and two great places to stop for a beer and food – always a bonus! Their names? Pub with Cold Beer (it did what it said on the tin), and Eco Boar Farm.

Danang beach walk: Non Nuoc and My Khe – wide stretches with fine sand.

Hoi An beach walk: Cua Dai. Another lovely stretch; keep an eye out for colourful crabs scurrying along.

Where I’ve mentioned bikes, these were complimentary with our hotel stay.

OUR TOTAL COST OF ACTIVITIES IN VIETNAM CAME TO $418.50. THAT’S AN AVERAGE OF $15 PER DAY, OR $7.50 EACH.

Reminder: I’ve excluded the Sapa and Bai Tu Long Bay tours from my calculations because I included them in the accommodation costs above.

THE COST OF FOOD VIETNAM

I love, love, love food. Wherever we visit, we put a lot of research time into where to eat and what dishes we should try. We like to taste local specialities, and so we kept our ear out for recommendations. The food in Vietnam was among the best we tasted throughout the year, and super cheap too.

I’m going to list a handful of dishes we regularly ate across the four weeks, with an average price.

Like I said before, for the most part, breakfast was included as part of our room rate, so I won’t include that in this section. And on a handful of days when we were on an excursion, all of our meals were included. So I’ll calculate for the remaining days.

Let’s do it…

Bahn Mi: a super delicious snack that we had virtually every day! A baguette (Viet style – much lighter than the French version) filled with BBQ pork, pate, herbs, chilli, and pickled veg. Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi was our favourite by far and cost just 30,000 a pop (about $1.30). Madam Khanh, Queen of Banh Mi in Hoi An was also very tasty (25,000 VND, approximately $1).

Pho: fragrant noodle soup that struck the balance of being fresh yet filling.

Average cost: 65,000 VND ( approximately $3). Our recommendation? Beef pho at Pho 10 in Hanoi. The broth was delicate and the meat rare (it cooked a bit as it sat in the broth). There were sharing condiments on the table – fresh chilli, a fiery sauce and garlic. One portion and a beer came in at 85,000 VND (around $4).

Bun Cha: a tangy broth, with chargrilled pork patties, rice noodles, fresh vegetables and herbs. The average we paid for this scrummy dish was 90,000 VND ($4) per portion. We loved Bun Cha Ta in Hanoi.

Banh Xeo: super cheap and filling crispy pancakes filled with veggies, pork belly and prawns. Just 23,000 VND ($1) a portion in general.

Com Ga: chicken and rice. Simple yet delicious, and cheap at around 46,000 VND ($2) per portion.

Nem Nuong: pork sausage meat, greens, pickled veg, rice noodles and rice paper – a DIY meal where we wrapped the ingredients in the rice paper. So tasty, and only around 92,000 VND ($4) a portion.

Dumplings and wontons: need little explanation! Miss Ly’s well-known spot in Hoi An was a noteworthy place to try these. We shared, and paid 80,000 VND each (about $3.50).

A couple of evenings we fancied some Western food. For example, we had a yummy pizza each at Fatfish in Danang. That cost us 195,000 VND (about $8.50) per person. A bit more expensive, but still totally manageable.

Burger Bros in Danang cost us 100,000 VND (about $4) each – comparable to local food prices. And it was a really juicy burger.

A few times, we spent a bit more on Vietnamese meals. For instance, we enjoyed an early dinner at the Pub with Cold Beer. The family who owns the place offered a unique ‘kill your own chicken for us to cook’ service (you don’t have to; they can do it for you if you’d prefer). Dave opted to do the honours – brave man. A while later, a BBQed, spatchcocked bird appeared smelling wonderful. It was served with rice, greens and the most amazing sauces – peanut and fresh chilli. We really loved that meal. It cost us 230,000 VND ($10) each, and was so worth it.

Goc Ha Thanh in Dalat came in at 322,000 each (around $14) – that included a starter of spring rolls, coconut prawn curries, a side of veg, water, and local wine. Who knew very drinkable wine was made in Dalat?!

Average daily food cost: $8.57 per day, or $4.29 each

More on drinks next…

We sipped on plenty of bottled water which was dirt cheap, plus beers, and the odd cocktail here and there. A large water cost us about 50 cents.

In Hanoi, ‘fresh beer’ (bia hoi) is famous, and even cheaper than water. It cost us around 8,000 VND (35 cents) a glass. We only found this sold in the capital, out of big freezer chests. It was made fresh each day with few preservatives; foamy and quite light in alcohol. We highly recommend you try it.

Otherwise, we tended to share large bottles of local beer; they came in at about $1 a bottle.

Oh, and for lovers of the chocolate bar Bounty, or fans of coconut in general, you MUST pay Cong Caphe a visit. We stopped at outposts in Hanoi and Saigon. Their coconut smoothie was one of the best things I drank (a bold claim I know) – so good and so simple. It was made of coconut milk whizzed up with crushed ice and coffee. Yum. The chocolate and coconut version was equally delicious too. And the price? 45,000 VND each (about $2). Heavenly, and totally worth it.

In Saigon, we visited Pasteur Street Brewing , where a bottle was 70,000 VND (approximately $3). Dearer than local brands like Bia Saigon, but it was craft beer – and very good.

We indulged in happy hour cocktails at Mango Rooms in Hoi An a few times. They cost about 100,000 each (approximately $4). Keep an eye out for 2 for 1 deals – we found them a great way to be able to sample drinks we may not have done otherwise.

Average daily drink cost: $4.82 per day, or $2.41 each

Like I said, we can’t talk highly enough of the Vietnamese cuisine. Flavourful, packed a spice punch, and totally delicious. Such great value for money, too.

OUR TOTAL COST OF FOOD AND DRINK IN VIETNAM CAME TO $375. THAT’S AN AVERAGE OF $13.40 PER DAY, OR $6.70 EACH.

MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES IN VIETNAM

A local SIM card:  I don’t know about you, but one of my least favourite aspects of arriving in a new country is having to figure out how to get connected. Specifically: buying a local SIM card so that I have data to use while I’m in the country.

There’s locating a store that will sell you one, language barriers to deal with, various forms of ID you might need to bring, scams to navigate, and… well, it’s a headache.

This year, I started using  Airalo , which sells local e-SIM cards for travellers. What that means is that you can buy your SIM card online  before  you arrive in Vietnam, and then as soon as you land in the country, you can switch on your data and start using it. It’s worked flawlessly for me and now, I’ll never go back to physical SIM cards. You’ll pay  $4.50 for 1 GB of data  for Vietnam and can also top-up through the Airalo app.

Make sure your phone is eSIM-compatible before buying — all recent iPhones and many Androids are.

Travel insurance : If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill to pay at the end of it.

In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance  will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use  SafetyWing  as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Vietnam. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re more affordable than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

With SafetyWing, you’ll pay  $1.50 a day  for travel insurance.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TRAVEL IN VIETNAM?

Okay, so after adding everything up, here are costs per person:

• Accommodation: $21 per day
• Transport: $4.30 per day
• Activities: $7.50 per day
• Food and drink: $6.70 per day
• Miscellaneous: $1.50 per day

Grand total spent in Vietnam: $41 per person per day .

Vietnam was excellent value for money, and a highlight of our year. We saw untold wonderful sights, ate incredibly well, and stayed at a range of quality accommodation.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? DID YOU EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH VIETNAM FOR THAT PRICE?

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Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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14 comments.

An epic post, Laura! Covers everything I need to know about travel in Vietnam and how much it’ll cost me.

HI Laura, This as a great post – IM a new traveller so very helpful! Can you tell me how long did it take to organise a visa and do you have to have any vaccinations? (Im not partial to them …) Thanks!

It took about 48 hours for my visa to be approved — super easy process, so no worries about that.

There are a few vaccines that are recommended (although not required) — hepatitis A&B and typhoid, in particular — I got both of those vaccines back in 2011 when I first started travelling, then got a top-up a few years ago. Japanese encephalitis is a good idea if you’re going to be staying in any rural areas. It’s not worth taking anti-malarials, as dengue is the real problem there, not malaria — I have multiple friends who have contracted dengue in Vietnam and been really sick, one of whom was left with chronic joint pain from the virus. Because of this, definitely take care to cover up when mosquitoes are active (around sunset) and/or use lots of insect repellent. Dengue really is the biggest thing you need to worry about, as there’s a lot of it in Vietnam. COVID vaccines aren’t required to enter the country anymore.

I’ve had tons of vaccines, though — pretty much any travel-related ones you can get! As somebody who contracted cholera[!!] because I skipped getting the vaccine (and still have health issues from the illness, five years later), I resolved to get every vaccine I could. It sucked to get that sick and know I could have prevented it.

But either way, to answer your question, there’s several that are recommended but none that are mandatory.

Great post! Just confirming are your prices here in USD?

Thanks so much! Yes, they’re in USD.

Hi Lauren, my daughter and I are planning a trip to Vietnam in August. Great to find helpful info on your site, but just wondering what currency your pricing is based on? Travelling as a Kiwi I may need to double it!

Hi Jacqui, My hubby and I are also going in August. I was wondering the same thing as we are Aussies. We’ve been before but 12 years ago so I can’t remember alot and obviously things have changed. When we went last time I only booked the first 3 nights and the concierge at the hotel booked the rest of the 2 weeks for us for $600AUD each which included all accommodation, travel and sight seeing for the whole 2 weeks. It worked out at about a third of the price of what I’d have paid in Australia. I’m really tempted to just do the same again. Enjoy your trip and who knows – maybe we’ll see you on the road!

One of my favorite things about Vietnam was how inexpensive it was! I just came back from two weeks in SE Asia and I really can’t wait to go back. Vietnam was my favorite place we went. The people are SO a friendly and it really was an excellent experience. The food is amazing. And I love that you can get grabs for like $2 across Ho Chi Minh City. I came back to America and cringed paying $40 for my Uber back from the airport haha. I miss the food and people so much already! Planning to try my hand at making egg coffee- I saved a website that tells you how so hopefully it turns out well.

Fantastic article – thank you so much!

This post is really helpful, thank you so much.

How did you apply for a visa? I am in Australia and I hear there are lots of scams and I am not quite sure on what is the best process.

I would love to travel to Vietnam, but found it hard to figure out public transportation. is there a website you know of that is helpful? country is very long are there tips you recommend to save time ie special routes and travel time like overnight….

Hi Shiva! I use 12Go in Southeast Asia and book all of my buses, minivans, and trains through there. You’ll pay an extra dollar or so to use the service but it makes it sooo much easier than hunting down a travel agent to book everything in person! I personally am not a huge fan of travelling overnight as I find I always sleep terribly and lose much of the next day to napping and exhaustion — you may be different though. It’s worth experimenting with for sure! Plus you save money on accommodation by travelling overnight :-) Flying can definitely save you time for some longer legs and domestic flights in Vietnam are always pretty affordable.

Excellent post – thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed overview of your experience.

I’m looking for a place to stay in Hanoi – I was wondering the name of the hotel you have pictured near the top of the article, with a pool overlooking the river. If you could please let me know the name of this place I will be eternally grateful!

thanks for a fantastic summary of costs, really interesting. We’re thinking of travelling in late September/early October – is this a good time to visit weatherwise?

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• Travel Planning Guide

Vietnam Travel Budget - Visit Vietnam on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Vietnam Costs

• Is Vietnam Expensive?
• How much does a trip to Vietnam cost?
• Tips For Your First Trip To Vietnam
• Vietnam On-Your-Own Itineraries
• Northern Vietnam
• Central Vietnam
• Southern Vietnam
• Vietnam Hotel Prices
• Vietnam Cities: Hotel Prices by City
• Best Cheap Hotels in Vietnam
• Best Hotels for One Week in Vietnam
• Best Hotels for One Night in Vietnam
• Best Adults Only Hotels in Vietnam
• Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Vietnam
• Best Luxury Hotels in Vietnam
• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Vietnam
• Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Vietnam
• Best Business Hotels in Vietnam
• Best Beach Hotels in Vietnam
• Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Vietnam
• Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Vietnam
• Best Party Hotels in Vietnam
• Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Vietnam
• Where Do Backpackers Go in Vietnam? A Review of Hostels and Guesthouses.
• Hostel Prices & Reviews
• Vietnam Activities
• Vietnam Tour Prices
• The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Vietnam
• The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam
• The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam
• The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Vietnam
• The Best 3-Day Tours in Vietnam
• The Best 2-Week Tours in Vietnam
• The Best 3-Week Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Extended Trip Tours in Vietnam, One Month or Longer
• The Best River Cruises in Vietnam
• The Best Bicycle Tours in Vietnam
• Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam
• The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam
• The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Vietnam
• The Best Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Vietnam
• The Best Religious Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Walking Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Honeymoon Tours in Vietnam
• The Best Tours Under $1000 in Vietnam
• The Best Luxury Tours to Vietnam
• The Best Budget Tours to Vietnam
• The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam
• The Best G Adventures Tours to Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh City
• How much does it cost to travel to Vietnam? (Average Daily Cost)
• Vietnam trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

How much do package tours cost in Vietnam?

Is vietnam expensive to visit.

• How much do I need for a trip to Vietnam?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Vietnam?

You should plan to spend around $59 (d1,506,691) per day on your vacation in Vietnam. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $14 (d344,871) on meals
• $12 (d300,168) on local transportation
• $52 (d1,333,915) on hotels

A one week trip to Vietnam for two people costs, on average, $829 (d21,093,677) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 59 d 1,506,691
• One Week Per person $ 414 d 10,546,839
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 829 d 21,093,677
• One Month Per person $ 1,776 d 45,200,737
• One Week For a couple $ 829 d 21,093,677
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 1,657 d 42,187,355
• One Month For a couple $ 3,551 d 90,401,474

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Vietnam cost?

A one week trip to Vietnam usually costs around $414 (d10,546,839) for one person and $829 (d21,093,677) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Vietnam on average costs around $829 (d21,093,677) for one person and $1,657 (d42,187,355) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Vietnam will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Vietnam on average costs around $1,776 (d45,200,737) for one person and $3,551 (d90,401,474) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Vietnam is $124 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.

• 22 Days from Top Notch North to South of Vietnam 22 Days - 18 Destinations $ 3,800
• Vietnam South to North: Saigon to Hanoi Cycling Tour 16 Days - 12 Destinations $ 3,500

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Vietnam is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability . If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Asia, Vietnam is moderately priced compared to the other countries. The overall cost of travel here is comparable to Indonesia or Cambodia.

For more details, see Is Vietnam Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Vietnam?

The average Vietnam trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Vietnam travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Vietnam

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Vietnam is $26 (d666,958). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Vietnam is $52 (d1,333,915). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 26 d 666,958
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 52 d 1,333,915

Hotel Prices in Vietnam

Looking for a hotel in Vietnam? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in Vietnam based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $29. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Recommended Properties

• Green Boutique Villa Budget Hotel - Kayak $ 49
• Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island Luxury Hotel - Kayak $ 93

Local Transportation Budget in Vietnam

The cost of a taxi ride in Vietnam is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $12 (d300,168) per person, per day, on local transportation in Vietnam.

• Local Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 12 d 300,168

Recommended Services

• Best Price Halong Bay Full-Day Trip,Cave,Titop,Kayak By Transfer Viator $ 50
• Hue Sightseeing Private Car - Car Rental for Tours & Transfer Viator $ 12

What did other people spend on Local Transportation?

Typical prices for Local Transportation in Vietnam are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in Vietnam, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Bus From Hoi An Bus Station to Town d 15,000
• Bicycle Rental d 50,000
• Taxi From Pier d 210,000
• Motorbike Rental d 225,000
• Taxi From Airport d 380,000
• Local Bus Ticket d 3,000
• Taxi Ride to Tombs d 350,000
• Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes) d 20,000

Food Budget in Vietnam

While meal prices in Vietnam can vary, the average cost of food in Vietnam is $14 (d344,871) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Vietnam should cost around $5.42 (d137,948) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Vietnam is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 14 d 344,871

Recommended

• Jolie Da Nang Cooking Class: Market-Coffee-Cooking (JDN2) Viator $ 45
• Super Niche Saigon Food Tour With Zero Tourist Insight Viator $ 55

What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in Vietnam are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in Vietnam, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Pho Soup d 15,000
• Western Dinner (for Two) d 199,264
• Quick Lunch (for Two) d 55,000
• Sitdown Dinner (for Two) d 110,000
• Pork Sandwich d 15,000
• Bowl of Pho d 20,000
• Italian Dinner (for Food) d 155,000
• Casual Lunch (for Two) d 169,728

Entertainment Budget in Vietnam

Entertainment and activities in Vietnam typically cost an average of $13 (d331,363) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 13 d 331,363

Recommended Activities

• Hanoi Jeep Tour: Red River Countryside Culture & Daily Life Viator $ 55
• Hanoi Motorbike Tour: Hanoi HIGHTLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS Viator $ 55

What did other people spend on Entertainment?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Vietnam are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in Vietnam, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Walking Stick d 5,000
• Lake of Sorrow Entrance d 10,000
• Ta Phin Village Tax d 20,000
• Jeep Up Lang Biang Mountain d 40,000
• CatCat Village Tax d 40,000
• Round Trip Cable Car to Monastery d 70,000
• Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr) d 80,000
• Half Day Floating Market Tour d 210,000

Tips and Handouts Budget in Vietnam

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Vietnam is $4.81 (d122,494) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Vietnam is 5% - 15% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 4.81 d 122,494

What did other people spend on Tips and Handouts?

Typical prices for Tips and Handouts in Vietnam are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Tips and Handouts prices in Vietnam, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Boat Driver Tip d 30,000

Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Vietnam

Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Vietnam is $5.13 (d130,605), as reported by travelers.

• Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1 $ 5.13 d 130,605

Alcohol Budget in Vietnam

The average person spends about $7.65 (d194,749) on alcoholic beverages in Vietnam per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 7.65 d 194,749
• Hanoi Beer and Brewery Tour Viator $ 48
• Son Tra Private Tour Rice Wine Distillery & Fishing Sauce Filtery Viator $ 75

What did other people spend on Alcohol?

Typical prices for Alcohol in Vietnam are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Alcohol prices in Vietnam, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Beer d 80,000
• Beer d 25,000
• Two Beers d 25,000
• Bottle of Wine d 240,000
• Beer d 18,000
• Beer d 10,000

Water Budget in Vietnam

On average, people spend $1.31 (d33,401) on bottled water in Vietnam per day. The public water in Vietnam is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 1.31 d 33,401

Expert Advice from Local Travelers

We're asking our community members and registered users to contribute their experiences about Vietnam.

Why would you recommend Vietnam to budget travelers? Or, why not?

There are so many backpackers in Vietnam! We had no trouble meeting other travelers and it was such an amazing experience.

What makes Vietnam a budget-friendly destination? Or not?

Everything was really cheap during our visit! The hotels were decent and affordable, the food was amazing and so cheap, and we met so many other travelers during our trip.

How can you save money during your time in Vietnam?

We traveled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and stopped at different places along the way. It was an amazing trip and we honestly didn't have to try hard to do it on a budget.

We saved so much money by staying flexible and not planning everything. This let us try unique restaurants and spend a bit more time in the places we really enjoyed.

Are you an experienced traveler? Help other travelers! Answer a quick question about your past travels. + Add Comment

Related Articles

Vietnam on a budget.

At A Glance

• Consider getting in with the locals to really learn what the culture is like. One option is to become an English teacher in Vietnam so that you can become part of the community. Other volunteer options are available. Generally speaking, staying away from the larger organized tours, and traveling slowly will help with this.
• Haggling is part of the experience in Vietnam. If you keep it lighthearted and fun you'll find it less frustrating. Remember to cut the price to less than half of the originally offering price. It also helps to walk away a couple of times before settling on a price. This will help you see exactly what you should be paying for an item.
• Many people take the "VIP" buses through Vietnam. These can be arranged in your hotel or through any of the many travel agencies around town. Generally, all of the buses are comparable in quality. Many do break down, so be prepared. Wherever you decide to purchase your ticket, negotiate hard, because prices are often dramatically marked up.
• If you decide to purchase some tailor made cloths, most people do this in Hoi An. Make sure you have a few days in town and do your shopping on the first day. You'll want a few extra days in case the clothes don't fit appropriately and need to be resized. There are tailors of varying quality and you generally get what you pay for.
• There are plenty of western style restaurants throughout Vietnam, particularly in the more touristy areas. These restaurants are often dramatically more expensive than their local counterparts, and they are often a poor reflection on western cuisine. Stick to the local restaurants that serve up Vietnamese food and you'll save yourself a lot of money and have more interesting and delicious meals.
• Some of the more popular areas in Vietnam are almost always visited as part of a tour. These areas include the Mekong Delta and Halong Bay. Despite the appearance that you must visit these areas as part of a tour, it is very possible to travel to them independently on local buses or boats. The experience is often more enjoyable and memorable as well.

Top Tourist Attractions

Popular foods, more related articles.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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Vietnam trip cost per day & week – Travel budget overview

Your Vietnam trip cost can vary greatly depending on your travel style, with options ranging from budget-friendly to high-end luxury. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive cost overview divided in 3 travel budget styles per day and per week, so you can plan your trip with confidence and get the most out of your experience in this beautiful country.

• Calculate your Vietnam travel cost

Vietnam travel budget per day & week

• Vietnam cost overview
• Cheapest and most expensive season

Vietnam travel budget tips

Calculate your vietnam trip cost.

This tool provides a general cost overview for your Vietnam trip based on your travel style. By entering details about your preferred accommodation, transportation, food, and activities, the calculator will estimate your trip’s average cost. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and actual expenses may vary depending on the season and other factors.

• How long is your trip
• What kind of accommodations do you like
• What kind of transportation

When it comes to traveling in Vietnam, your budget will largely depend on your preferred travel style. Whether you’re a budget traveler, mid-range traveler, or high-end traveler, Vietnam has something to offer for all budgets. From budget-friendly hostels and street food to luxurious resorts and fine dining restaurants, there’s something to suit every traveler’s taste and budget in Vietnam.

Budget traveler – travel budget

Vietnam is a popular destination for budget travelers and backpackers, offering affordable options for accommodation, food, and activities. With its delicious and cheap street food, coupled with an abundance of budget-friendly accommodations, it’s easy to have an enjoyable time in Vietnam without breaking the bank.

• Per Day : $25-$35
• Per Week (7 days) : $175-$245
• Accommodation : Budget accommodation such as hostels, guesthouses, and homestays can range from $5-15 per night, so for a week, you could expect to spend around $35-105.
• Transportation : Local buses and trains are relatively cheap in Vietnam, with prices ranging from $1-15 depending on the distance. For a week, transportation costs could add up to around $20-30.
• Activities : There are many free or low-cost activities to do in Vietnam, such as visiting temples, hiking, or exploring local markets. Some more popular activities like a Halong Bay cruise or a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels can cost between $20-40 per person. For a week, budgeting around $50-60 for activities would be reasonable.
• Food & Drink : Vietnamese street food is known for being delicious and affordable. A budget of $10-15 per day for food and drink would allow you to enjoy local specialties and eat at small restaurants or street stalls. For a week, this would add up to around $70-105.

Mid-range traveler – travel budget

For travelers looking for more comfort and convenience, Vietnam is also a great destination for mid-range travel. With a slightly higher budget, mid-range travelers can enjoy more upscale accommodations, transportation, and dining options, while still getting good value for their money.

• Per Day : $50-$80
• Per Week (7 days) : $350-$560
• Accommodation : For mid-range accommodation, you can expect to pay around $25 to $50 per night for a private room in a hotel or a guesthouse.
• Transportation : Transportation costs can vary depending on how you choose to travel. If you opt for public transportation like buses and trains, you can expect to pay around $10 to $15 per day for transportation. Taxis and ride-sharing services will cost more. Renting a motorbike or a car will cost around $10 to $20 per day.
• Activities : Mid-range activities in Vietnam can include guided tours, entrance fees to attractions, and other experiences. Expect to pay around $30 to $50 per activity.
• Food & Drink : Mid-range meals in Vietnam can cost around $5 to $10 per meal. Local street food is usually the cheapest option, while restaurants and cafes will be more expensive. Drinks like beer and cocktails can cost around $2 to $5 each.

Luxury traveler – travel budget

Vietnam offers a plethora of luxury experiences for travelers looking for a high-end getaway. From 5-star hotels and resorts to private tours and fine dining experiences, Vietnam caters to those with discerning tastes and a willingness to spend more.

• Per Day : $150-$300
• Per Week (7 days): $1,050-$2,100
• Accommodation : As a luxury traveler in Vietnam, you can expect to indulge in high-end accommodations with prices ranging from $100 to $500 per night, depending on the level of luxury and location. Private villas, beachfront resorts, and five-star hotels are among the options available.
• Transportation : Transportation options for luxury travelers in Vietnam include private cars, chauffeur services, private jets, and helicopters. Expect to pay around $500 to $1,000 per day for transportation services, depending on the mode of transportation and distance.
• Activities : Luxury activities in Vietnam could include private tours, exclusive events, and personalized experiences. Prices can vary greatly depending on the activity and level of exclusivity, but expect to pay upwards of $200 per activity.
• Food & Drink : Fine dining experiences are also a must for luxury travelers in Vietnam, with high-end restaurants and upscale bars offering premium menus and drinks. Expect to pay around $50 to $100 per meal, with drinks costing $10 or more.

Vietnam trip cost overview

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam and wondering about the cost, this list provides a comprehensive overview of prices for common expenses. From accommodation and transportation to food and activities, these estimated costs can help you plan and budget for your Vietnam trip. Keep in mind that prices may vary depending on your location, season, and travel style, but this list provides a good starting point for estimating your Vietnam trip cost.

Price for accommodation

• 1 night in a hostel: $5-$15 USD
• Mid-range hotel: $25-$50 USD per night
• High-end resort: $150-$500 USD per night

Price for food and drink

• Street food: $1-$3 USD per meal
• Eating at a local restaurant: $3-$7 USD per meal
• Fine dining restaurant: $30-$80 USD per meal
• Soft drink at a local restaurant: $0.50-$1.50 USD
• Local beer: $0.50-$2 USD
• Beer at a bar: $1-3 per bottle/can
• Wine at a bar: $10-30 per bottle
• Cocktails at a bar: $5-10 per drink
• Coffee at a café: $1-3 per cup

Price for activities & services:

• Entrance fee for a temple: $1-$3 USD
• Massage: $10-$20 USD per hour
• Group tour: $20-$50 USD per person
• Private tour: $50-$150 USD per person
• Spa treatment: $20-$50 USD
• Manicure/Pedicure: $5-$20 USD
• Haircut: $3-$10 USD
• Admission fee for museums: $1-5

Price for transportation

• Renting a car with driver: $50-$100 USD per day
• Bus trip between cities: $5-$20 USD
• Train travel: $10-$50 USD
• Motorbike rental: $5-$10 USD per day
• Taxi per km or mile: $0.50-1 per km
• Domestic flights: $30-100 per person

Miscellaneous

• Laundry service: $1-$2 USD per kilogram
• Souvenir T-shirt: $5-$10 USD
• Tailored suit or dress: $50-$200 USD
• Local sim card: $5-$10 USD
• Pack of cigarettes: $1-$3 USD

Cheapest and most expensive seasons in Vietnam

The cheapest season in Vietnam is generally from May to September, which is the low season due to the hot and rainy weather in most parts of the country. The most expensive season is from December to February, which is the peak season for tourism, especially around the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, and the weather is cooler and drier in the north. Prices for accommodation, transportation, and activities tend to be higher during this period.

• Bargaining is common practice in markets and smaller shops, so don’t be afraid to negotiate prices.
• Always confirm prices before agreeing to services such as taxi rides or tours to avoid being overcharged.
• It’s a good idea to carry cash with you, especially when venturing into rural areas, as many places do not accept credit cards.
• If you’re looking for a cheap mode of transportation, consider renting a bicycle. Many hostels and guesthouses offer bike rentals for a low price.
• Be aware of hidden fees, such as service charges or taxes, when booking accommodations or tours.
• Prices for goods and services can vary widely depending on the region of the country you are in. For example, prices in tourist hotspots like Hoi An or Halong Bay will likely be higher than in more rural areas.
• Vietnamese street food is not only delicious, but it’s also very affordable. If you’re on a tight budget, eating at street food stalls and local markets can help you save a lot of money.
• If you’re planning to stay in Vietnam for an extended period of time, consider renting an apartment or a room in a shared house instead of staying in hotels or guesthouses. This can be a more cost-effective option in the long run.
• The cost of living in Vietnam can vary significantly depending on your lifestyle and location. For example, living in a major city like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi will be more expensive than living in smaller towns or rural areas.
• Lastly, keep in mind that while Vietnam is generally a very affordable travel destination, prices for certain activities or services may be higher during peak tourist season or in popular tourist areas.
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Lists by Lukiih 🍀

Practical travel guides with less fluff

• 💰 My 2024 Vietnam Trip Cost: A Budget Breakdown

Vietnam, a country famous for its emerald bays and rice paddies, can be visited with a  budget of $30 to $65 a day.

My nearly two-week trip to Vietnam cost a total of $1,251 . In this post, I share:

• 💰 Expected travel costs
• 💡 Budgeting tips
• 💵 How much cash to bring
• ✈️ My trip’s costs by category
• 📍 My trip’s costs by destination

Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Vietnam .

• Is Vietnam Expensive?
• How Much Is a Trip?
• Vietnam vs. Thailand Costs
• About My Trip
• Cost Breakdown
• Daily Budget: $89
• Flight: $183
• Accommodation: $150
• Transportation: $110
• Entertainment: $488
• Miscellaneous: $247
• Hanoi: $202
• Hoi An: $370
• Cat Ba Island: $146
• Withdrawing Cash
• How Much Cash To Bring
• Cash-Only Places
• Tipping Etiquette

Lists By Lukiih is readers-supported. When you buy with my affiliate link, I may earn a small commission. Thanks!

Is Vietnam Expensive To Travel To?

Vietnam ranks as  one of the most affordable  destinations in Asia. It has a relatively low cost of living, a wide range of accommodation options, free attractions, and a competitive tourism market.

Along with Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, Vietnam is often considered an  inexpensive destination  in Southeast Asia.

💰 Trip Daily Budget for Destinations in Asia

For comparison, I visited these countries in Asia within a year of visiting Vietnam, and here’s how much I spent per day at each one:

*My Cambodia daily budget is high because I splurged on accommodation.

See all my daily budget for each destination I’ve visited .

How Much Is a Trip to Vietnam?

This section covers estimated trip costs depending on your travel style. I share my actual travel expenses further below.

🎒 Budget Traveler – Vietnam Trip Cost

Budget travelers can expect to spend approximately $30 per day or $420 for two weeks of travel in Vietnam, excluding flights.

Here’s a quick overview of my expenses by travel category:

Traveling Vietnam on a Budget

To travel on a budget to Vietnam, here are some things you’ll need to do:

• 🏠 Accommodation – Stay at a dorm-style hostel for as low as $5 a night . For an additional $10 per night, you can stay at a mid-range hotel, as accommodation prices are very cheap in Vietnam.
• 🏍️ Transportation – Take Vietnam’s “sleeper buses” that travel at night to get around the country, as those are generally the cheapest mode of transportation.

Vietnam doesn’t have public transportation outside Ho Chi Minh City, but the country has a comprehensive bus network .

• 🍜 Food – Eat street food and local restaurants for $2 or less per meal. Tourist restaurants have an upcharge, and the food is not guaranteed to be more authentic or fresher.

Tap water is generally  unsafe to drink  in Vietnam, so you can also stock up on drinks and water at convenience stores instead of paying for them at restaurants or touristy places.

• ⛰️ Entertainment – Skip some of Vietnam’s guided tours, as paying for them will significantly increase your budget.
• ☀️ Travel Season – For the best deals, avoid traveling to Vietnam during the peak season and aim to visit sometime between April and June or September and November.
• 📍 Destination – Visit budget-friendly areas of Vietnam. Some of the most budget-friendly tourist areas include Hoi An, Nha Trang, the Mekong Delta, and Cat Ba Island near Lan Ha Bay.

💰 Mid-Range Budget Traveler – Vietnam Trip Cost

A mid-range budget traveler, such as myself, can expect to spend approximately $65 per day or $910 for two weeks of travel in Vietnam, excluding flights. I break down my trip expenses by travel category below.

Is Vietnam or Thailand More Affordable To Travel To?

People often compare Thailand to Vietnam, as they are  Southeast Asia’s most popular and affordable destinations .

Vietnam is, on average,  slightly more affordable  to travel to than Thailand. However, affordability and cost of living vary by region within each country. Still, Thailand is a more developed country, and Vietnam’s cost of living is lower than Thailand’s.

For tourists, Vietnam’s cost per day is, on average, lower than Thailand’s. Below is a rough daily budget comparison for a mid-range budget traveler.

For a two-week trip, you can expect to spend   roughly  $910  in Vietnam and  $1,120  in Thailand.

You’ll see below that my daily budget in Vietnam is higher because I did relatively expensive activities (e.g., deep water soloing and getting tailored clothes in Hoi An ).

About My Vietnam Trip

To give context to the expenses below, here’s what you need to know about my trip:

• Hanoi : 1 day
• Ninh Binh : 1 day
• Lan Ha Bay : 2 days
• Ha Giang : 3 days
• Hoi An : 3 days
• Da Nang : 2 day

Comparing the two major cities in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam is, on average, roughly 10% more expensive than Hanoi City in northern Vietnam.

• ☀️ High season – I visited Vietnam in November, which is considered the high season.

Vietnam has two peak seasons: one from March to early May and the other from October to December.

• ✌️ Group travel – I traveled with one other person, so we were able to split some costs, such as housing.
• 💰 Mid-range budget – I consider myself a mid-range budget traveler, and these expenses reflect that. I don’t aim to travel on a budget, but I’m thoughtful about how and where I spend.
• 🍀 Self-funded – My trips are self-funded, so I paid for everything listed below. None of my excursions or experiences are sponsored.
• 💵 US dollars – All costs listed in this post are per person and in US dollars, converted from Vietnam’s local currency, the Vietnamese Dong.

The exchange rate was $1 USD = 24,300 VND at the time of writing.

Vietnam Trip’s Total Cost: $1,251

My nearly two-week trip to Vietnam cost a total of $1,251, including flights.

See the highlights of my trip in these northern Vietnam and central Vietnam itineraries.

💰 Cost Breakdown for Vietnam

🗓️ daily budget in vietnam: $89.

My Vietnam trip cost $89 per day , excluding my flights from Taiwan and to Thailand. My daily budget is on the higher end because I did relatively expensive activities.

A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend $65 per day in Vietnam. This generally means staying at $15 per night accommodations, eating a mix of street and restaurant food, and going on several non-private guided tours.

✈️ Flight Cost to Vietnam: $183

I usually take round-trip flights from the United States, but I flew into Vietnam from Taiwan and out to Thailand for this trip. Here are my flight costs:

A round-trip flight between the US and Vietnam that costs under $750 is considered cheap; international flights typically cost over $850.

Be aware of  bag weight limits  on low-cost airlines that hop around Asia. I flew AirAsia and VietJet Air, and both had a combined carry-on and checked-bag limit of 7kg (about 15 lbs). If you pass this limit, you’ll have to pay an extra checked bag fee. I paid $14 per bag, but some fees were as high as $45.

🏠 Accommodation Cost in Vietnam: $150

My average cost of accommodation in Vietnam was $12 per day. I was able to split accommodations with one other person at all times.

(This total  doesn’t include  overnight stays on the three-day Ha Giang Loop; those are included in the tour price under  entertainment .)

Here are the accommodations I stayed at and how much I paid for each:

Accommodations in Vietnam are incredibly affordable. You can stay at mid-range hotels for as low as $20 per night . Even luxury hotels, which start at  $100 per night , are relatively inexpensive.

🍜 Food Cost in Vietnam: $72

My average cost of food in Vietnam was $6 per day.

The food capital of Vietnam is Hoi An , a small town that serves regional food not found elsewhere.

Cheapest Meals in Vietnam

Here are the most affordable meals I ate during my trip:

Food in Vietnam is extremely affordable. Many of my meals, which included a drink, were $2 or less , especially at local restaurants. Restaurants that target tourists will charge more.

Most Expensive Meals in Vietnam

Here are the most expensive meals I ate during my trip:

I recommend going on an authentic food tour early on your Vietnam trip to discover authentic local food and restaurants that you can try throughout your trip.

🏍️ Transportation Cost in Vietnam: $110

My average cost of transportation in Vietnam was $9 per day .

My average cost of transportation is high because I took  a domestic flight  from northern to central Vietnam. Had I not taken any domestic flights, my average cost of transportation would have been  $6 per day.

Here are the transportation methods I took and how much I paid for each:

Grab rides are almost always more affordable than flagging down a taxi or tuk-tuk. Pro tip: use Grab prices as a baseline for negotiating with taxis or tuk-tuks when they’re more conveniently available.

⛰️ Entertainment Costs in Vietnam: $488

My average cost of entertainment in Vietnam was $41 per day. This total includes a 5% to 15% tip at certain places.

A typical mid-range traveler in Vietnam can expect to spend about  $30 a day on entertainment.

Here are all the activities and attractions I paid for and how much each cost:

These Hoi An and Hanoi guides share details on the activities I did in Vietnam.

👗 Miscellaneous Cost in Vietnam: $247

My average cost of miscellaneous spending in Vietnam was $21 per day.

United States citizens traveling to Vietnam are required to get a tourist visa. The visa costs $25 and takes three business days to process. You can apply online here .

Cost Breakdown by Destination in Vietnam

Below are my trip expense breakdowns for Hanoi, Hoi An, and Cat Ba Island . Hanoi is often featured in first-timers’ travel itineraries.

🏍️ Hanoi Trip’s Total Cost: $202

During my three-day trip to Hanoi, I averaged $67 in daily travel expenses.

I went to a few Hanoi attractions with small entrance fees and paid for an Old Quarter street food tour , which I highly recommend doing at the beginning of your Vietnam trip so you can get familiar with authentic food.

Hanoi is at the center of northern Vietnam, so even if you don’t spend much time there, you will likely fly there to access other parts of Vietnam. It’s a bustling city where you can spend a lot or a little on accommodation and food.

Here are the things to do and skip in Hanoi .

👗 Hoi An Trip’s Total Cost: $370

During my three-day trip to Hoi An, I averaged  $123 in daily travel expenses.

I stayed at a nice hotel that I was able to split with someone else. My expenses in Hoi An are exceptionally high because I bought custom-tailored clothes .

Hoi An is one of the most well-known places in central Vietnam and is known as Vietnam’s food capital. Even though it’s a fairly tourist-oriented town, you’ll be able to find plenty of Vietnamese food for cheap if you look for it. This Hoi An travel guide shares an itinerary and great things to do there

🚤 Cat Ba Island Trip’s Total Cost: $146

During my two-day trip to Cat Ba Island, I averaged $73 in daily travel expenses.

Although Cat Ba Island is its own destination, I mainly traveled there to deep water solo (rock climb above water) . I stayed at a no-frills mid-range hotel , which I was able to split with one other person.

Cát Bà Island is a well-known tourist area in Vietnam, so you can expect prices to be high here . I visited during the island’s low season and thought the prices were comparable to other places in Vietnam.

Do You Need Cash in Vietnam?

Vietnam’s economy is  largely based on   cash transactions , especially in non-tourist areas, so bring some cash. I needed to use cash almost everywhere when I visited.

Below are tips on bringing and using cash in Vietnam.

💵 1. Withdraw cash in Vietnamese dong.

Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND), and the US dollar is not widely accepted.

ATMs are readily available in many tourist places in Vietnam, but if your debit card doesn’t reimburse your ATM fees, you’ll want to withdraw a higher amount less frequently to save on fees.

🏧 2. Carry about $30 to $40 worth of cash per day in Vietnam.

On a typical day, a mid-range budget traveler in Vietnam will need  at least $30 in cash  to cover food, transportation, and attractions. A daily cash expense breakdown can look like this:

• $10 at restaurants and cafes
• $15 for tipping and entrance fees
• $5 for transportation and other miscellaneous spending

I keep my cash in my crossbody bag , but if you want extra protection against pickpocketing , carry it in a hidden money belt instead.

💳 3. Some places in Vietnam take credit cards.

Being able to use a credit card in Vietnam is the exception, but below are some places that  accepted credit cards  during my trip:

• High-production shows – The Bamboo Circus in Hoi An accepted cards, but not the Water Puppet Show in Hanoi.
• High-cost tailoring services in Hoi An – However, these places typically had a 3% credit card fee.
• Grab app rides  – You can also tip through the app, so you don’t need cash for these.

💰 4. Tipping is not customary in Vietnam.

Tipping is  often appreciated  in Vietnam, but it’s optional. Tipping is most often expected from tourists and businesses that serve visitors.

• Tour – Tour guides will gladly accept 10% to 15% tips, especially those serving Americans.
• Dining – Tipping is not expected when eating street food, but upscale restaurants may add a 10% service charge. For many restaurants, rounding your bill up and leaving some change is sufficient as a tip.
• Drivers – You can round up the change for drivers. Getting around Vietnam with Grab was so cheap that I just tipped drivers $1 regardless.

See other essential travel tips for Vietnam before visiting.

2024 Vietnam Trip Planner

To make your travel planning easier , download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information, an itinerary, a packing list, and a map with key places pinned.

The trip planner is built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free .

Thoughts? Questions? Leave a comment below .

Vietnam Travel Guides

• 🇻🇳 Vietnam Travel Tips: 11 Practical Things To Know
• ⛰️ 10 Epic Days in North Vietnam: Unique & Active Itinerary
• 🍜 Hanoi Guide: 14 Great Things To Do, Eat and Skip
• 🏍️ Ha Giang Loop: Firsthand Review & Tips
• 🧗‍♀️ Deep Water Solo in Vietnam: Firsthand Review & Tips
• 🏮 Hoi An Guide: 11 Great Things To Do + 3-Day Itinerary
• 👗 My Hoi An Tailor Experience: Prices & What To Know

🧋 Support Lukiih

Lists by Lukiih is a humble website that I fund with my own savings. If you find my tips helpful, I appreciate you saying thanks with a bubble tea !

Can you share the contact for the Da Nang private car day trip?

Hi Bea, I unfortunately don’t have the contact. He didn’t speak any English and I mainly communicated with him through my tailor. You can likely easily find a driver through any local you trust once you get there.

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How much will a Vietnam trip cost? Full Breakdown 2023

This website contains no sponsored content. The content is written entirely on my own and is based on my personal experience and extensive research. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the  disclaimer  for more information.

How much will a Vietnam trip cost is usually the first question that comes to mind the moment you consider Vietnam as an option for your next trip. Isn’t it?

But you hardly ever come across a straightforward answer to this question. But in this post, I aim to clear the confusion for you and give you an actual estimate of a trip to Vietnam – at least one that’s recent, updated, and useful to you for Vietnam trip planning in 2023 .

Don’t want to read the full post? Want a quick estimate for a trip to Vietnam? Use the Vietnam trip budget calculator below.

Vietnam Trip Budget Calculator

Have some extra time? Want more details on the average trip cost to Vietnam? Wondering how to use the calculator above?

Read this entire post to get a complete idea of the costs of traveling to Vietnam.

How Much Does a Trip to Vietnam Cost? Quick Overview

If you don’t want to read the full post but want a quick idea of how much a trip to Vietnam would cost, here’s an overview with the average costs per person.

Budget trip cost to Vietnam: USD 50 per day Mid-range trip cost to Vietnam: USD 80-100 per day High-end trip cost to Vietnam: USD 185+

The above figures are a slightly higher-end estimate of the total costs of a Vietnam trip. The actual costs would differ based on the number of internal flights, the type of Halong Bay cruise you book, the number of cities you cover, the amount of shopping you indulge in, and the type of sightseeing attractions you visit.

Read the detailed break-up section below to get actual per-day Vietnam trip cost estimates of the various heads of expenditure on a Vietnam trip.

Average cost of a trip to Vietnam – Full Breakdown

In this section, we will go over the key components of your Vietnam trip budget one at a time.

1. Accommodation in Vietnam

Accommodation in Vietnam is fairly affordable and offers tremendous value for money. The price will obviously vary depending on the city in which you’re staying and the quality of accommodation you choose.

But since I do not want to be vague, here are a few estimates for you

Accommodation in Hanoi costs

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and usually included in most Vietnam itineraries.

As a first time visitor to Vietnam, you should choose a stay in the Old Quarter of Vietnam. The location is central and there are plenty of things to do in the Old Quarter . Booking street food tours in Hanoi or tours to nearby places and cities is convenient if you stay in the Old Quarter.

The cost of accommodation in Hanoi shall be as follows:

• Budget accommodation – in hostels, guesthouses, etc. = approximately USD 7-10per person per day
• Mid-range accommodation – in centrally located hotels = approximately USD 40-60 (per person on a twin sharing basis) (We got a steal deal for the 4-star Hanoian Central Spa and Hotel – Agoda winner of the top choice of hotel in Hanoi – 2022)
• High-end accommodation – high end accommodation in Hanoi costs around USD 60-100 per person on a twin sharing basis

Accommodation in Hoi An/Danang costs

Accommodation in Hoi An or Danang is usually cheaper than accommodation in bigger cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Out of the central Vietnamese cities, Hoi An is probably the most expensive because of its touristy appeal.

The cost of accommodation in Hoi An, Danang or Hue shall be as follows:

• Budget accommodation – in hostels, guesthouses, etc. = approximately USD 7-10 per person per day
• Mid-range accommodation – in centrally located hotels = approximately USD 30-50 (per person on a twin sharing basis)
• High-end accommodation – high end accommodation in Hanoi costs around USD 50-90 per person on a twin sharing basis

But a few points to remember: – Staying in Hoi An Old Town would be a bit more expensive than staying away from the Old Town – Da Nang is home to numerous luxury chain resorts – a stay at one of the premium properties would be far more expensive than USD 50-90 per person. But mid-range properties in Da Nang are very affordable and offer the best value for money.

But since I do not want to be vague, here’re a few estimates for you

Accommodation in Ho Chi Minh costs

Ho Chi Minh is the biggest city in Vietnam and being its commercial hub – also the most expensive city in Vietnam .

Accommodation in central areas of Ho Chi Minh city like in District 1 or District 3 would be substantially more expensive than accommodation in central areas of Hanoi, Hoi An or Da Nang. But the extra money you spend on accommodation here would get set off against the more affordable stay in other parts of Vietnam.

As a first time visitor to Vietnam, you should choose a stay in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Most important tourist attractions in SaigonThe location is central and there are plenty of things to do in the Old Quarter . Booking street food tours in Hanoi or tours to nearby places and cities is convenient if you stay in the Old Quarter.

The cost of accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City shall be as follows:

• Budget accommodation – in hostels, guesthouses, etc. = approximately USD 10-15 per person per day
• Mid-range accommodation – in centrally located hotels = approximately USD 50-80 (per person on a twin sharing basis) We absolutely loved staying at Hammock Hotels in District 1 Ho Chi Minh City – and with all the freebies they offer, we ended up saving a lot of money on extras! Read our full review of Hammock Hotel .
• High-end accommodation – high end accommodation in Ho Chi Minh costs around USD 60-100 per person on a twin sharing basis

2. Food in Vietnam

The next expense on your trip to Vietnam shall be food. In Vietnam, you have plenty of food options. From local street food, to dining in local restaurants, cafés or fine dine places serving global cuisine – you can decide what to eat depending on your taste.

But to get the best feel of Vietnamese food, my advice to you would be – to book a food tour in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city (to explore the best local food joints and taste the most authentic and delicious food, desserts and drinks in Vietnam) – eat at a mix of street food places and restaurants serving Vietnamese food or global food (like Indian, Japanese, Italian restaurants) – try their egg coffee, drip coffee, cold brew and other special coffee preparations

But to sum up, here’re typical cost estimates of meals in Vietnam:

• Vietnam street food cost: 1-2 USD per person per meal
• Vietnam Mid-range restaurant food cost: USD 10-15 per person per meal
• Vietnam High-end restaurant food cost: USD 20 and above per person per meal
• Vietnam beverage costs: USD 1-2 per person per beverage
• Alcoholic drink costs in Vietnam: USD 1 to USD 15 per person (Depending on what brand and alcohol you choose. Local beer is super cheap in Vietnam and a bottle of beer would cost only about 0.5-2 USD. But wines and expensive alcohol bottles could go all the way up to USD 15-20 per person depending on where you buy your alcohol from)

3. Sightseeing and Entrance ticket costs in Vietnam

The entrance ticket and sightseeing costs incurred would depend entirely on the places that you choose to visit.

Typically, the average cost of sightseeing in Vietnam per person per day are USD 20 . Some Vietnamese attractions would be expensive but the free sightseeing places would offset those expenses and keep the overall Vietnam entrance ticket and sightseeing tour costs to around USD 20.

Some places where you’d end up spending a lot of money on entrance fees and sightseeing tours are:

Ba Na Hills: Approximately USD 40 (Booking a guided tour of Ba Na Hills using Viator saves some money)

Day trips: During your time in Vietnam, you’d go on a few day trips from your base city. An average day trip costs around USD 60-70 per person .

Some typical day trip options are: – Day trips to Hue from Hoi An or Da Nang – Day trip to My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An or Da Nang – Day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City – Day trip to Halong Bay from Hanoi – Day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi – Day trip to Mua Caves from Hanoi

So if you’re on a budget, you should avoid a few of the above places or try to visit these places by yourself.

4. Local Commute costs in Vietnam

You can commute within a city either on a two-wheeler, or a car with driver. Grabs are available only in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, etc. Public transport is available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh but isn’t a very practical way of visiting the many tourist attractions in the city.

The typical costs of local commute are:

• Two wheeler rental costs in Vietnam (With petrol) – USD 7 per day
• Costs of hiring a car with a driver are USD 35-40 for about 8 hours

Grab even though available in major cities in Vietnam is often not a convenient – language is a major barrier and communicating with Grab drivers could be a challenge – many areas in the heart of the Hanoi and Hoi An are shut off for vehicular traffic

That said, taking a Grab from the airport to your hotel is one of the most comfortable and value for money option.

The other way of accessing tourist places when on a short trip to major cities in Vietnam is by using the well-connected hop-on-hop-off bus in Hanoi or the hop-on-hop-off bus in Ho Chi Minh city.

5. Inter-city commute within Vietnam

Vietnam is a long country and its major cities are spread out and quite far away from one another. Road journeys between cities are possible but not comfortable or recommended due to the vast distances between two cities.

The best way to travel from one city to another is by a flight. The average cost of an internal flight between two cities is around USD 70-100. I highly recommend booking a Bamboo Airways flight for their excellent hospitality and fewer flight cancellations. Read my full review of the Bamboo Airways .

You could also take a train between cities. The cost of AC- sleeper trains between major cities is around USD 35-50. But for how long a train journey between cities takes and how little the difference in ticket costs is, taking a flight between cities makes the most sense.

6. Other Vietnam Trip Expenses

Now that we’ve covered the basic costs of a trip to Vietnam, it is important to look at a few more expenses that you’d incur while traveling in Vietnam.

Halong Bay Cruise

Most tourists visiting Vietnam visit the Halong Bay area . You could either take a day trip to Halong Bay cruise or go on an overnight cruise to Halong Bay. A 2 day 1 night cruise is the most popular way of visiting Halong Bay. But some even prefer to go on a 3 day cruise to Halong Bay.

The typical average cost of a Halong Bay cruise are:

Day trip to Halong Bay: USD 70 per person 1 night 2 days Halong Bay cruise: USD 160 per person 2 nights 3 days Halong Bay cruise: USD 320 per person

Airport Transfers

Airport transfer costs in Vietnam would depend on the nature of transport you choose.

For a comfortable airport transfer, book a Grab or a private car transfer. Choose an airport shuttle if you’re on a budget. The cost of an airport shuttle is approximately USD 3 . You can take an airport shuttle from Hawould be approximately USD 3.

The costs of airport transfer are:

By Grab (From airport to central touristy areas in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City): USD 15

By private car : USD 20

Quick note: Getting a Grab will require you to go to a specific Grab pick up point. You’ll need internet access on your phone. Communicating with the driver would be challenge because of the language barriers. The drivers may try to cheat you by taking longer routes.

Plus, the difference in costs of a Grab airport transfer and a private car is minimal. So to save yourself unwanted hassle, I highly recommend booking this private airport pick up in advance .

Leading SIM card companies in Vietnam are Viettel, Mobiphone and Vinaphone. I used Mobiphone and loved the network coverage and data speed. A Sim Card with My husband used Viettel – a slightly more expensive option but ran into trouble with insufficient data (probably because he was scammed and sold a used SIM card).

The sim cards sold at the airport often prove to be more expensive than SIM cards sold at official network companies. But regardless of which network provider you choose and where you buy your SIM from, the cost of a SIM card in Vietnam per day shouldn’t be more than USD 2 per day.

But based on our scammy experience with the vendors, buy an Airalo E-sim in advance . You don’t need to go through the hassle of changing the physical sim card and the prices are comparable with locally sold sim cards.

There are plenty of things to buy in Vietnam – all available at super affordable rates. From silks, souvenirs, coffee, cheap shoes and clothes to fancy artwork – there is something for everyone.

So what you shop for and how much you shop for is a call you have to take and estimating how much you’ll spend on shopping is difficult.

The only tips I have for you to save money on shopping are – to shop from local markets like the Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh city or Da Nang market and – to bargain heavily.

Vietnam Budget Calculator

Now that I have given you a break-down of the costs of a trip to Vietnam, you can use the handy Vietnam budget calculator below.

The Vietnam trip calculator below takes into consideration the following: – the average daily accommodation costs (based on style of travel) – the average daily food, sightseeing and airport transfer costs (based on style of travel) – the average cost of internal flights between cities – the average cost of a Halong Bay cruise.

How to use the Vietnam budget calculator for your Vietnam trip – Insert the number of people traveling to Vietnam – Insert the number of days you plan on spending in Vietnam – Insert the number of internal flights you plan on taking – Insert whether you plan on going on a Halong Bay cruise and the type of cruise you’d take – Insert your travel style (budget, mid-range or high-end)

The result will give you an approximate Vietnam trip budget for all adults put together excluding costs of flights to Vietnam and shopping expenses.

Vietnam Trip Cost – Frequently Asked Questions

Is vietnam expensive.

Vietnam is not an expensive country and traveling on a budget of as low as as 50 USD per day including stay, food, sightseeing, internal commute and flights is easily possible. If you stick to just one city or travel internally within the country by train or bus, eat street food and stay at hostels and guest houses, you can even bring down the per day cost of Vietnam travel to USD 35-40.

How much money Do I need in Vietnam?

As you can see from the above breakdown, if you want to cover Vietnam properly and travel between important cities within the country, your average daily budget inclusive of stay, food, sightseeing, local commute and internal flights or train would be as follows:

The above amounts are purely an estimate and the costs can be brought down further by skipping expensive sightseeing options, opting for airport shuttles, renting two-wheelers for commute, etc.

How much does a trip to Vietnam for 7 days cost?

A trip to Vietnam for 7 days would cost USD 350 for a budget vacation, USD 700 for a mid-range vacation and USD 1295 for a high-end vacation. The suggested costs are costs per person for the entire duration and do not include internal flights, Halong Bay cruise and shopping and other extras.

How much will a Vietnam trip cost from India?

The average cost of a trip to Vietnam from India for 8 nights 9 days inclusive of flights, stay, food and sightseeing for a mid-range traveler would be around INR 1,00,000 .

The break-up of these expenses would be as follows: – Flights to Vietnam from India : INR 25000-30000 – Stay in mid-range accommodation in Hanoi, Hoi An/Danang and Ho Chi Minh city : INR 2,500 per person per day or approximately INR 20,000 for the entire trip – Total Sightseeing costs (inclusive of Hanoi sightseeing, Da Nang, Hoi An, Ba Na Hills and Ho Chi Minh City) = INR 15,000 per person – Food expenses (mix of street food, food at Indian restaurants and mid-range restaurants) = INR 18,000 – Internal flights from Hanoi to Da Nang, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City = INR 18000

In addition to this, you will need to factor the costs of your Halong Bay cruise, shopping and miscellaneous expenditure.

When we went to Vietnam, we also went on a 2 days 1 night Halong Bay cruise, which cost us USD 160 per person. So our total expense per person was approximately INR 130,000.

You can see our experience of the Halong Bay cruise in the video below:

Does Vietnam use cash?

Most commercial establishments, restaurants, hotels, super markets, grocery stores, spas and tour operators accept cards. But small shops and local street food vendors do not accept cards. The only currency accepted all over Vietnam is VND or Vietnamese Dong. So always carry some local currency cash with you when traveling in Vietnam.

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• Hanoi in 24 hours – A practical itinerary
• How to travel to Vietnam with kids: A complete guide
• Is Halong Bay worth it? A full evaluation
• Is Vietjet really bad? Full review
• What to buy in Vietnam – a solid shopping guide

Vrushali Ketkar is a lawyer turned travel blogger. She has travelled to 14 countries. She travels like a regular working woman with family. Her lawyer-level research skills make her a destination expert and help her get the most out of my trips. Today, her travel articles and videos help thousands of people across the world plan their trips to various parts of the world.

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Vietnam Travel Budget: Cost of Travel to Vietnam in 2024

Are you trying to figure out a reasonable Vietnam travel budget ? Read on for my detailed budget breakdown!

If you’re considering a trip to Vietnam, wow, are you in for a treat! Long overshadowed by the Vietnam War, this southeast Asian country is incredibly underrated and has a lot to offer. There are vibrant, bustling cities, incredibly delicious food (OMG the food!), very friendly locals, incredible landscapes, Instagrammable places , and no end of fun things to see and do.

And of course, if you’re a budget traveler, Vietnam is a steal of a deal. Even if you’re not a strictly budget traveler, you’ll appreciate the lower prices and the opportunity to splurge a bit without breaking the bank.

➡️The currency in Vietnam is the dong (yes, really). At the time of writing, 1 USD is equal to approximately 24,000 dong (abbreviated VND). However, we found it easiest to round up to 1 USD = 25,000 VND when making conversions in our head on the ground.

So, 500,000 dong is equal to about $20, and one million dong is about $40.

Cost of Travel to Vietnam

Matthew and I spent 11 days in Vietnam, visiting 5 cities and having the time of our lives – we adored Vietnam. We kept very careful track of every penny we spent, so we could give you an idea of what it costs to travel in Vietnam, so you can then plan out your Vietnam travel budget with some real numbers in mind.

About our style of travel: We definitely are mid-range travelers: we’re very budget conscious, we don’t like spending a ton on hotels, but we also don’t want to stay in hostels, we like restaurants as well as street food, and will definitely pay out for incredible experiences that might have a higher price tag, but don’t want to drop a bunch of money on any old thing.

With that in mind, here is our Vietnam travel budget!

This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help keep this site running. Thank you so much for your support!

✈️ Airfare

Of course, this depends a ton on where you are coming from. Flights from the US to Asia can be quite expensive, although flights from Europe, while often cheaper, can still be a lot.

I always plan my trip around the best flight deals, and for my American readers, the best place to find those cheap flights is through Going (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights). They send you regular emails for amazing flight deals from airports close to you, so you can always fly for the best prices.

I love them and have been a member for years now – you can sign up to get email deals for free here .

🛏️ Hotels

Hotels in Vietnam are incredibly cheap, and we were looking for hotels (not hostels) that looked nice. Because the prices were so inexpensive, we were okay paying a little bit more for hotels with nicer décor or views.

Although we stayed in Vietnam for 11 nights, we only booked 7 nights at hotels. This is because we slept on night trains (saved money and time), and some of our nights were part of tours. I’ll talk about the tours later on, but since it was one price for the entire experience, I’m not counting them here.

We spent a total of 4,949,810 dong on 7 nights of hotels. This averages out to about 707,115 dong per night, or about $29 . We were exceptionally happy with this cost, especially because we really enjoyed all the places we stayed.

These are the exact hotels we stayed at, and I’d recommend them all!

• In Hanoi, we stayed at the Hanoi Graceful Hotel
• In Sapa, we stayed at Homestay 715
• In Ninh Binh, we stayed at the Greenland Hotel
• In Halong Bay, we stayed at the Draha Halong Hotel
• And in Ho Chi Minh City, we stayed at the Bon Ami Hotel

🍽️ Meals

Like hotels, we were blown away by how cheaply we could eat in Vietnam. There are little street food stands and restaurants set up all over the cities, and you could get a meal for as cheap as $1-3. A bowl of pho on the street, which you can easily find, was usually about 30,000 dong, or $1.25.

Sit-down restaurants will of course cost more than street food. We usually ate at restaurants for between 120,000-175,000 dong per person total, which works itself out to about $5-7. This included drinks, the meal, and sometimes an appetizer or dessert.

We had kind of a weird eating schedule and thus have a skewed total amount that we spent on food. For example, the afternoon after we finished our trek in Sapa, we were so tired that we literally just slept and rested the rest of the afternoon and evening, and just went to the bodega next door to grab some snacks for dinner.

We also had 3 dinners where we met up with some friends of Matthew’s brother (it’s kind of a long story, but the gist is that Matthew’s brother speaks Vietnamese, has visited several times, and has many friends and connections there).

Anyway! His brother set us up to meet with some of these friends, and they were all SO generous and just paid for our meals.

And of course, some of our meals were included in the tours we did, so I won’t separate those costs out here.

Our total food cost in our Vietnam travel budget was 3,125,000 dong for 12 meals, which comes out to 260,000 dong per meal (for two people ). This is approximately $10 per meal, and $5 per person per meal .

Some meals were more expensive (we had a shockingly expensive but also shockingly delicious lunch at the Secret Garden in Saigon that came out to $30. This felt incredibly bougie, but also WORTH IT) and some were quite a bit less expensive, but that was our average.

🍬 Snacks

Matthew and I like snacks. Maybe that’s the American in us – is it what it is! We really like trying new snacks and candy in foreign countries. If there was a little bakery, we’d pop in and grab something, and if we saw a little stand with a treat, we’d often try it just for fun. We stopped in convenience stores several times to check out any kind of Vietnamese candy we could find.

As mentioned previously, there were a couple nights that we were so tired we couldn’t even think about going out for a meal, so we just grabbed some munchie snacks from the convenience store next door and called it good.

In total, we spent 456,000 dong on 11 different snack occasions, and spent anywhere between 5,000 dong for a bit of fry bread on the street to 80,000 for a variety of chips, candy, and other packaged goods at a convenience store. This works out to $19 total, or about $1.70 on average per snack break .

🥤 Drinks

We don’t drink alcohol, so our beverage consumption was entirely limited to water, and sometimes juice or soda.

Water is not safe to drink in Vietnam, so you must either buy bottled water or use a filtered water bottle.

We ended up buying a decent amount of bottled water from grocery stores or little bodegas on the street.

Generally speaking, you could buy a soda for about 10-15,000 dong (about 45-60 cents USD). If you’re buying water, 10,000 dong will get you a 0.5 L (16 oz) water bottle on the street, but if you buy from a grocery store, you could get a 0.5 liter bottle for 6,000 dong or a 5 liter bottle for 30,000 dong.

In total, we spent 342,000 dong on water, juice, and soda (about $14). This does not include anything we ordered with meals, it’s just drinks that we bought separately throughout the day.

🙋🏻 Tours

We did two guided tours in Vietnam. One of them was a 2 day/1 night trekking adventure in Sapa . The other one was a 2 day/1 night cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay (just next to the very popular Halong Bay). Both of these tours were just incredible adventures, and I absolutely loved them. They were also both a considerable chunk of money and took up almost 40% of our Vietnam travel budget (but were well, well worth it!).

The Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise was approximately $170 per person.

The Sapa trek was about $85 per person.

Both of these tours included the tour guides, all meals, water, an overnight stay, and, in the case of the Halong Bay cruise , all activities on board the ship (e.g. kayaking in Bai Tu Long Bay cruise ).

While you can definitely find lower prices for these activities, I was extremely happy with the quality of the experience and that both tours took us to places that were off the beaten path, without a lot of other people.

I also liked that I could book the tour online, and here’s why. I’m not a digital nomad where I can spend weeks or months on end in a country – I usually have 2 weeks at a time. So I want to have as many logistics as possible figured out before I go, and not waste my time arranging tours or logistics when I’m there.

And when we’re talking about big ticket experiences that I’ve been really looking forward to – like Halong Bay or trekking in Sapa – I want to make sure I book a good tour and have a fantastic experience. So generally, I prefer to read reviews and book ahead of time, even though I know I could probably book a tour for less money if I waited and haggled in the city.

Total Cost for Two People: $510

🏯 Entrance Fees and Activities

Entrance fees were very nominal in Vietnam, and were generally between 30,000-40,000 dong per person ($1.25-$1.66). Some of the activities cost a little bit more – notable exceptions include the Trang An tour in Ninh Binh, Poem Mountain in Halong Bay, and the Bixeco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Hanoi, we spent 160,000 dong per person on 5 entrance fees (Ngoc Son Temple, Temple of Literature, Hoa Loa Prison, the Citadel, and the Military Museum). This total is equal to $6.67.

In Sapa , we spent 110,000 per person total on 3 entrance fees (Love Waterfall, Silver Waterfall, and a viewpoint), plus 175,000 on a herbal bath at our homestay during our trekking adventure. I also got a 50 minute full body massage for 350,000 (about $14). This works out to about $25.85 total.

In Ninh Binh, we spent 100,000 dong per person at the Hang Mua caves, and then 250,000 at the Trang An boat tour. This works out to about $14.50 per person.

In Halong Bay, we spent 250,000 dong per person as a crazy entrance fee/bribe to hike Poem Mountain via someone’s backyard. This was an exorbitant $10 per person (but worth it, in my opinion).

Finally, in Ho Chi Minh City, the entrance fees were a bit more. We spent 305,000 per person for 3 entrance fees: The Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, and the observation deck of the Bixeco Financial Tower. These totaled up to be about $12 per person.

Total Cost Per Person : 1,700,000 dong ($70)

Transportation Around Vietnam

🚕 grab/taxi.

In the cities, we always used Grab or taxis to get around, if we weren’t walking. Grab is the alternative to Uber in Vietnam (you can read my full post about Grab in Vietnam here ). Taxis and Grabs were extremely cheap, and a 10-15 minute ride across town generally cost between 30-40,000 dong ($1.25-1.70).

In Ho Chi Minh City , we paid 158,000 dong ($6.75) for a 35 minute ride from the airport to our hotel in district 1.

In Hanoi , we paid 127,000 dong ($5.40) for a 25 minute ride from our hotel to a train station outside the city. Another time, we paid 95,000 dong ($4) for a 30 minute ride across town during rush hour. We also booked a private transfer ($12) from the airport to the city (about a 45 minute ride) during a layover on the way to Vietnam because we were already exhausted and couldn’t deal with more logistics.

In Sapa , we paid 60,000 dong per person (about $2.30) for a 1 hour ride on a shuttle bus between the train station in Lao Cai and the town of Sapa.

Total Cost for Taxis and Grabs: 1,671,000 dong ($69) for 16 rides in Vietnam. The least expensive ride was about $1.25, and the most expensive was $12.

Pro Tip: Get an E-Sim card before you go so that you’ll always have data to use the Grab app.

🚈 Trains & Vans

We took the train or a van to get between cities in Vietnam three times: Hanoi to Sapa, Sapa to Ninh Binh (which was actually two separate trains: Sapa to Hanoi, and then Hanoi to Ninh Binh ), and then Ninh Binh to Halong Bay.

The first two were night trains, and the last one was an evening luxury van. All of our train and luxury van experiences were excellent. I loved taking the night train – it saved us so much time and I slept incredibly well. Because it’s not a high speed train, the train sways just a touch as it moves along, and there’s a little bit of background noise from the track. Both of these things lulled me right to sleep and I slept like a baby.

Plus, it takes around 7 hours to get from Hanoi to Sapa, so it was awesome to not have to waste practically an entire day to get between cities. Finally, you saved money, because the train also functioned as your hotel for the night.

While we didn’t ride on a night bus, I did see a couple in Vietnam, and they also looked really nice. The seats were all set up to be reclining quite nicely, with your legs propped up, and it actually looked really comfortable as well.

The night trains and the luxury van we took all cost between $13 and $20 per person.

I booked all our trains and vans (you can also book buses too) through 12Go Asia – you can compare times, itineraries, and prices easily to find the best option that works for you.

Total Cost for Train and Van for Two People : $136

🛵 Scooters

We rented scooters three times in Vietnam – once for a day in Sapa, once for a day in Ho Chi Minh City, and once for a few hours in Ninh Binh. We paid 250,000 dong in Saigon, 60,000 in Sapa, and 40,000 in Ninh Binh, for a total of 350,000 dong ($14.50) on rentals.

In addition, we also paid 60,000 and 80,000 for gas for the scooters ($5.80) , and we also had to pay for scooter parking and bike parking. Parking was usually anywhere between 4,000 dong and 10,000 dong (16-40 cents). We paid about 60,000 total on parking (about $2.40), which included around 8 different parking occasions.

✈️ Domestic Plane

While trains and buses are great ways to get around one region of Vietnam, I wouldn’t take a train directly from, say, Hanoi in the north all the way to Ho Chi Minh in the south. By car, that would take about 30 hours. Instead, you can get really cheap flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City. A one way flight costs between $50-80 per person and takes about 2 hours.

Our cost: $100 for two people

🛍️ Souvenirs

We spent quite a bit on souvenirs, mostly for other people. We brought little things back for our four girls, plus a bunch of fun things for my parents, who were watching our kids for the 2 weeks we were gone. We also picked up some things for several other friends and relatives.

I won’t include the totals in this Vietnam travel budget since what you spend in this category will vary significantly (and also because it’s 100% a discretionary category), but I’ll note some prices here:

We bought a water buffalo stuffed animal (60,000) and an embroidered purse (50,000) for our daughters. We bought several bowls made of coconut and lined with seashells for around 30-50,000 dong. We bought several sets of serving spoons made of colored seashells for about 200,000 dong each.

The biggest thing to remember when buying any kind of goods or souvenirs is to haggle! If you’re a foreigner (and especially if you’re a westerner), you’re going to get massively overcharged for items in Vietnam. Aim to get your final price closer to 50% of their asking price. Don’t feel bad about haggling; sellers won’t accept a deal that is actually bad for them.

The Totals for our Vietnam Travel Budget (for 2 people)

Other good things to know about money in vietnam, cash is king.

You will need to pay for cash for just about everything in Vietnam (including many hotels!). Plan to bring two debit cards (in case one doesn’t work) and pull cash out of the ATM regularly. We found most ATMs would let us pull 2-3 million dong ($80-120) out at a time .

Tipping in Vietnam is not expected or customary, and some places the guides are forbidden from asking. You can choose to tip, if you want, though.

Pickpockets

Pickpockets are common in Vietnam, so keep your wallet secure and your purse in front of you. Be aware that snatch and grabs from people on scooters can and do happen, so keep your belongings secured from anyone scootering by as well.

Phones are a common target for the scooter thieves; try not to walk with it out.

While I wouldn’t haggle for meals, if you’re hiring a guide informally (ie not through an agency) for a service, or if you’re buying any goods from street vendors or markets, definitely haggle! The price they quote you is massively upcharged – I’d aim for ending at around 50% of their opening offer.

Vietnam Travel Budget – The Wrap Up

Overall, I felt great about our Vietnam travel budget – we had tons of great experiences and were able to travel without really paying too close attention to how much we were spending while still keeping to a really moderate travel budget.

Plus, cost of travel in Vietnam is so economical that it’s really easy to travel for much less than what we spent – choose more basic hotels or stay in hostels to cut your accommodations down to 10-20 per night, eat primarily street food and groceries to keep your food costs closer to $5 per day, and choose different options or skip entirely the expensive tours.

Traveling to Vietnam was incredible, and worth every penny!

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Stephanie is the author of The Unknown Enthusiast. She's visited 21 countries and 37 of the 50 US states (but her first love will always be France). When she's not traveling, she enjoys reading, taking naps, playing games, eating popcorn, and spending time with her husband (Matthew) and 4 daughters. Stephanie lives in Alabama, USA.

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TRAVEL to VIETNAM – Tips and Information Guide (2024 Edition)

Everything you need to know about travel to Vietnam in our comprehensive 2024 Vietnam travel guide.

We get it. You’re wondering what the absolute best destination to travel in Southeast Asia is.

You’ve spent hours researching.

Talked to friends.

Scoured the internet for blogs.

Watched YouTube videos.

And you’ve finally realised something.

Without a doubt, Vietnam is the place for you.

And trust us, as a couple that have travelled the world for over a decade, we think you’ve made the right decision.

There’s a reason Vietnam is our all-time favourite country…

From the tropical coral reefs of Nha Trang to the northern mountains of Sa Pa, travel to Vietnam is one of the most adventurous yet culturally empowering experiences you can have.

One moment you will find yourself haggling for  banh mi  deep within Saigon and later that day you could be watching a breathtaking sunset from the Mekong Delta.

Vietnam is more than a country. It’s an experience.

You’ll find yourself immersed among street food vendors cooking up exotic cuisines such as  pho  along streets with stores selling suits and ties.

Or you’ll be cruising the waters of Halong Bay while monkeys jump from island to island.

Or you might find yourself trekking to the highest peak in Vietnam, Fansipan soaring to over 3,100 metres!

Not into adventure activities? Homestays are the perfect way to spend your day as the monsoon rains fall across the endless snaking rivers of the Mekong.

Vietnamese hospitality is unrivalled and is something that you should experience once in your life, so what are you waiting for? Say good morning Vietnam! And go get lost!

So we’ve convinced you to travel to Vietnam? Awesome!

Now check out the basic information about the country in our Vietnam travel guide.

25 BEST Things to Do in Hue, Vietnam (2024 Edition)

The perfect vietnam itinerary for 1, 2, or 3 weeks, canyoning in dalat – what it is really like, travelling in vietnam: at a glance.

Here are the basics about travel to Vietnam.

OTHER MAIN CITIES:

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Da Nang, Hue

Vietnamese Dong (see  current exchange rate ). 1USD approximately = 23,000 dong. 1 beer = 30,000 dong ($1.30USD)

ENTRY / VISA:

Travellers from most countries in the world are required to have visas. In most cases these can be obtained upon arrival for either 3 or 6 months. For information about your specific visa requirements click  here.

Vietnam is fairly safe for travellers. Petty theft tends to be the biggest concern and always be on the lookout for taxi scams. Also of concern are minor auto/motorbike accidents. This is one place it’s great to have travel insurance when visiting.

ELECTRICITY:

220 Volt at 50Hz. Power plugs – Type A: 2 vertical pins, Type C: 2 round pins, Type F (also known as Schuko plug): 2 round pins (Be sure to get your  universal travel adapter  before you leave)

TRANSPORTATION:

Intercity travel is possible by plane, train and bus. Within cities, towns and villages you can expect to get around on bicycle rickshaws, motorbike taxes, taxis and bus.

Don’t Forget to Pack the Most Important Thing: Travel Insurance !

TOP 5 TRAVEL EXPERIENCES IN VIETNAM

With so much to see and do in Vietnam, it really is hard to pick the top experiences.

However, we think that to truly appreciate Vietnam you need to plan to do these 5 activities during your visit.

Take the Overnight Train from Hanoi to Sapa

Said to be one of the most eye-opening train rides in the world, as you pass through lush forests, rice paddy fields on your way to the Vietnamese – Chinese border.

Book your  train ticket here .

Hike Through the Rice Terraces of Sapa

Explore the area with the local hill tribes. Stay with them during your trek. And enjoy the beautiful terraced countryside for which Sapa is known.

Here’s our full post about  trekking in Sapa .

Cruise the Mekong Delta

Probably one of the ‘must do’s of Vietnam.’ The Mekong Delta is full of hidden gems including floating markets, friendly locals and late afternoon storms.

Book a multiday  tour of the Mekong Delta

Go Caving in Phong Nha

Caves there can fit a 747 plane in it. They are massive and spectacular. This is an adventure you will never forget.

Book your  Phong Nha cave tour

Ride a Motorcycle

Yes, that’s right! Hiring a motorcycle or scooter is a must. But maybe do it out on the country roads. Opt for the famous ride to the mountain village of Dalat, or pretty much anywhere throughout the country.

Read about how to ride through the famous  Hai Van Pass

Other Things to do in Vietnam

Learn to cook Vietnamese food . Eating delicious Vietnamese food is one thing. Eating it after you’ve  learned to prepare it  is another!

Scuba dive  in Nha Trang. You may not think of Vietnam as a big scuba location, but there is  some great diving  to be had in Nha Trang.

Go canyoning  in Dalat. Rappel, slide, jump and  climb your way through canyons  in this gorgeous place!

Explore the Marble Mountains  in Da Nang.  These beautiful mountains  have been mined for marble for years and have incredible views and temples to visit along the way.

Sandboard down the sand dunes  in Mui Ne. It’s like snowboarding, but down massive sand dunes! Enjoy this rush!

Visit the Giants Causeway  in Ghan Da Dia. Half the world away from the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, be amazed at  this unique geologic structure .

Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels  outside of Ho Chi Minh City. No trip to HCMC is complete without  touring these historic tunnels  that were used during the war.

Conquer the Hoi An Pass on a motorbike . This is known as one of the most beautiful sections of highway in the world. Enjoy!

Explore the world’s biggest cave . We have a special connection with  Hang Son Doong  as it is where we were engaged. Make your own special moment too!

Climb the highest mountain in Indochina  in Sapa. Fansipan is over 3,000m above sea level and  offers incredible views  along the way to the top!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THESE  OTHER AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN   VIETNAM

READ MORE...

A First-Timer’s Guide to Trekking in Sapa

The 11 Best Things to Do in Da Nang, Vietnam (2024 Guide)

33 BEST Things to Do in Vietnam (Epic 2024 Guide)

10 BEST Things to Do in Ninh Binh, Vietnam (2024 Guide)

Scuba Diving In Nha Trang – Is It Worth It?

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN VIETNAM

There are plenty of amazing places to visit in Vietnam. Depending on your interests, trip duration and time of year you will find plenty of things to do during any length of stay. 

When slurping a bowl of pho in a local market or exploring an ancient temple, it’s easy to feel like you’ve stepped into a time machine in Ho Chi Minh City.

A collection of over 3,000 limestone islands providing endless kayaking opportunities. Take the time to relax aboard a boat or venture to Cat Ba National Park for mystical waterfalls!

Book your  tour of Halong Bay

The capital of Vietnam is also one of the most ancient capitals in the world. The history of Hanoi is rich, devastating and full of legends. This mystical city is also known for its cuisine, silk, buzzing nightlife as well as cultural diversity.

Plan your 3-day  Hanoi itinerary

My Son Temple

Ancient temples dating back 1,000 years give a culture understanding into Vietnam’s past all while showing the scars of the war.

Book an early morning  tour of My Son

For more information on specific things to do in the top places to visit in Vietnam, reference our following city travel guides: 

Ho Chi Minh City:

*  Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary *  Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City

*  Hanoi Itinerary * Day Trips From Hanoi

Dalat Hoi An

Da Nang Hue Ninh Binh

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AWESOME PLACES TO VISIT IN VIETNAM. 

BEST VIETNAM TRAVEL ITINERARY

We’ve put together a few Vietnam itineraries that are sure to leave you wanting for nothing at the end of your visit. 

There are so many amazing things to do in Vietnam that planning an itinerary for your travel can be a little overwhelming. 

Even though the country is one united nation, you can think of it geographically as being divided into a northern and southern region.

So depending on how much time you have, you may want to explore the northern region, southern region or the entire country.

Of course, no one-size-fits-all plan will suffice. But if we were to head back to Vietnam these are the top places and things that we would want to do! 

1-Week Vietnam Travel Itinerary Highlights

Most people spend at least a month went hey travel to Vietnam. But if you had just one week, or were willing to split a few weeks between the northern and southern regions, this is how we’d spend our time! 

Northern Vietnam

• Fly into Hanoi
• 2 nights – Hanoi
• 2 nights –  Halong Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay
• 2 nights  – Sapa
• Alternative to Sapa  –  2 night in Hue
• Fly out of Hanoi

Central Vietnam

• Fly into Hanoi or HCMC. Get a local flight down to Dong Hoi
• 3 nights  – Phong Nha
• 2 nights  – Hue
• 2-3  nights  – Hoi An
• Fly out of Da Nang to either Hanoi or HCMC to leave

South Vietnam

• Fly into Ho Chi Minh City
• 2 nights  – Ho Chi Minh City
• 2 nights –  Mekong Delta
• 2 nights –  Dalat
• 1 night –  Mui Ne
• Fly out of Ho Chi Minh City

READ MORE: Check out this post for more details on our  Vietnam travel itinerary . 

VIETNAM TRIP PLANNING

Best time to visit vietnam.

The best time to travel to Vietnam really depends on what you are looking for in terms of weather, scenery and budget.

Peak season occurs from mid-December through to February. But expect prices to double during this time. The low season is perfect for those on a budget.

• Low Season –  April to June, September to November
• Shoulder Season –  December to March
• High Season –  July & August

Northern Vietnam  –  The best months to travel Northern Vietnam are April to May or September to October. There are mostly sunny days and the rain has stopped.

The weather gets really cold from December to March and is not suited for hiking or sailing a junk boat in Halong Bay that time of year.

Central Vietnam –  The best months for travel to Central Vietnam are January to June. There are heavy rains in October and November and the really hot months are from May to August.

Southern Vietnam  –  The best months to explore Southern Vietnam are January to April where conditions are beautiful.

You really can travel the south at any time of the year. Just note that from May to November there are afternoon downpours.

VIETNAM TRAVEL BUDGET GUIDELINE

Vietnam is a cheap country to travel if you want it to be, this all depends on what your budget is like. Our advice is always over-budget when making plans, and if you come home with money, it can go towards your next trip. All prices below are in USD per day.

Budgeting Tips

To make your money go further here are a few tips: 

• Eat street food as often as possible. You can usually fill up for $1-2USD.
• Travel in groups when possible. Staying in hostels will lead to making friends. And with friends, you can split transportation costs and barter on other expenses.
• Negotiate taxi fares before taking the ride. Vietnamese taxi drivers are notorious for flexible fares that tend to fall int heir favor. Don’t be afraid of a little negotiation.
• Drink  bia hoi . Sure it’s not the more delightful beer. But it is shipped in fresh each day, it’s cheap and it’s what the local drink.
• Take in the sights for free. Do a little research and walk the streets on your own. You’ll also find there are a number of free tours and other opportunities if you ask around.
• Sleep on overnight busses for longer trips. Combine the transportation and accommodation line items of your budget and save a few dollars.

But there are a few things you should know about the different budgets at which you can choose to travel.

Note: Budgets shown as Single Traveller / Couples per day. 

Budget Traveller ($35 Single / $50 Couples)

If you are on a backpacker budget and planning on staying in dorm rooms, getting street food, drinking a few nights of the week, I would budget for about $35 a day.

A single hostel bed can be $5-$8 per person. A budget basic private room is $15-$20. A street food meal can be $1-$2. A bottle of beer is about $1- $1.50 and a  bia hoi  is $0.20 per cup. This is not the nicest beer. But it is passable and you get to make new friends when drinking it.

Walking or taking public transport will keep your budget down. There are many free things to do, you just need to think outside the box.

Mid-Range Traveller ($100 Single / $120 Couple)

If you have a little more cash in your budget your travels in Vietnam will become a lot more comfortable.

A nicer hotel is definitely affordable.

There are restaurants where you will pay more than the street food price. But the food is definitely of nicer quality (most of the time). The local beer can get a little too much sometimes so you will be able to enjoy an international beer or wine.

For the attractions you are most interested in, get a guide and learn more about the history of the country. You’ll be able to commit much more of your budget to do things rather than cutting corners just to stay alive.

Luxury Traveller ($90+ Single / $120+ Couple)

You don’t have to have that much more to enjoy a luxury trip to Vietnam. With a few more dollars in your budget, a nicer hotel is definitely affordable. Eat and drink anything you would like at virtually any restaurant.

You can hire transportation without having to haggle. And you can pretty much do any tour you would like to do when visiting any part of Vietnam.

GETTING TO AND AROUND VIETNAM

Entry requirements.

Most travellers are required to have visas when travelling to Vietnam, which can typically be arranged upon arrival. You are typically allowed to stay for 3 – 6 months, depending on nationality.

For information about your specific visa requirements click  here

Additionally, Vietnam has introduced an electronic visa (e-visa), which costs $25 USD and is granted for single entry visits for up to 30 days.

You no longer will have to apply through an agent to get an invitation letter or queue at the airport immigration for hours waiting to receive your visa upon arrival.

Apply in advance  here .

Once you are approved, all you need to do is print the visa out and present it on entry to Vietnam. Don’t lose this e- visa print out as you will need this during your travels in Vietnam.

Hotels will ask for it on check-in at the accommodation and travel agents may ask for it if you are booking flights.

Also, print out your  travel insurance  as well. Immigration will ask for this also as they want to know you are covered if you fall ill or get injured during your stay.

Getting to Vietnam

There are a number of different ways to travel to Vietnam, depending on where you are coming from and how you like to get around with transport.

There are a lot of different airlines that fly to Vietnam from all over the world. There are two major international airports in Vietnam: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Noi Bai Airpot (HAN) in Hanoi in the north.

Direct flights to Vietnam from Australia, Europe and North America are still limited, but it is improving. You will most likely have to book a flight with a stopover in either Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul or Singapore.

There are many domestic airports scattered among the country. Vietnam Airlines is Vietnam’s national carrier. We have flown with them several times and they are amazing.

You can cross into Vietnam by train from China, all the way from Beijing to Ping Xian. This is the Dong Dang Crossing which is 160km from Hanoi.

After you have crossed the border hop on a train to Hanoi. Don’t buy the direct ticket from Beijing to Hanoi. It works out cheaper to buy your ticket from Beijing to Ping Xian then cross the border and purchase another ticket from Dong Dang to Hanoi.

If you do the train trip from Beijing through to Hanoi, it will take 36 hours so it is best to book a sleeper. Make sure you have your visa organised before getting to the border.

You can bring your own food and drinks for the train or purchase them from the cafeteria on board. There are squat toilets on board and areas to store your luggage.

You can get to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City through either the Cambodia, Laos or China borders. There is a route from Vientiane (Laos) to Hanoi, and one from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City.

Most travel agents in Vientiane, Siem Reap or Phnom Penh will sell the tickets or at your accommodation. You can also get a minivan from Guangzhou through to Hanoi.

Make sure you have your visa ready. The border crossings by land may not be set up as well as others.

If you want to book any of your bus trips online rather than trying to deal with travel agencies in the country, you can do so on the popular website  Bookaway .

Getting Around Vietnam

Getting around Vietnam is surprisingly easy. Public transport goes everywhere, and there are plenty of moto-taxis that are happy to take you to the places that public transport won’t reach.

Travelling by Air

The fastest way to get around the country, of course, is by air. There are many domestic airports all over the country and you can fly in from major cities.

You can get cheap flights within the country through VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines. For the best deals head directly on the airline’s website.

Travelling by Taxi, Tuk Tuk Or Mototaxi

When you are in the cities and town catching a taxi, tuk-tuk or moto-taxi can be the best way to get around. For taxi companies, look for the biggest and most reputable companies as you can be ripped off.

For the tuk-tuks, ask your accommodation the average price to your destination so you can agree on a price with the driver.

We recommend Uber and Grab (car or motorbike) which you can use an app and get the price.

Travelling by Bus

It is possible and advisable to travel by bus throughout Vietnam. Busses inside of cities can be complicated and should be a last resort.

However, when travelling long distances in Vietnam busses are a great option. This is especially true if you take night busses and sleep during the ride.

Travelling by Motorbike

We think travelling by motorbike is the best way to see Vietnam if you have the time. Buy your own motorbike and ride the length of the country. Or you can choose one area and explore Northern Vietnam or South Vietnam.

Here’s our post to help guide you on  how to buy a motorbike in Vietnam .

Travelling by Train

Taking the train is a great way to get around the country. They are great for overnight journeys as the trains have bed cabins.

In Vietnam, there are many places with roadwork that can last for years. So trains can be the best way to go.

APPS AND TECHNOLOGY

We know you’ll absolutely love travelling in Vietnam. But technology has made it easier, more affordable and safer to travel than ever.

Here are a few apps we think you should definitely acquaint yourself with prior to your travels:

Grab  – Use this app to catch a ride from any metro area in Vietnam.

XE Currency  – Transfer, monitor and calculate currency as the need arises. This app may not be totally necessary as you are typically tied into rates the banks charge for services. But it is handy to have around. 

Express VPN  – This will protect your sensitive information wherever you travel – not just in [Country]. Be sure to have this to keep your online information secure as you travel. 

iTranslate  – Even if you don’t know more than a handful of Vietnamese words, iTranslate will help you communicate as you travel in Vietnam. 

WiFi Finder  – With this app, you no longer have to guess whether the next place on your itinerary has WiFi or scramble across town looking for hot spots.

BEST THINGS TO EAT IN VIETNAM

When you travel to a foreign country one of the new and most exciting things you will experience is the food. There are so many amazing food choices in Vietnam, and Vietnamese food is delicious.

Here are a few of our favourites.

Goi Cuon:  This is a rice paper packed with greens, coriander and various combinations of minced or shredded pork, shrimp or crab. It will be served with a sweet and sour sauce or a delicious homemade peanut sauce.

Sometimes to make the experience even better, you get to hand roll them yourself. This was our favourite dish.

Banh Mi:  With this one, it will be different in every corner of Vietnam. This is a baguette sandwich that is filled with meat, greens, pata, pickled vegetables, soy sauce, cilantro and sometimes an omelet.

The meat filling will be roasted pork belly, grilled pork loin, barbecue pork, boiled chicken, or a fried egg.

Pho (pronounced ‘fur’):  This flat rice noodle soup is either light beef or chicken broth flavoured with coriander and ginger with spring onions and bits of meat (chicken, pork or beef).

It is a dish you can have any time of the day and is delicious, but it can be hit and miss in some places. If you have an average one, please do try it again. We ate pho a lot for breakfast and never got sick of it.

Bun Cha:  This is a Hanoi specialty and it is deliciously addictive. Bun Cha is served with grilled fatty pork over a plate of white rice noodles. It will be served with a sauce.

It will all be served separately and you combined everything together. You can ask for some little fried spring rolls on top too. It is so delicious!

Coa Lau:  Hoi An is the best (and only authentic) place to try this one. as the noodles are made using water from a special well in town.

It is chewy rice flour noodles with Chinese barbecue pork, bean sprouts, croutons and fresh herbs in a delicious pork-based gravy.

PLACES TO STAY IN VIETNAM

There are accommodation options for all budgets in Vietnam. You can stay in a shared dorm for $5 USD per night, or a luxury hotel for over $300 USD.

The accommodation standards can vary in each destination.

For example, we got a really nice hotel in the middle of nowhere when we were on our bike for $12 a night. But we would not find a place like this in Hanoi, Hoi An, HCMC or Hue for less than $25.

NOTE –  In Vietnam, the accommodation will keep your passport for the duration of your stay. This is to do with the government. Officials will randomly come around and check hotels and hostels.

If they do not have the ID or passport of every person staying there, the accommodation will be fined. The accommodation will keep your passport in a safe. If you are unsure just ask, “do you lock my passport up?”

Types of Accommodations

Vietnam is wildly popular among backpackers. Because the costs are generally incredibly low, budget travellers flock to the country.

This means that there are lots of great hostel options when looking for accommodations in Vietnam.

Whether you are busy spending all your time exploring and are just looking for a cheap place to crash for the night or want to make friends along the way, you will find most of what you are looking for in a variety of hostels throughout Vietnam.

Because costs are generally lower in Vietnam than in most parts of the world your quality of life can go up quite a bit when you travel to Vietnam.

One way you can upgrade your travel experience is by booking rooms in hotels instead of beds in hostels. For a few dollars more you’ll get vastly more space and privacy.

In some towns and villages, hotels are your only option.

But generally, these are very reasonably priced. You can expect to spend USD$20-30 for a decent hotel room in most cities, towns and villages across Vietnam.

Another good option in recent years is AirBnB, and there are more and more amazing places popping up to stay in Vietnam for very affordable prices every day.

As is typical in many destinations where Airbnb accommodations are available, you’ll likely find great value and a little more personal space with an Airbnb stay. 

If you’re looking for an awesome place to stay, we personally love using Airbnb. If you’ve never used the platform before,  sign up using this link to get USD$35 off your first booking .

Our Favorite Places to Stay in Vietnam

We travelled from the south to the north and stayed in many different places. Here are a few accommodation options we highly recommend.

VIETNAM TRAVEL TIPS

The Vietnamese people are friendly, welcoming and hospitable towards travellers. It is a great destination to travel to in Southeast Asia.

The people are very respectful and would like the same back from you. Here are a few things that you should know before going to Vietnam.

GENERAL VIETNAM TRAVEL TIPS 

While we have  many basic travel tips  we suggest you use when travelling to Vietnam, there are also plenty of Vietnam-specific tips that will make your visit the best it can be. 

Here are a few we recommend you consider as you plan your trip to visit Vietnam: 

Please show respect to their religious beliefs and their cultures . You are travelling to someone else’s country. They have different religious beliefs and cultures in your home. Please respect them.

Watch your belongings.  Vietnam is a safe country but unfortunately, there still is petty theft. Whether you are at a restaurant or on a bus always watch your belongings.

Beware of the counterfeit tour agencies . Unfortunately, there are plenty of these around, especially in the main tourist areas. Book through the main owner or operator or any of  these tours that we recommend .

Do not drink the tap water.  The locals don’t even drink the water. There is bottled water available everywhere. Popular tourist restaurants will usually have on their menu that they wash their salad and veggies in sterilised water and make tea, coffee and soup from that too.

Carry toilet paper everywhere . There are toilets available in restaurants or in public but there may not be toilet paper. Most of the time you have to pay for the public toilet and they may give you some toilet paper, but don’t count on it. Always have your stash.

Toilet paper goes in the bin . DO NOT put the toilet paper in the toilet. Please put it into the bin provided. Vietnam’s sewerage systems are not built for much more than human waste so toilet paper and other items will just clog up your toilet.

Embrace the “bum gun “. Next to every toilet in Vietnam, there is a water hose. This is not to wash down the floor. This is to clean yourself up after you do your business. Don’t be disgusted by this. Embrace it.

Vietnam is bigger than you think . This country is huge and many people underestimate it. Vietnam is about 1,650 kilometres long from north to south. The distance on buses and trains is long so be prepared.

Take note of the Vietnamese money . It will be a new currency for you so do take a look at it before you go out spending. There are more zeros in it than you might be used to (1USD = 23,000 Dong)

Always take photos when you rent a scooter . Renting a scooter in Vietnam is something everyone does. It is a great way to get around and see all the attractions. But where you rent it from can get you into trouble. Whenever you rent a scooter take photos of the bike or else might end up with a crazy expensive bill.

Always wear a helmet. Always . Please wear a helmet. The roads are crazier here than they are in your country. The rules are different and road conditions are not the best. A quality helmet could save your life in an accident.

Make sure you have travel insurance . We tell people who are going travelling, “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.” You do not know what is going to happen while you are away and knowing you are covered will put your mind at ease.

Be confident when crossing the road . The roads in Vietnam are crazy. Crossing the road can be daunting but you need to be confident. Do not walk backward or hesitate. Walk slowly and watch the traffic coming towards you. They will all move around you.

Take your shoes off before entering a temple or a person’s home . It is a custom that stems back to ancient times and a big part comes back to cleanliness. The ground is used for chatting, dining and even sleeping.

Cover your shoulders and knees when entering a temple . This is common in most religious sites. There are always signs suggesting visitors dress ‘appropriately.’ Shoulders and knees should be covered. If it is a hot day and a t-shirt is too sticky, carry a scarf for when you visit to cover your shoulders.

Keep a low profile . Do not be loud, raise your voice in aggression or show off. Do not show dramatic affection publicly like kissing. Save it for the hotel room

Ask for permission before taking a photo of someone . This is polite and ensures you are not intruding on them. The people are not there for your entertainment. If they say no, smile and thank them anyway.

Do not take photos of anything to do with the government or military.  This is a big NO in any country and can end up with you in jail.

Do not touch someone on the head . The head is the most important part of the body. Touching someone’s head who you don’t know is like saying you are more important than they are.

Place your chopsticks across the top of the bowl when finished . Don’t have your chopsticks hanging out of the bowl, and don’t point them at anyone when they are resting on the plate.

VIETNAM PACKING LIST

We always travel with a  core packing list  wherever we go. And when it comes to Vietnam, many factors will affect what else you need to bring along with you. 

Check out our  travel essentials  and be sure to add any of the other additional items listed below. 

Important Note!  Before you book any international trip, we honestly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know when things will go wrong, and medical bills can add up quickly if you get sick or injure yourself overseas.

Our personal recommendation based on our own experience is  World Nomads .

TRAVEL INSURANCE. SIMPLE & FLEXIBLE.

Which countries or regions are you traveling to, what’s your country of residence, enter traveler’s age, staying safe in vietnam.

Vietnam is extremely safe, apart from the one major danger which is the roads. They are crazy, even more so if you try to ride 10’000km around the country on motorbikes as we did!

Aside from that, common sense will keep you safe.

Here are a few reminders of what common sense when travelling in Vietnam means:

As you saw above, Vietnam is extremely safe. We did not feel unsafe once in the 7 months we were there (excluding the roads).

This doesn’t mean you can completely let your guard down though, and petty theft does happen in this country, although it’s not common.

Some tips for protecting your things:

In other words, use common sense and you’ll be fine.

STAYING CONNECTED IN VIETNAM

Staying connected with friends and family (and work) when travelling in Vietnam is important. But if you don’t know how to connect you can find yourself greatly inconvenienced or spending too much money.

We feel like your money will go a lot further if you consider a few options. 

Purchase a SIM Card

Picking up a SIM card has become the quickest and typically most affordable way to stay connected in Vietnam or any country for that matter.

If you have an unlocked phone you can use a 4G SIM card to connect to the cellular networks in Vietnam. From there you can cast a hot spot if you need to crank out some work on your computer or want to connect a tablet.

This 3G/4G SIM card  is a great and affordable option for a SIM card if you are flying into Vietnam.

Rent a Portable WiFi Device

Alternatively to a SIM card, particularly if you don’t have an unlocked phone, you can rent a portable WiFi device during your travel to Vietnam.

This device  will be delivered to you when you arrive in Vietnam and will provide 4G service for less than USD$5 per day.

You’ll be able to connect anywhere you can find service across the country, which will be most of the places you are likely to travel in Vietnam.

Access Free WiFI

Free is always best, if it is convenient. And there are plenty of places throughout Vietnam that will provide free WiFi in public spaces or at restaurants, cafes and hostels and hotels.

We recommend using the  WiFi Finder  app, which will help you locate WiFi anywhere you travel in Vietnam.

BE A RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER IN VIETNAM

We absolutely love Vietnam. And we love the idea that it will remain a beautiful and friendly place for travellers for years to come.

Here are a few tips specific to travel to Vietnam that will promote sustainable tourism in the country:

Use your own energy to get around.  Walk or cycle through town as much as possible. Taking a cyclo-taxi is a close alternative if you don’t have the energy to propel yourself through the city. But this reduces the impact of taxis, busses and other forms of automotive transportation.

Mind your plastic . Plastic is everywhere in Vietnam. But using your own reusable bag for groceries and other shopping, carrying a reusable water bottle and having your own straw are just 3 of the many simple ways you can reduce the amount of plastic you use.

Shop local . Visiting the markets will be one of your top experiences when travelling to Vietnam. Support local vendors as often as possible, including in taking tours when available.

Be mindful of wildlife . Wildlife in the wild is great. But be mindful not to provoke, feed or otherwise molest wildlife. And never purchase any item made of or involving rare or endangered species.

Attempt to communicate in Vietnamese . You’re probably not going to be fluent as soon as you arrive in the country. But knowing a few phrases and doing your best to communicate with locals will show respect and earn trust and make your experience richer.

KEY VIETNAMESE TRAVEL PHRASES

You don’t have to be fluent in Vietnamese to have a great time when you travel to Vietnam. But it does help to know a few key phrases.

This will not only assist you in your travels but it will also show respect to the local Vietnamese people that you are doing your best to assimilate into their culture. 

BOOKS TO READ ABOUT VIETNAM

Maybe you already know everything about Vietnam. Chances are you don’t!

But even if you are well-read, here are a few suggestions that might be worth your time while you’re on the plane to Vietnam. 

The Quiet American  (Graham Greene) – Originally published in 1956 and adapted for film twice, this story by Greene became an instant classic. Greene fictionalizes life in 1950s Vietnam as told by a British correspondent trying to understand the roots of the rising conflict set to occur.

At Home In The World  (Thich Nhat Hanh) – World renown Vietnamese monk, Hanh reflects on lessons and stories in life from the Buddhist perspective.

Vietnam: Rising Dragon  (Bill Hayton) – A piece of nonfiction that looks back on the Vietnam of old and attempts to projects its place in the future of Southeast Asia.

The Sympathizer  (Viet Thanh Nguyen) – The Pulitzer Prize-winning book, allegedly influenced by  The Quiet American , is told through the eyes of a double-agent during the Vietnam War who struggles to understand the minds and hearts of men engaged in war.

DISCLAIMER:  Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Table of Contents

Read our vietnam posts, 20 amazing things to do in hoi an, vietnam (2024 guide), 14 incredible things to do in dalat, vietnam (2024 guide), the perfect 3 days in hanoi itinerary [2024 guide], 25 amazing things to do in hanoi, vietnam (2024 guide), the perfect 3 days in ho chi minh city itinerary [2024], the 8 best day trips from ho chi minh city (2024 guide), caves, zip lines and deep mud in phong nha, ganh da dia – vietnam’s own ‘giant’s causeway’, ba be national park – the lake, trekking and happy water, motorbiking the road from dalat to nha trang in vietnam, riding sea to sky: hue to hoi an by motorbike, getting a chinese visa in hanoi, vietnam.

Vietnam Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

Most people either love or hate traveling in Vietnam. When I first went, there was a negative attitude towards foreign travelers (for good reason), lots of scams, and just not a lot of good vibes. But, since that trip many years ago, the country has changed a lot: it’s embraced tourism, people have opened up more, there’s fewer scams, and Ho Chi Minh City has even become a hub for digital nomads.

From exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi to the delicious food and fancy garments of Hoi An , Vietnam has a lot to see and do so take your time. Don’t rush your trip.

This budget travel guide to Vietnam can help you plan your trip and ensure you make the most of your visit.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Vietnam

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in vietnam.

1. Tour the Mekong Delta

The delta is a 60,000-kilometer (37,000-mile) long web of interconnected waterways, which spans three Vietnamese provinces and has been used since the 4th century BCE. What I love about this area is it’s filled with small villages, pagodas, mangroves, and orchards. The best way to experience the area is to go on a boat or bike tour, where you’ll experience rural Vietnamese culture. Some of favorite things include the Cai Rang floating market for the colorful fruits and veggies and vibrant atmosphere; Vinh Trang Pagoda for its impressive golden exterior and lush gardens; and the incredible Sadec Flower Village that is stunning and serene, even if you’re not a flower enthusiast. Spend a few days really getting to know the region outside the hustle and bustle of the cities. Day trips on the river start at around 575,000 VND per person.

2. Wander Hanoi

Vietnam’s capital dates to the 3rd century BCE when it was the capital of the ancient nation of Au Lac. I love to wander around the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. It’s a great place to get a feel for the city as there are tons of vendors, smells of street food, people watching, and bustle. Some of my favorite places to visit include the One-Pillar Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and the Hanoi Water Puppet Theater. Be sure to check out the history museum to learn about French colonialism and Communist rule (from the Vietnamese perspective) as well as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Hanoi is also a good base for doing multi-day tours to Ha Long Bay.

3. Explore Ha Long Bay

This iconic region is home to more than 3,000 islands and is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. The towering limestone islands are covered in lush jungles and surrounded by calm emerald waters. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s located 2-3 hours from Hanoi and travelers can take multi-day boat cruises around the islands (most are 2-5 days). During the cruise, you’ll visit floating markets, incredible beaches, massive caves, and either sleep onboard your boat or on one of the many islands. Just keep in mind that this area is super popular and is often overcrowded. Cheap tours start around 1,200,000 VND while a mid-range tour costs around 3,000,000-4,500,000 VND. Just remember that you get what you pay for and the cheaper boats might be a bit run down.

4. Hang out in Hoi An

Hoi An was a thriving port city between the 15th and 19th centuries and the architecture is incredibly well preserved (the entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It was easily my favorite place in Vietnam because I loved walking around, taking a thrilling sidecar trip in the countryside, and of course, Vietnamese cooking classes, which are great because you learn to prepare fresh fish caught right there. This place is famous for its tailors so if you’re looking to buy some custom made clothes at an inexpensive price, this is the spot to do it in. They will even ship it back to your home country.

5. Get adventurous in Sapa

This is northern Vietnam’s premier trekking area and it’s hugely popular with all sorts of travelers. Sapa is famous for its hill tribes, lush vegetation, beautiful hiking trails, and breathtaking mountains. If you’re looking to experience the scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities Vietnam has to offer, this is the place. This area is rich in culture because it is comprised of 85% ethnic Vietnamese minority groups that have different colorful traditional dress and unique styles of houses. To avoid the tourists, come during the off-season or take longer hikes to parts the crowds don’t go to.

Other Things to See and Do

1. take a free walking tour.

The first thing I do when I visit a new destination is take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to get the lay of the land, see the main sights, and connect with a local guide who can answer all my questions. Both Hanoi and HCMH (the two largest and most popular cities in the country) have a few free tours available that cover the main highlights and are a great primer to the country (Hanoi Free Walking Tours and Saigon Free Day Tours are two companies worth checking out). Just remember to tip your guide at the end!

2. Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels

This extensive network of tunnels spans nearly 310 miles (500 kilometers). It was utilized by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about the maze and fire AK47s at shooting targets. It’s a sobering experience and not one meant for anyone claustrophobic. However, if you want to better understand the terror of the Vietnam War, this is a must-visit. Admission is around 100,000 VND per person.

3. Relax or find adventure in Dalat

Dalat is nestled in the hills of the Central Highlands and is popular with tourists who want to relax in the mountain air and those who want to participate in a host of adventure sports (such as rock climbing, ziplining, and rappelling). The hills around Dalat are filled with traditional tribal villages, which you can tour as well. Expect to pay around 2,000,000 VND per person for a full day of ziplining and rappelling around waterfalls.

4. Visit Cuc Phuong National Park

South of Hanoi lies Vietnam’s first National Park, Cuc Phuong. Covering 222 square kilometers (85 square miles), this place is home to over 2,000 species of trees and some truly rare wildlife including the Clouded Leopard, Delacour’s Langur and Owston’s Civet. It was my favorite park in all of Vietnam and the only place I didn’t find hordes of tourists. The entrance fee is 50,000 VND.

5. Explore Ho Chi Minh City

Also known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city and is definitely worth exploring. Ho Chi Minh is the place to really gain an understanding of French colonialism as well as the US headquarters there during the Vietnam War, which you can learn more about at the War Remnants Museum. Like most cities in Vietnam, you’ll be met with the roar of motorbikes speeding through colonial streets. I loved Ben Thanh Market, which is a must-see for amazing food and there is a great buzz of activity within the place. Don’t miss your chance to get the best Pho soup in Ho Chi Minh, that means some of the best is right on the side of the street.

6. Get active in Mui Ne

Despite being a fishing village, Mui Ne has a significant tourism scene due to its popularity as a wind- and kite-surfing destination. The best highlight for me aside from the beach was riding on the rolling sand dunes similar in size to the Saharan ones and also the Jeep Tour to the Fairy Stream through a canyon, which is not something you get to do very often! Also, don’t miss the 9th-century Po Shanu Cham Towers with beautiful views of the Phan Thiet coastal town. Mui Ne is definitely worth checking out for a day or two when you’re passing by on the bus because it has a nice chill vibe to it, friendly people, and beautiful sunsets.

7. See My Son

My Son is a set of Hindu ruins in Vietnam that date back to the Cham Empire. The Champas ruled over Central Vietnam from the 3rd to the 19th century. The temples here are of incredible historical importance, but they have been largely reclaimed by the surrounding jungle, and have fallen into a great state of disrepair. Don’t come here expecting something as marvelously preserved as Borobudur or Angkor Wat. The entrance fee is 150,000 VND.

8. Visit the caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang

Hang Son Doong is reputed to be the world’s largest cave and is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It was discovered by a local in 1990, and “rediscovered” by a British caving team in 2009. You can arrange trips to see this stunning cave in all its glory with stalactites and stalagmites, an inner cave forest, and even cave pearls. You’ll be blown away by its beauty. Entrance to the caves is around 150,000 VND per person.

9. Check out the rice terraces

Outside of connections to the Vietnam War, the stereotypical image of Vietnam is of the many rice paddies. You can find these in the Muong Hoa Valley. If you’ve never visited rice terraces, you should make a point to see them in Vietnam. Visit them to learn about rice production and take stunning photographs of the unbelievable Vietnamese countryside. Expect tours to cost around 600,000 VND per person.

10. Relax in Hue

Hue is generally passed by, making it a bit of a quieter stop along the tourist trail. Stroll along the beautiful Perfume River and into the Imperial Citadel. Don’t miss the Tu Hieu Pagoda and the Tombs of the Emperors, which mostly date from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the main tombs to see are the Tomb of Minh Mang, the Tomb of Tu Duc, and the Tomb of Khai Dinh.

11. Take a cooking class

Vietnamese food is delicious and the best way to learn about these incredible dishes is to take a cooking class. You’ll not only learn how to make some of these tasty meals but you’ll get to interact with a local chef who can teach you about their history and cultural significance. Many cooking classes also include a visit to the local market where you’ll shop for ingredients. Prices vary but expect to pay at least 800,000 VND per person.

12. Tour the former DMZ

The Vietnamese Demilitarized zone was the dividing line between the Communist north and anti-Communist south during the Vietnam War. It was in use from 1954 to 1976. These days, you can take a tour of the DMZ from Hue and learn about the conflict from expert guides who were actually involved in the war (or survived it as civilians). You’ll see secret tunnels, learn about military surveillance, and get insight about the conflict from a perspective not often shown in the media. Full-day tours from Hue start around 2,500,000 VND.

13. Buy a motorbike

If you’re an adventurous traveler, buy a motorbike and drive the length of the country. This is considered the best way to travel Vietnam by veteran backpackers who like to get off the beaten path. You can buy bikes in Hanoi or HCMC at either end of the country and then make your way to the opposite end, stopping along the way over the course of a few weeks. While it’s not for everyone, this mode of travel offers the most freedom as you’ll be able to visit a lot of places that the buses and trains don’t stop at. You can buy a bike for as little as 4,800,000 VND, and then you can sell it once your trip is done to recoup some of the cost. There are always backpackers looking to buy a bike in HCMC and Hanoi.

14. Sample the local coffee

Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer (after Brazil) exporting a whopping 1.5 million tons of it per year (after rice, it’s their biggest export). Even if you don’t drink coffee (I don’t), trying fresh coffee here is a must. Whether you just hop arounds cafes, do a tasting experience in Hanoi of HCMC, or head out to one of the many coffee plantations, learning about this vital crop (and also sampling it fresh) is an experience not to be missed. Expect a half-day plantation tour (with lots of samples) to cost around 700,000 VND.

For more information on specific cities in Vietnam, check out the following guides:

• Hanoi Travel Guide
• Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
• Hoi An Travel Guide
• Nha Trang Travel Guide

Vietnam Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostels start at around 100,000 VND per night for a dorm room. These can be a bit rustic and no-frills. For a hostel with more amenities, such as free breakfast or a a free happy hour (as well as improved cleanliness), expect to pay double. Private rooms cost at least 350,890-425,000 VND per night for a double room. Most hostels include free Wi-Fi, and many also include free breakfast or free beer during certain hours of the day. Self-catering facilities are not very common since eating out is so cheap.

For those traveling with a tent, wild camping is not legal in Vietnam. While it is still possible to do as enforcement is sparse (especially if you’re sleeping in a hammock), I also wouldn’t recommend it. Insects and animals can be an issue, there are lots of landmines still undiscovered out in the brush, and robbery can occur. Stay safe and stick to hostels.

For a budget hotel with a double bed, expect to pay around 225,000 VND per night. This usually includes free Wi-Fi and free breakfast.

On Airbnb, a private room costs at least 325,000 VND per night. For an entire home or apartment, prices begin around 600,000 VND. Prices double when not booked in advance so plan accordingly

Food – Vietnamese cuisine is fresh, flavorful, and uses a lot of herbs and vegetables. Rice and noodle dishes are common as are various soups such as the iconic pho (a beef noodle soup). Wonton soup, meat curry, fresh French bread (known as bahn me , and grilled fish are just some of the popular dishes you’ll encounter. Standard ingredients include fish sauce, lemongrass, chili, lime, Thai basil, and mint.

You can get a bowl of pho or a rice dish for 20,000 VND. Street food is the cheapest and the most delicious food option in the country.

Most sit-down restaurants are also inexpensive at around 45,000-95,000 VND. The fancier (and more touristy) the restaurant, the more expensive.

Western food is also more expensive, usually around 110,000 VND for a fast food meal, so skip it if you’re on a budget.

If you want to splash out on a fancy three-course meal, expect to spend around 250,000 VND.

A liter of water at a convenience store is about 15,000 VND, while beer or soda is about 20,000-35,000 VND.

For those looking to cook their own meals, expect to pay at least 400,000 VND per week for basic groceries. Be sure to shop at the local markets to get the cheapest and freshest food. That being said, food is so cheap in the country that it’s simply easier – and cheaper – to just eat street food, especially as most hostels and hotels don’t have shared kitchens.

Backpacking Vietnam Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Vietnam for 600,000 VND per day. This budget covers a stay in a large hostel dorm, eating street food for all of your meals, limiting your drinking, taking the bus, and doing free activities in each destination. If you plan on drinking, add another 20,000-40,000 VND to your daily budget.

A mid-range budget of about 1,125,000 VND per day covers staying in a cheap hotel, eating street food and at the occasional sit-down restaurant, enjoying a few more drinks, taking the occasional taxi to get around, and doing more paid activities such as museum visits and water upper shows.

On an upscale budget of 2,460,000 VND, you can stay in a nice hotel, eat out for all your meals anywhere you want, enjoy lots of drinks, and more taxis, and do whatever tours and activities you want, including a multi-day trip to Ha Long Bay. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Vietnam Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Vietnam is a very affordable country. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest in Southeast Asia. Even with the explosion of tourism in the last few years, it still remains very affordable. You’ll be hard pressed to spend money if you’re sticking to non-Western food, cocktails, and hotels. However, if you’re looking to travel even cheaper and save some money, here are some tips:

• Eat delicious street food – The street food here is excellent and cheap, and you can watch it being cooked in front of you. Stick to the local food and you’ll save money. The street-side pho, bread, sandwiches, donuts, and bananas are your best deals.
• Late-night travel – If traveling on long journeys, try to take the late-night “sleeper” buses or trains as these will save you the cost of a night’s accommodation. Depending on the company, you may even have a chance to comfortably lie flat as you ride through the dark countryside to your next destination.
• Take the tourist bus – It is actually cheaper to take the tourist bus around the country than taking local transportation because of the “tourist” price you get at the bus station. Tickets from one end of the country to another are very affordable.
• Fly for cheap – Vietnam’s low-cost airlines VietJet and FlyVietnam are extremely inexpensive. This is a great option for people with limited time to explore different regions of Vietnam. Both airlines frequently offer special deals and at the time of writing this, Hanoi to Da Nang is just 820,000 VND!
• Bargain hard – Tourists tend to be charged more than locals for everything from cyclos (a three-wheel bicycle taxi) to clothes to street food. Bargain harder than you would ordinarily, and don’t underestimate the value of walking away.
• Avoid paying tourist prices – Before you leave the hostel, ask them to estimate how much what you want to do should cost. How much should a ride to the museum cost? How much should I pay to have a gown like this made? They will be able to give you bargaining guidelines.
• Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water in Hanoi is not safe to drink. To save money and reduce your plastic use, bring a reusable water bottle with you. LifeStraw make a reusable bottle with a built-in filter so you can be sure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Vietnam

To help you save money on accommodation, here’s a list of my recommended hostels and budget hotels in Vietnam:

• Mad Monkey (Hoi An)
• Hoi An Golden Holiday Hotel (Hoi An)
• Little Hanoi Hostel (Hanoi)
• San Palace Hotel & Spa (Hanoi)
• Hanoi House Hostel & Travel (Hanoi)
• Ccasa Hostel & Coffee Bar (Nha Trang)
• The Hideout (HCMC)
• Orchid’s Saigon Hotel (HCMC)

How to Get Around Vietnam

Public transportation – Larger cities in Vietnam (such as Hanoi and HCMC) have reliable and safe public transportation. In Hanoi, there are buses that cover most of the city and generally have stops near all the major tourist sites. Tickets are paid for in cash on the bus and generally cost 7,000-15,000 VND depending on how far you go. HCMC also has a large network of buses, with tickets costing up to 10,000 VND (again, depending on how far you travel).

Cyclos (a bicycle rickshaw) is one of the cheapest ways to get around. A short ride costs as little as 12,000 VND, while a longer night ride costs upwards of 40,000 VND. A more popular option is the ze om , a motorbike taxi that has fares starting from 15,000 VND. You’ll have to hold on tight though (and make sure you wear a helmet as accidents are common).

Train – A lot of people love taking the train in Vietnam because it’s safe, affordable, and comfortable and, although some routes might be slow, you’ll get some amazing views of the Vietnamese countryside. The rail network also covers most of the country, so you can get just about everywhere you want to go (except the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta). You can use the website Baolau to research train schedules and book your tickets. A train journey between Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi (which spans the entire length of the country) starts at 1,000,000 VND for a soft seat (not a berth). The journey takes three days. Hanoi to Hue costs around 600,000 VND and takes around 13 hours while HCMC to Nha Trang costs around 500,000 VND and takes 8 hours.

Bus – It’s easy to find long-distance hop on, hop off bus tours running the length of Vietnam. You can hop on or off at any stop along the way. They cater to tourists, but locals actually use this service too since it’s super affordable. Prices depend on route and operator but generally, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is between 815,000-1,600,000 VND.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Flying – Flying domestically in Vietnam is a good idea if you’re looking to fit a lot into a shorter trip. For example, a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes two hours while the train ride would take at least 30 hours. One-way flights around the country start at around 590,000 VND.

Car rental – Vietnam is very easy to navigate by bus, so I don’t really suggest renting a car here — especially because traffic in the cities is very hectic and accidents are common. That said, car rentals are affordable, costing around 500,000 VND per day. An IDP (International Driving Permit) is required. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Vietnam

In the southern part of Vietnam, the dry season lasts from December to late April/May while the rainy season occurs from May to the end of November. The rainy season usually just means brief heavy downpours in the afternoon, although sometimes the Mekong Delta will flood. The dry season is the best time to visit but keep in mind that it’s winter up north and it’s going to be a lot colder in the north than the south. Rainy season isn’t that bad either but, like the name implies, it rains a lot.

May through November is still a good time to visit. Temperatures rarely dip below 20°C (68°F), but they can sometimes get as high as 40°C (104°F) in the hottest months (March to the end of May). The south especially gets very hot and humid during this time but it’s perfect beach weather!

Along the central coast, the rainfall pattern differs quite a bit. In the northern part of the region (like Hué and Da Nang), the rain lasts from September to February. February to May is the best time to visit this area. Temperatures soar from June to August, often in the high 30s°C (80s°F).

In Northern Vietnam, the weather is most pleasant from October to December.

The weather in Vietnam varies so much per region so it’s hard to pick the best time to go. But generally, it’s recommended to visit sometime between September-December and March-April if you’re hoping to get an overall experience in the country.

How to Stay Safe in Vietnam

Vietnam is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel. Violent crime is really, really rare. Petty theft is the most likely thing to happen to you here. Always keep your valuables secure when out and about just to be safe. Lock your windows and use common safety sense, especially in bars at night and in touristy areas.

Traffic in the major cities (specifically Hanoi) is super hectic and there are virtually no rules of the road. There are also millions of motorbikes and scooters here (literally). For that reason, take extra caution when crossing the street. It’s best to just walk as directly and calmly as possible and let the traffic weave around you. If you’re not comfortable doing that alone, follow locals when they cross.

If renting a bike or riding on the back of one, make sure you always wear a helmet. Accidents are incredibly common here, both in the traffic-heavy cities but also in rural areas where roads can be less than optimal.

There are some common scams in Vietnam, such as the motorbike scam where vendors try to charge you for pre-existing damage to your bike rental. When renting anything, take photos and videos beforehand just in case.

Be sure to always count your change. The money is similar looking here so oftentimes people will “mistakenly” give you the wrong change hoping you won’t notice that the 200,000 VND bill you just got is actually only 20,000. Always count your change here!

Most scams here are really just people trying to try to nickel and dime you and try to get you to spend extra money since they know, as a tourist, you have more than they do. You can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). Use common sense when using dating apps while traveling and meet in public places.

Street food here is very safe, but whenever you’re not sure of where to eat simply find somewhere where there are locals eating. If it’s good (and safe) enough for them, you should be fine. Avoid meat that looks uncooked or that has been out in the sun too long. Always wash your hands before and after eating just to be safe.

If you experience an emergency, dial 113 for assistance.

Be sure to make copies of your important documents in case of theft.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Vietnam Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Agoda – Other than Hostelworld, Agoda is the best hotel accommodation site for Asia.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.

Vietnam Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Vietnam travel and continue planning your trip:

The 6 Best Hostels in Hanoi

Is Southeast Asia Safe for Travelers?

Biking the Mekong Delta in Vietnam

Why I’ll Never Return to Vietnam

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Have a Question?

The ultimate guide to vietnam vacation costs.

Vietnam is a beautiful place filled with amazing food, brilliant landscapes, and unique revolutionary history. If you’re traveling on a tight budget, you’re in luck because Vietnam is also extremely affordable.

Not so fast, this doesn’t mean you should just wing it. Inexpensive Vietnam vacation costs could mean you end up spending way more than you originally intended.

But that’s why you’re here right? Here’s how to budget your Vietnam trip costs while having an amazing experience in an incredible place.

Budgeting Your Vietnam Trip Costs Step-by-Step

Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean you have to cut corners – just do some thorough planning before embarking on your journey. The trick to keeping your Vietnam vacation costs down is actually sticking to the budget you set.

All the prices below are listed in USD and calculated for one person where applicable. Backpacking in Vietnam or staying in hostels is absolutely safe and fun for some folks but it’s definitely not for everyone. You can still enjoy the privacy and comforts of a hotel without breaking the bank.

Here is a brief breakdown of prices in Vietnam depending on how much you want to spend.

• Backpacker Budget : $40 to $50 per day
• Mid-range Budget : $60 to $100 per day
• Luxury Budget : $150 to $200+ per day

The biggest splurge on Vietnam trip costs will likely be your plane ticket.

Hotels and Backpacking in Vietnam

One great thing about Vietnam is the variety of accommodations to choose from. Whether you’re traveling on a strict budget or dead set on a luxurious vacation, you’re sure to find something to meet your Vietnam trip costs in different cities throughout the country.

Plus, Vietnam is a fairly large country: culture, sights, and weather varies greatly between the northern, central, and southern regions. You’ll definitely want to see it all. Why not backpack in Vietnam at a rural hostel and then splurge on a hotel somewhere else for a few days? Accomodation prices can either make or break your Vietnam vacation costs.

• Hostels and Backpacking in Vietnam : Hostels in the northern region range from just $6 to about $40 per night. In central regions, hostel prices in Vietnam range between about $15 to $60 per night. (Prices are generally higher along the coast.) In the south, rates are just slightly higher at $20 to $80 for your nightly stay.
• Mid-range Hotels : You can find affordable and comfortable hotels in Vietnam’s north for between $15 and $60 per night. In central regions, expect to spend about the same amount each night. Remember that prices are slightly higher along coasts and in densely populated areas. In the south around Hồ Chí Minh City, budget a little more money for $20 to $80 per night.
• Luxury Resorts : If you want to relax – even for just a night or two – Vietnam is the place to go all out. Luxury resort prices vary drastically depending on the facility. In general, you can plan $100 for a standard 5-star hotel to over $600 per night for all the bells and whistles on a beach resort. As with the other accommodations, resorts in the north are a little more budget-friendly than around Hồ Chí Minh City.

Dining and Food Options

If you’ve ever known someone who’s traveled to Vietnam, you probably know all about the country’s amazing variety of dining options – no matter where you find yourself. The incredible street vendors make it easy to enjoy a high-quality meal while backpacking in Vietnam on a budget.

Like accommodations, remember that you don’t need to see your food budget in black-and-white all-or-nothing terms. You can always plan a few high-end meals at some of the nation’s best restaurants and spend the rest of your visit enjoying delicious – yet very healthy – street food to keep your Vietnam vacation costs down.

It’s important to point out that flavors and ingredients vary drastically based on which region you’re in. This is due to traditional culture, climate, income levels, and ingredient availability. Bánh mì (a baguette sandwich with local ingredients) and phở (a broth-based soup filled with fresh local ingredients and rice noodles) are excellent options you probably won’t be able to get enough of.

• Street Food and Vendors : Budget yourself about $10 to $15 per day. Each meal will likely cost between $3 to $5 depending on the ingredients and location. If you’re from the U.S., you might think “clean and tasty street food” sounds like an oxymoron. This is not the case in Vietnam where vendors are generally very sanitary, delicious, and well-maintained.
• Mid-range Casual Restaurants : If you want to eat at sit-down restaurants for each meal, plan to spend between $15 to $30 each day of your trip. Meals at casual air-conditioned restaurants usually cost between $5 to $10.
• Fine Dining : If you’re planning a luxurious getaway and want to feast like a king without worrying about Vietnam trip costs, budget yourself anywhere from $60 to over $200 per day. If you’re ready to spend the money, a steak dinner with fine wine or a fine French restaurant could set you back over $200 for only one meal – just like in the West.
• Desserts, Snacks, and Beverages : For non-alcoholic beverages like coffee, teas, fruit drinks, bottled water, and sugary local delights, each drink will set you back about $0.30 to $0.80. You’ll love the broad range of tasty snacks and sweets you find in Vietnam which range in price from about $0.90 to $2.

Drink Prices in Vietnam

Please, please drink responsibly! This is extremely important to emphasize because alcohol prices in Vietnam make it very easy to go overboard. Vietnam offers a wide variety of unique alcoholic beverages for you to enjoy (in moderation of course). Most drinks you buy along the street are stored warm and served over ice – beer and wine included – so keep that in mind throughout your travels.

Local alcoholic drinks like rice wine, beer, and distilled liquors are easy to find and significantly cheaper than imported options you’re probably accustomed to. But the fun of traveling is trying new things, right? If you’re feeling adventurous, look for the medicinal alcoholic beverages like rượu thuốc distilled with animals like seahorses, scorpions, or snakes.

• Local Beer : $0.25 to $2.50 depending on the variety and location. Like Western countries, craft beers are a little pricier. Beer prices definitely won’t affect your Vietnam trip costs too much.
• Wine : Sorry wine drinkers, a glass – even of local wine – will likely set you back $5. Splurging on wine with your meal each night could derail your budget and send your Vietnam vacation costs skyrocketing.
• Distilled Liquor : Wine lovers on a budget might want to switch to spirits for their trip as liquor prices in Vietnam are considerably lower. This is where it gets dangerous if you aren’t careful: local moonshine costs less than $1 in many locations. Even your favorite top-shelf special occasion brands average about $11 to $13 per bottle.

Planning Your Activities

Now we’re getting to the fun stuff: events, excursions, and activities. If you crave excitement and thrills, Vietnam has you covered. Maybe you’d rather relax and soak up the local culture and history – there’s plenty for you too. Your Vietnam vacation costs for activities depends entirely on how much you want to spend.

The landscape and local sights make it easy to keep your Vietnamese vacation costs down. At the same time, you can fill your days with tours and other activities that cost considerably more money. Here are some of the most popular attractions so you can estimate how much you might spend per day depending on your interests.

• Day Trip to Hạ Long Bay Island : about $40 depending on the company. Here you can enjoy an amusement park, cave tours, kayaking, and much more.
• Mekong Delta : Floating markets and lots of fruit and seafood. Free.
• Củ Chi Tunnels Under Hồ Chí Minh City : An important historical landmark which costs about $20 per person. These were dug by hand during the war.
• Sapa Rice Terraces : One of the most beautiful places on the continent. Group tours average about $30 per person.

Transportation Prices in Vietnam

In addition to your accommodations, transportation will make up another large chunk of your Vietnam trip costs. Transportation prices in Vietnam are very reasonable for the most part but like hotels, they also vary drastically depending on the vendor. Traffic can get pretty bad so try to work some flights into your budget if you can afford it.

Vietnam is a fairly large country and you’ll probably want to see a lot of it while you’re there. How will you get around? Scooters and moped rentals make backpacking in Vietnam easy. If you’re not comfortable driving yourself around a strange country, don’t worry: there’s no shortage of other options. Between domestic flights, buses, and trains, Vietnam has something to fit your needs and comfort level.

• Domestic Flights : $30 to $60 and up depending on the distance and season.
• Buses : About $7 for a 10-hour trip complete with WIFI. Many buses include karaoke machines too.
• Trains : A very affordable way to travel around the country if you have lots of time. The longest trek from north to south will set you back about $60 but it includes overnight accommodations, comfort, and some tranquility.
• Scooters : You can rent a scooter for about $6 per day. Don’t forget to budget some money for gas (and fluctuating prices).

Don’t Forget Souvenirs

Who doesn’t love filling their suitcase with unique treasures from their travels? Make sure to leave some room in yours when you visit because Vietnam is filled with local markets and shopping centers. From handcrafted artwork and goods to clothing and cards, you’ll have no trouble finding gifts and keepsakes to remember your trip.

Just make sure to factor souvenirs into your Vietnam vacation costs. Prices in Vietnam for basic goods like these are very affordable so this should be easy to do. Like many other things, you can either go budget-friendly or all-out – what you want to spend is entirely up to you. These are some of the most common souvenirs to give you a general idea of how much to spend.

• Áo dài : You’ll definitely want to score at least one of these traditional embroidered dresses. On average, expect to spend $30 and up depending on the detail.
• Sand paintings : These intricate paintings cost between $15 and $35 – they’re definitely worth it!
• Fans : Score a unique hand fan for yourself or your friends at just $1.
• Guốc Mộc : Traditional wooden clogs worn during festivals. Between $5 and $10.
• Traditional Silk : $20 to $30 depending on the item.
• Nón lá : These straw hats range between $2 and $5.

5 Tips for Saving Money on Your Vietnam Vacation Costs

Now that you have a decent understanding of the general Vietnam trip costs, here are the best tips for making the most out of your budget.

• Don’t book transportation or tours through your hotel or hostel. Make sure to shop around for the best prices to avoid high commission rates and inflated tourist prices – this can shoot your Vietnam vacation costs through the roof.
• If something seems out of your price range, don’t be afraid to haggle a bit. Just make sure to keep it respectful – vendors need to make money, too.
• Eat local. Imported foods like pizza often cost a lot more money and won’t be the same quality you’re used to – stick with local delicacies.
• Ask for prices before ordering your food or deciding on a purchase to cut back your Vietnam vacation costs
• Look for free or super-low-cost activities like historic temples or just walking through the cities – you’ll find plenty!

Save Money on Vietnam Trip Costs by Applying for Your Visa Now

By applying for your visa now, you can save both time and money on your Vietnam vacation costs. Just fill out the quick online application form, pay the $17 service fee, and receive your Approval Letter from the Vietnam Immigration Department via email – sometimes within hours.

All visitors need a visa when traveling to or through Vietnam. Our convenient process makes it easy: apply for your visa now!

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My Vietnam Trip Cost: How Cheap Is Vietnam and My $25 Daily Budget (2024)

Find out exactly how much it will cost to travel Vietnam budget backpacker style and how cheap is Vietnam. Let’s talk about the price of accommodation, transportation, food, and more before I let you know my EXACT Vietnam trip cost!

Traveling can be expensive, even in Asia, so it’s good to keep track of costs and make a budget. I track my spending so I can share with you how much my Vietnam trip cost.

When I was researching online, Vietnam was on the cheaper side when compared to other countries on the banana pancake trail such as Thailand or Laos. Most websites seemed to recommend approximately $20.00 per person per day.

I actually ended up spending more for my cost to travel Vietnam than I had originally planned and what many other websites recommended during my 28 days. Though, this is due to some surprises which resulted in me changing my normal way of getting around as well as some splurges for bucketlist activities.

Though, before I get into my much my Vietnam trip cost, I will let you know the average prices of accommodation, food, and transportation. Then let you know my daily cost to travel Vietnam each day before we finally find out how much over budget I went and money-saving tips so you can avoid doing the same!

How Cheap Is Vietnam and How Much Does It Cost To Travel In Vietnam?

Accommodation costs in vietnam.

• Food Prices In Vietnam
• Transportation Costs In Vietnam
• My Daily Cost To Travel Vietnam
• Total Vietnam Trip Cost

Budgeted VS Actual Vietnam Trip Cost

• Money-Saving Tips To Lower Your Cost To Travel Vietnam

How I Book Cheap Transport In Vietnam: 12.Go Asia

I am traveling around Vietnam with my partner, James. This allows us to split certain costs such as private rooms, taxis, hiring a motorbike etc. Where this is true I will state that the cost is ‘shared’ or ‘split’. Now time to get on to find the cost to travel in Vietnam…

For those travelers on a budget, you will absolutely love the accommodation prices in Vietnam. There are plenty of cheap options right throughout the country.

Hostels : One of the cheapest ways to travel Vietnam is by staying in Hostels. Rooms generally start around $5.00 for an air-conditioned dorm room. We found this a much cheaper choice than staying in private rooms so we would often end up booking shared rooms instead. In my opinion, they were great value for money and often would include extras such as free beers in the evening or a free walking tour.

Guesthouses: If you are traveling Vietnam with a friend or with your partner then a good budget option is by booking Guesthouses. These are usually locally owned accommodations that only have a few rooms. You will get a private bathroom and a clean room. Though the furniture might be a bit dated. It is much more of a local experience where it is expected you take your shoes off outside the building and you will be passing by a family every time you enter/exit.

Hotels: If you enjoy a bit of luxury, though cannot often afford it in Western countries. Then you will absolutely love Vietnam. You can find plenty of affordable hotels here starting from $20.00 per night. Brand-name hotels will be a bit pricier, though it is much cheaper than you can find elsewhere in the world. The service is often second to none and you will be living in uttermost luxury.

Food Prices in Vietnam

Whenever I am asked which country has the best food, I always say Vietnam . The food here is absolutely incredible and extremely easy on the wallet. It is easy to eat out and only spend a couple of dollars. Whilst testing out the street food will cost less than $1.00. The flavors are incredible and no doubt I would come back just to visit some of my favorite restaurants again.

Street food: For those street food lovers Vietnam is the place for you. There are plenty of great options here such as the ever-popular Banh Mi and Pho. Meals start from less than $1.00 and there is no better place to appreciate the crazy hustle and bustle of Vietnam than on little plastic chairs on the curbside. As you will see a bit further down in my daily expenses I actually did not spend too much money on street food in Vietnam. This is simply due to the street food here not being to my personal taste.

Restaurants: I loved all the restaurants in Vietnam. There is plenty of places that cater to vegetarians and vegans, so it was so easy for me to find a delicious spot to eat. The restaurant prices here are insanely affordable and there is always a variety of choices available. I was always able to eat at a restaurant for whatever I was craving and even splurged on my fancier options a couple of times in Hanoi.

Transportation Costs in Vietnam

Vietnam is a large country and no doubt you will be needing to take some sort of public transportation to get around. Luckily the main tourist hubs are well connected and the network of trains, buses, and planes will deliver you there in one piece. Though, if you are traveling the whole country, prepare yourself for some overnight long and painful journeys. Definitely check out 12.Go Asia to book your transport for easy and comfortable options with reviews so you can know what to expect.

Trains: Taking the train is no doubt my personal favorite way of traveling around Vietnam. The main train line runs from Hanoi all the way down to Ho Chi Minh City and makes plenty of stops in popular tourist towns along the way. This includes Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang , and more. I highly recommend booking the 4-berth cabins. They might be a bit more expensive, though are much more comfortable than chairs, roomier than the 6 berths, and are air-conditioned.

Buses: Now, this is where my Vietnam trip cost was blown, all thanks to the horrible bus journeys. The majority of the time this is my main way of getting around. It’s cheap, it’s simple and you eventually get to your destination. Though, after one too many squished journeys with insects crawling all over me, I said goodbye to buses in Vietnam and part of my budget.

Flights: Luckily for those travelers who cannot survive overland travel you can find cheap flights around the country. There are airports in all tourist hot spots, making it super easy to get around. Of course, this is the most expensive way to travel. Though there are plenty of budget airline choices and it makes a great alternative for those long 12+ hour overland journeys.

How Cheap Is Vietnam and My Daily Cost To Travel?

Vietnam trip cost in hanoi, day one – hanoi.

Previous to arriving in Vietnam I had purchased a Visa approval letter online for $17.00 / 385000 VND – Linked is the same company I purchased through and I had no issues at the airport.

While going through immigration I had to buy my Vietnam Visa stamp which cost $25.00 / 565000 VND.

Then James and I split a taxi we had pre-booked from the airport to Chien Hostel $8.80 / 200000 VND.

Craving western food for dinner I grab mac n cheese, fries and a soft drink from S&L’s Diner costing $6.60 / 150000 VND.

We stay in a large dorm room at Chien Hostel which includes breakfast. It costs $5.05 / 115000 VND per night – Check out my review here .

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $62.45 / 1415000 VND

Day Two- Hanoi

Breakfast is included in the rate at Chien Hostel . For lunch, I grab a pizza and tea for $3.50 / 80000 VND. Then on the way back, we split a cookie for $0.55 / 12500 VND. We share the cost of a large bottle of water at $0.33 / 7500 VND each. I join in on a free walking tour which Chien Hostel organizes to familiarize newbies on the highlights of Hanoi. Dinner at Aubergine Cafe which costs me $4.40 / 100000 VND. I order a lemon juice, caramel, ginger and chili tofu with rice- Highly recommend this place for vegetarians!

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $13.83 / 315000 VND

Vietnam Trip Cost In Sapa

Day three- sapa.

Breakfast is included in the rate at Chien Hostel .

We head to Sapa in Northern Vietnam by taking a bus we booked through Chien Hostel . This costs me $9.02 / 205000 VND.

Once in Sapa, we grab lunch at Little Sapa Restaurant . I grab 2 cups of green tea and a toastie which costs $6.16 / 140000 VND. Sapa is freezing in February so I purchase a Beanie to keep my head warm for $6.60 / 150000 VND.

Then we split a taxi to take us to our homestay in Ta Van $5.50 / 125000 VND. Entry fee into the Ta Van area costs us $3.30 / 75000 VND each. We have dinner at our homestay which is true family-style with a variety of delicious dishes. This costs $3.30 / 75000 VND each. The homestay costs $5.98 / 136000 VND per night for a private room including breakfast.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $39.86 / 906000 VND

Day Four- Sapa

A basic breakfast is included in the homestay price. We split a taxi back to Sapa town which costs $4.40 / 100000 VND

For lunch, we hunt for the best deal in town which takes us to La Roma Pizza. We share a pizza, pasta dish, garlic bread and I grab a tea for $7.26 / 165000 VND. Then stop at a small supermarket we grab 2 chocolate bars each, large water and chips for $2.64 / 60000 VND each.

We hike back to Ta Van and visit Luckydaisy’s Bamboo Bar and Restaurant . We share a banana pancake and grab a green tea which costs $2.64 / 60000 VND. The homestay costs $5.98 / 136000 VND per night for a private room including breakfast.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $22.92 / 521000 VND

Day Five- Sapa

A basic breakfast is included in the homestay price.

We hike back to Sapa town and grab lunch at Little Sapa Restaurant again. I grab a cup of green tea, hot chips and an egg baguette which costs $4.84 / 110000 VND.

Then for dinner, we purchase a chocolate croissant from a bakery for $0.66 / 15000 VND.

While in Sapa Town we stay at Luong Thuy Family Hotel in a private room. We split the price which works out to be $4.62 / 105000 VND each per night.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $10.12 / 230000 VND

Day Six- Hanoi

We take a bus from Sapa to Hanoi for $9.68 / 220000 VND. Because we are running late we split a taxi to the bus stop which costs $0.88 / 20000 VND each.

After we arrive in Hanoi we share an Uber to Chien Hostel which costs $0.70 / 16000 VND each.

It’s back for the delicious western food at S&L’s Diner . I grab mac n cheese, hot chips and a soda costing $4.84 / 110000 VND.

Then for dinner, we are craving Indian so stop at Namaste India . I highly recommend this place and is one of the best dining experience I have ever had. It is well worth the price. I order a curry, naan, rice and mango lassie for $9.24 / 210000 VND.

Before bed, we head to the supermarket and purchase a few snacks for our Ha Long Bay trip which costs $2.64 / 60000 VND.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $33.03 / 751000 VND

The Cost To Travel Ha Long Bay

Day seven- ha long bay.

We purchase a 3-day / 2-night tour of Ha Long Bay . This is an all-inclusive tour and costs $111.81 / 2540000 VND each. I purchase two soft drinks throughout the day which totals $1.76 / 40000 VND.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $113.57 / 2580000 VND

Day Eight- Ha Long Bay

We spend the day relaxing in Ha Long Bay and Cat Ong Island. Purchase pringles and a soft drinks for snacks during the day which costs $1.76 / 40000 VND Daily Cost In Vietnam: $1.76 / 40000 VND

The Cost To Travel In Hanoi

Day nine- hanoi.

I purchase a bottle of water to keep refreshed while trekking on Cat Ba Island. This costs me $0.22 / 5000 VND.

Then we head back to Hanoi for dinner at Namaste India . I order a curry, naan, rice, entree and mango lassie for $13.20 / 300000 VND.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $18.47 / 420000 VND

Day Ten- Hanoi

We head to Geckos Cafe for Lunch. I purchase a pasta dish and a soda for $3.74 / 85000 VND. We grab some snacks for the sleeper train from a nearby supermarket. I split the total price with James which works out to be $5.06 / 115000 VND each, Then for dinner, I get a vegetable Banh Mi for $0.66 / 15000 VND A 4 berth sleeper train from Hanoi to Hue costs $31.70 / 720000.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $41.16 / 935000 VND

Vietnam Trip Cost In Hue

Day eleven- hue.

After arriving in Hue we grab breakfast at Hung Vuong Inn where we share an egg baguette and a drink for $1.62 / 37000 VND. For lunch, we walk across the river to a local supermarket. Once there we purchase chocolate, cheese, baguette, crackers, and water for $2.42 / 55000 VND each. Then for dinner, we head to Lien Hoa which is quite a locals restaurant with an interesting English menu. It is sharing style so we order four dishes to share and some rice which works out crazy cheap to $1.98 / 45000 VND each. We are staying at Thanh An Guesthouse 2 in a private room with two double beds, a balcony, and a bathtub. The shared price is $3.52 / 80000 VND each per night. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $9.54 / 217000 VND

Day Twelve- Hue

I have a basic breakfast of some of the food we purchased at the supermarket the previous day. We head over the river to explore the Imperial City of Hue . The entrance fee is $6.60 / 150000 VND. For lunch, we find a simple restaurant overlooking the street side called Lac Thien Restaurant . I order tofu, rice and a lemon juice for $3.30 / 75000 VND. We stop off back at the supermarket to purchase some bread, chocolate, soy sauce, water, and noodles. The price comes to $1.54 / 35000 VND each. Then for dinner, we are craving Indian again so head down the street to Ganesh Indian Restaurant . Here I order a curry, naan, soda, and rice which comes to a total of $7.48 / 170000 VND.

We are staying at Thanh An Guesthouse 2 in a private room with two double beds, a balcony, and a bathtub. The shared price is $3.52 / 80000 VND each per night.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $22.44 / 510000 VND

Vietnam Trip Cost In Hoi An

Day thirteen- hoi an.

I have a basic breakfast of some of the food we purchased at the supermarket the previous day.

We buy tickets and catch a train from Hue to Da Nang . The 4 berth ticket costs $5.63 / 128000 VND. Once in Da Nang, we catch the public bus to Hoi An for $1.32 / 30000 VND. Checked into our hostel we bicycle to the beach where parking costs $0.44 / 10000 VND. At the beach, we share a donut for $0.33 / 7500 VND each. For dinner, we head out for a western meal at Jim’s Snackbar. I order a burger, chips and a soda for $5.54 / 126000 VND. Checking out the old town at night costs $5.28 / 120000 VND for the entrance fee. Then the parking fee for my bicycle in the old town is $0.08 / 2000 VND. Once there we meet up with some friends and grab a beer ( $1.10 / 25000 VND), share a banana pancake ($0.22 / 5000 VND), ice cream ($0.22 / 5000 VND) and water ($0.22 / 5000 VND). We are staying in a dorm room at Little Leo’s Homestay & Hostel , this includes free breakfast and free bike hire. The cost per night each is $6.82 / 155000 VND.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $27.20 / 618500 VND

Day Fourteen- Hoi An

Breakfast is included in the hostel price. We hire a motorbike for the day and split the cost. It comes to $2.99 / 68000 VND each. Of course, I have then got to fill up the motorbike, again splitting the price of $1.98 / 45000 VND each. We explore Tra Que Vegetable Village which is free. Then for lunch, we head a bit out of town to Restaurant & Cafe Tuan . Here we share a pizza, tofu, rice and a soda which costs $3.30 / 75000 VND each. Exploring the Pottery Village and the entry cost is $1.10 / 25000 VND as well as $0.11 / 2500 VND each for parking the motorbike. Heading to the beach for a little relax parking costs are shared of $0.22 / 5000 VND each. Since beach chairs aren’t free we purchase a drink to use them. This costs $1.43 / 32500 VND. For dinner, we head to a vegetarian restaurant called Minh Hien Vegetarian Restaurant . I order a tofu dish with rice and a lemon juice which comes to $2.94 / 67000 VND. We get a bit hungry later and grab another amazing burger from Jim’s Snackbar. It costs $5.50 / 125000 VND for a burger and soda. We are staying in a dorm room at Little Leo’s Homestay & Hostel , this includes free breakfast and free bike hire. The cost per night each is $6.82 / 155000 VND.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $26.39 / 600000 VND

Day Fifteen- Hoi An

This morning we take a tour of My Son Temple which costs $11.00 / 250000 VND. The entrance fee to My Son Temple is $6.60 / 150000 VND. After the sunrise tour, we grab breakfast at. Here I have avocado on toast for $2.42 / 55000 VND. That evening we pay $0.13 / 3000 VND for bicycle parking in the old town. Then its time for Indian again so we head to Namaste . Here I get a curry, naan, poppadom, rice, soda, and dessert for $6.60 / 150000 VND.

We are staying in a dorm room at Little Leo’s Homestay & Hostel , this includes free breakfast and free bike hire. The cost per night each is $6.82 / 155000 VND.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $33.57 / 763000 VND

The Cost To Travel In Da Nang

Day sixteen- da nang.

Breakfast is included in the hostel price. We catch a public bus from Hoi An to Da Nang for $1.32 / 30000 VND. For lunch, we find an amazingly cheap bakery called BonPas Bakery & Coffee where I grab 1 slice of pizza, a cheese bun, cheesecake and ice tea for $2.20 / 50000 VND. Then I buy some new earphones for $2.64 / 60000 VND We do some more grocery shopping at a supermarket and grab some baguettes, peanut butter, water and noodles for $3.96 / 90000 VND. For dinner, we head back to BonPas Bakery & Coffee and I get 2 slices of pizza, a cheese bun and a drink for $1.10 / 25000 VND. We stay at Hachi Hostel in a dorm room. The price is $5.98 / 136000 VND which includes breakfast. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $17.20 / 391000 VND

The Cost To Travel In Nha Trang

Day seventeen- nha trang.

For breakfast/lunch, we stock up on food from BonPas Bakery & Coffee to take on the train with us. The cost is $1.54 / 35000 VND.

We take a train from Da Nang to Nha Trang . It costs $21.00 / 477000 VND for a 4 berth cabin.

Dinner is at a semi upscale restaurant costing $4.40 / 100000 VND We stay at Tabalo Hostel in a 4 bedroom dorm. It costs us $4.84 / 110000 VND each per night including breakfast.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $31.78 / 722000 VND

Day Eighteen- Nha Trang

Breakfast is included in the rate at Tabalo Hostel.

Down at the beach, we relax and hire beach chairs at $1.54 / 35000 VND each.

For lunch is Cafe Des Amis for tofu, rice and a lemon juice totaling $4.18 / 95000 VND. Then it’s Indian again for dinner so we head to Taj Grill Indian Restaurant. I get a curry, rice, naan, and soda for $5.50 / 125000 VND. We visit a small supermarket and purchase some fruit, water and ice cream for $1.54 / 35000 VND. We stay at Tabalo Hostel in a 4 bedroom dorm. It costs us $4.84 / 110000 VND each per night including breakfast.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $17.60 / 400000 VND

Day Nineteen- Nha Trang

We decide to do an amazing snorkeling tour which costs $15.40 / 350000 VND. This rate includes equipment, lunch, water and entry fee into the protected area. We decide to be a bit fancy and have dinner at Da Fernando . I grab a pizza and soda which costs $5.72 / 130000 VND. Then on the way back to the hostel, I grab a bottle of water which costs $0.44 / 10000 VND. We stay at Tabalo Hostel in a 4 bedroom dorm. It costs us $4.84 / 110000 VND each per night including breakfast. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $26.40 /600000 VND

Day Twenty- Nha Trang

Breakfast is included in the hostel price. We have lunch at Ciao Vietnam where I grab a tofu and rice dish with a drink. This costs me $2.24 / 51000 VND. James and I share a box of donuts which we split the price of for $0.22 / 5000 VND. Then for dinner it’s back to Cafe Des Amis for another delicious tofu dish and drink which costs $3.30 / 75000 VND. On the way back from dinner we stop to get some snacks from the supermarket which costs $2.42 / 55000 VND. We finally were over hostels and decided to get a private room for the night at Forget Me Not Hotel . We split the room charge which comes to $5.06 / 115000 VND each. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $13.24 / 301000 VND

Vietnam Trip Cost In Mui Ne

Day twenty one- mui ne.

For breakfast, we eat some of the snacks to brought yesterday.

We catch the bus from Nha Trang to Mui Ne . It costs $5.06 / 115000 each. For lunch, we pop to a restaurant which is next door to our hostel. I order tofu, rice and a soda for $3.34 / 76000 VND. Then for dinner, we head down the road for more Indian at Mughal House Indian Halal Restaurant. I get a curry, rice, naan, and drink for $5.50 / 125000 VND. On the way back we stop off to grab a bottle of water which costs $0.19 / 4500 VND.

We stay at Mui Ne Backpacker Village in a dorm. It costs us $5.50 / 125000 VND each per night including breakfast.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $9.59 / 445500 VND

Day Twenty Two- Mui Ne

For breakfast, we head across the road to The Bar for breakfast. I grab a scrambled egg baguette and water for $2.24 / 51000 VND. After relaxing in the pool lunch is back over at The Bar. I have a cheese toastie and water which costs $2.42 / 55000VND. Then we do for a bit of a walk for dinner down at Dong Vui Food Court . Here I get an Indian thali set for $5.50 / 125000 VND.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $15.66 / 356000 VND

Day Twenty Three- Mui Ne

I start the day with a highlights of Mui Ne tour . This costs $7.04 / 160000 VND each. Then for lunch, I head back to the restaurant next door and grab$4.84 / 110000 VND. Afterwards, we head to the supermarket to grab some snacks for tomorrow which split between us costs $2.20 / 50000 VND.

We stay at Mui Ne Backpacker Village in a dorm. It costs us $5.50 / 125000 VND each per night including breakfast. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $19.58 /445000 VND

Vietnam Trip Cost In Ho Chi Minh City

Day twenty four- ho chi minh city.

We jump on a bus from Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City which costs $4.35 / 99000 VND each. I purchase a pair of sunglasses for $3.30 / 75000 VND. We a falafel lunch over at Gotcha! which costs $3.52 / 80000 VND. Then for dinner, we head to a local restaurant which costs $2.28 / 52000 VND. Tonight we are staying in a dorm room over at HewaHome . It costs $4.35 / 99000 VND per night which includes breakfast and water. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $17.80 / 405000 VND

Day Twenty Five- Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast is included in the hostel price. We visit the War Remnants Museum which costs $0.66 / 15000 VND each for entry. For lunch, we grab another delicious Indian meal over at Namaste India . I order a naan, rice, curry, and soda for $5.50 / 125000 VND. Then for dinner, I grab a couple of packets of noodles from the supermarket costing $0.26 / 6000 VND. Tonight we are staying in a dorm room over at HewaHome . It costs $4.35 / 99000 VND per night which includes breakfast and water.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $10.77 / 245000 VND

Day Twenty Six- Ho Chi Minh City

For breakfast, we head to the supermarkets and grab some snack foods for $2.20 / 50000 VND.

We take the cheapest tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels which costs $6.16 / 140000 VND each. Also, the entry fee to Cu Chi Tunnels is an extra charge of $4.84 / 110000 VND. Then we stop back at the Gotcha! for another falafel lunch costing $3.61 / 82000 VND. Tonight we are staying in a dorm room over at HewaHome . It costs $4.35 / 99000 VND per night which includes breakfast and water.

Daily Cost In Vietnam: $21.16 / 481000 VND

Day Twenty Seven- Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast is included in the hostel price. We split a Grab to the beginning of our free walking tour which costs $0.44 / 10000 VND each. The entry fee into the Independence Palace is $1.76 / 40000 VND. Then for lunch, we head to and I get a tofu dish with a soda which costs $3.08 / 70000 VND. We split a Grab to the beginning of our free night tour which costs $0.35 / 8000 VND each. I pay for petrol in the scooter of the free night tour $3.08 / 70000 VND. Next, we stop for a milk tea which costs $0.44 / 10000 VND. Another stop, this time for coconut ice cream which costs $1.76 / 40000 VND. Tonight we are staying in a dorm room over at HewaHome . It costs $4.35 / 99000 VND per night which includes breakfast and water. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $15.26 /347000 VND

Day Twenty Eight- Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast is included in the hostel price. Then we stop at the supermarket and grab a snack for the bus which costs $0.44/ 10000 VND. The Grab to the bus terminal costs $0.44 / 1000 VND each. Daily Cost In Vietnam: $0.88 /20000 VND

My Total Vietnam Trip Cost

There was a variety of things that put me slightly over budget. I will say that the times we took train journeys it would have been cheaper to take a bus. Though, due to mishaps that happened at the start of the trip we were well put off the idea.

Unlike a lot of other countries such as Cambodia or Vietnam, visiting Ha Long Bay was a crazy expense which was a one-off. This certainly bumped up my cost per day. Lastly, I did not really eat any street food in Vietnam (yes, I know, I am disappointed in myself as well). I just was not a fan of many of the general street food dishes so I choose to visit supermarkets or eat out in restaurants quite a lot. Though, all in all, my cost per day of $25.55 was not too much over budget and I had an excellent time in Vietnam. We did some unforgettable tours which I absolutely loved and I did not regret doing them at all.

Money Saving Tips To Decrease Your Cost To Travel Vietnam

• Book hostels with free breakfast.
• Check out whether your accommodation also includes free water.
• Share transport with other people, waiting ten minutes to see if anyone else is going to the airport/bus station could save you money.
• Visit supermarkets! They were my go-to choice in Vietnam and I always seemed to be within a 15-minute walk of one.
• Use Uber or Grab instead of taxis whenever possible. I swear this saved us from being scammed so many times and we always knew the price we would pay.
• If the city does not have Uber make sure the taxi driver uses the meter.
• Vietnam is one of the most popular destinations for teaching English abroad , which can be a great way of earning some extra cash!

Check out Passport Symphony’s visiting Vietnam tips.

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Want more Vietnam Inspiration? Check out….

• 3 WEEKS IN VIETNAM ITINERARY
• COMMON SCAMS IN VIETNAM
• BEST THINGS TO DO IN VIETNAM
• COST TO TRAVEL IN VIETNAM & MY BACKPACKING BUDGET
• BACKPACKING VIETNAM TRAVEL TIPS
• TAKING A VIETNAM SLEEPER BUS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• SURVIVING A VIETNAM SLEEPER TRAIN
• BACKPACKING HANOI TRAVEL TIPS
• 3 DAYS IN HANOI ITINERARY FOR TRAVELERS
• BEST HOSTELS IN HANOI
• VISITING HA LONG BAY ON A BUDGET
• DISCOVERING LAN HA BAY & CAT BA ISLAND
• HANOI TO SAPA
• 3 DAY IN SAPA ITINERARY
• WHAT IS SAPA LIKE IN FEBRUARY
• HANOI TO HUE TRANSPORT GUIDE
• VISITING THE IMPERIAL CITY OF HUE
• 2 DAYS IN HUE BACKPACKING ITINERARY
• HUE TO DA NANG: ALL WAYS TO TRAVEL
• DA NANG TO HOI AN: EASIEST WAYS TO TRAVEL
• TRA QUE VEGETABLE VILLAGE IN HOI AN, VIETNAM
• A MORNING AT THE MY SON TEMPLES IN HOI AN, VIETNAM
• THANH HA POTTERY VILLAGE IN HOI AN
• BACKPACKING HOI AN ITINERARY
• BEST THINGS TO DO IN HOI AN
• HOI AN TO NHA TRANG TRANSPORT GUIDE
• SNORKELING IN NHA TRANG
• BACKPACKING NHA TRANG TRAVEL ITINERARY
• BEST BEACHES IN NHA TRANG WORTH VISITING
• NHA TRANG TO MUI NE TRANSPORT GUIDE
• BACKPACKING MUI NE TRAVEL GUIDE
• BEST THINGS TO DO IN MUI NE
• MUI NE TO HO CHI MINH CITY: ALL WAYS TO TRAVEL EXPLAINED
• CHEAPEST TOUR OF THE CU CHI TUNNELS: IS IT WORTH IT
• BACKPACKING HO CHI MINH TRAVEL GUIDE
• HOW TO TRAVEL VIETNAM TO CAMBODIA: HO CHI MINH CITY TO PHNOM PENH

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Tasha Amy is a true backpacker at heart and has been discovering the world on a budget since 2015. Based in Gisborne, New Zealand she will spend many months each year traveling overseas as a solo female traveler before coming home and sharing her adventures online with you.

21 thoughts on “ My Vietnam Trip Cost: How Cheap Is Vietnam and My $25 Daily Budget (2024) ”

Wow! amazing experience. Definitely help my travel plans this April for a month. Although, I would spend a bit longer in Nah Trang for scuba dive and meet some friends there but travelling alone onwards. I enjoyed reading your blog. Thank you so much for sharing, great photos by the way.

Wow I didn’t know Vietnam was that cheap! I should include it in my itinerary around Asia. I love street food, and meals for less than 1$ damn that is incredible! Gotta love Asia for its cheap prices… makes it possible to travel a lot longer!

Thanks to this post. It’s very informative. Now I can comfortable create my itinerary and travel Vietnam without any worries. Thanks again!

Really helpful post! Travelling Vietnam in December and wasnt sure how much I would need, but this is after really helping me. Thank you :)

Vietnam does not have Uber but you can use Grab in Vietnam. It is quite convenient. But I highly recommend you could use Grab bike to feel as local people

Thanks! It has changed since I have been in Vietnam last.

Hi Tasha thanks a lot for this post, I love budget expenses breakdowns. When you book through 12go do you have to print the ticket? How did you manage to rent a bike for 3 dollars? Was that a motorbike or just a bycicle? Thanks again

Hey! It depends on the different transport companies whether you need to print your ticket or can just show it on your phone. As far as I am aware you only really know which after booking, though plenty of hostels and guesthouses will happily print it out for you for a couple of cents. The 3 dollar bike was just booked through our guesthouse and was just a regular bicycle.

Nice post. Very informative and useful, particularly for first time visitors. Surprised you paid an entrance fee to Ta Van hamlet. I stayed there last year, at Ta Van Ecologic Homestay and didn’t have to pay anything extra on top of my stay there.

im in vietnam right now and this post has been super helpful. Thanks for your links which dirrect me to the booking options as well. It also gives me a good idea on the average price for things to not get scammed. And another trip would be to use Grab transport app. Currently you get 10% off when you load credit on and 10,000 off for every trip you pay with thr credit. So a 50,000 trip easily comes down to 90% total 45,000 with additional 10,000 discount. Total 35,000 for a 25 minute ride in car. Around half price if you do the bike option but they can only take one person at a time.

I’m so surprised to see how expensive Vietnam is. I was expecting much cheaper. I’m from Turkey and you can travel Turkey and have good food & visit beautiful places in better prices (less than 25$). Having dinner 4.40 $ and otel with breakfast included 5.05 $? It’s a bir unproportion!

Really? I cant imagine Turkey being chepaer than Nam. How much is a hostel with breakfast over there?

I think it all depends on how you travel (I am not an EXTREME budget backpacker, I would rather pay a couple dollars more to stay in a 6 bedroom dorm vs a 12 bed dorm and I do enjoy restaurants). I have been to both countries and Turkey was more expensive for my ‘travel style’.

My husband and I are VERY into our budget day to day, but when we travel we seem to let it go out the window! These kinds of posts are SO helpful for us planning our trips…you got to see and do so much while not being too far off your budget!

Exactly! It’s possible and i traveled very comfortably.

Wow! now that was so much detailed. I have pinned your post for a proper read again. We have been planning Vietnam for about 10 days – sometime later this year. I am not sure how much we can cover but definitely Ho-chin min and Hanoi. I loved the budgeting you have done for this tour; it is indeed helpful:)

I would recommend just visiting two maybe three places if you only go for 10 days. That way to can see more instead of rushing through ?

Wowza, what a detailed post!

I am so impressed that you managed to do so much for such a bargain price! Your photos are stunning too. You look happier and more relaxed as you get further into yuor trip. :)

Haha it definitely took a while to write! Yeah it’s a super affordable and I was able to travel very comfortably. If I was to take buses and eat street food it would have been even more cheaper.

This is super helpful! Hoping to visit this beautiful country soon :)

Glad you found this helpful!

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Vietnam Travel Budget: How Much It Costs To Travel Vietnam

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: March 23, 2023

Categories Vietnam

Traveling in Vietnam is a fantastic experience! The people are friendly, getting around is easy and the food is delicious.

Plus, travel in Vietnam is not expensive at all! Curious about the costs of a trip to Vietnam? In this post, I'll disclose our Vietnam travel budget and give you a detailed breakdown of our Vietnam costs. Let's dive in!

Vietnam travel budget

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

Vietnam on a budget

In the infographic below you can find a detailed budget breakdown of our Vietnam trip costs to give you a quick overview of how much (or actually how little) you can spend during your trip in Vietnam.

Of course, the amount you'll spend depends on your style of travel, the length of your trip, and the type of accommodation you choose.

However, compared to countries such as Japan , New Zealand , Canada , and Europe , Vietnam is a very affordable destination.

Generally speaking, you can travel around Vietnam on a budget of $30-$60 per day (per person). As you can see in the infographic, we spent $66 per day as a couple.

I'll explain more about how much we spent on accommodation, food, transport, and activities further on in the post.

How much does it cost to travel around Vietnam: facts and figures

• I traveled with my husband, all Vietnam travel costs are for the two of us together.
• We spent a month in Vietnam , traveling from the North to the South, you can find our Vietnam itinerary here .
• I quote prices in Vietnamese Dong (VND) as well as Euros (€) and US Dollars ($). When we were in Vietnam €1 was approx. 25000 VND and $1 was around 22200 VND . Check the current exchange rates on XE.com .
• In total, we spend 44 million VND / (€1764 / $1986 in the 30 days we were in the country. This comes down to a budget per day of  1.470.000 VND / €59 / $66 per day .
• This includes all expenses in Vietnam plus transportation costs for the trip from Phu Quoc , (Vietnam) to Kampot ( Cambodia) . It does not include the plane ticket from Manila to Hanoi.

How to save money when planning a trip to Vietnam

The good news is: traveling to Vietnam on a shoestring budget is definitely possible!

That being said, it's important to plan carefully, look for discounts, and be flexible with your itinerary to make the most of your travel budget for Vietnam.

Avoid the high season (travel during the low season instead)

Start by researching the best time of year to visit Vietnam as flight costs and hotel prices vary throughout the year.

The busiest months in Vietnam are July and August . During these months accommodation prices are at their highest.

If you have the option to be flexible with your travel dates and able to travel in the low season (April-June and September-November), this is a great way to save money on your Vietnam trip.

Save money on flights

You can look for discounts on flights to Vietnam on websites like Kiwi.com . Try different travel dates and see how this affects the price of your flight.

Generally, the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Airlines often offer discounted fares on these days, so it's worth checking the booking sites and comparing prices on different days of the week.

You’ll get a better deal by booking your flight in advance. For domestic flights 1-3 months before your trip is ideal.

Although we got lucky and landed a great deal on last-minute tickets from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City and from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc Island. Reputable low-cost airlines in Vietnam are AirAsia, Vietjet, and Nok Air.

For international flights, it’s best to book 2-8 months in advance. Tickets to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are usually the cheapest option, but you may be able to snag up a cheap flight to Da Nang or Nha Trang.

Lastly, you may be able to find cheaper flights if you're willing to be flexible with your departure and arrival times.

Sure, it’s not ideal to arrive in the middle of the night, but if it saves you hundreds of dollars it’s worth losing one night of good sleep.

✈️ Click here to find the best ticket deals

Book your accommodation in advance

Once you've got your flights booked, it’s time to research budget accommodation. I always use Agoda and Booking to find the best value-for-money accommodation for our trips.

I recommend checking both platforms before you book to make sure you get the best deals on hotel rooms.

Please note that Agoda includes taxes in their price whereas Booking doesn't always include this. Make sure to check this before finalizing your booking.

Also, if you're in a country with hefty ATM fees or a limit on how much cash you can withdraw per transaction it can be better to book with Agoda as you can often pay online with your credit card (thereby reducing your need for cash).

Cost of travel in Vietnam

Now that you know some great ways to save money in the planning phase of your Vietnam trip, it's time for a deep dive into our Vietnam expenses. Our daily budget can be divided into five categories:

• Accommodation costs : 18% of our daily travel budget
• Transportation costs : 22% of our daily travel budget
• Cost of food & drinks : 39% of our daily travel budget
• Activity costs: 17% of our daily travel budget
• Visa costs: 5% of our daily travel budget

1. Cost of accommodation in Vietnam

During our one-month trip in Vietnam , we spent 7.852.250 VND / €314 / $354 in total on accommodation, which comes down to  261.742 VND / €10,50 / $11,80  per day*.

We stayed in private rooms with our own bathroom, often breakfast was included! In the table below you can find the hotels that we stayed at.

* Note that our trip to Vietnam was a couple of years ago and average prices have increased a bit since then. I've updated the prices in the table to reflect the current prices per night, that's why these are a bit higher than the average of $11.80 per night mentioned (though still very affordable).

Budget hotels we stayed at in Vietnam

• Hanoi Serenity Hotel  (Hanoi): a lovely place to stay in the middle of the Old Quarter. The rooms are spacious, clean, and modern. Breakfast is good and included in the price. Book here .
• Tuan Ngoc Hotel  (Tam Coc): a small-scale hotel and one of the best accommodations we stayed at during our Vietnam trip. The family who runs the hotel is incredibly friendly and really makes you feel at home. Book here .
• Charming Riverside Hotel (Hue): a nice and comfortable budget hotel in Hue. There are different room options and some have a river view. Breakfast is excellent and the staff is lovely. Book here .
• Jolie Villa Homestay (Hoi An): this modern homestay offers spacious double rooms with huge comfortable beds. But what will really make your stay is the wonderful host family, they're all super-friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Book here .
• Cam Ly Homestay  (Dalat): a nice homestay with a great atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to meet fellow travelers. Spacious and light rooms with comfortable beds (and a mosquito net) with views of the Cam Ly stream and a small balcony. Book here .
• Thao Nhi Hotel  (Ho Chi Minh City): a comfortable hotel that's close to all the major sights in Ho Chi Minh City but still nice and quiet because it's on a small street just off the main backpacker street. Book here .
• Fortuna Hotel  (Phu Quoc Island): a lovely place to stay in Phu Quoc. The rooms are lovingly decorated and spotlessly clean, with private bathrooms. Book here .

2. Cost of transport in Vietnam

Let’s take a closer look at transportation in Vietnam. There are many ways to travel around the country, such as trains, buses, taxis and tuk-tuks, and minivans.

One of the most popular and cost-effective ways is taking the night train. You'll save money on accommodation because you're taking a sleeper train. Plus, you'll save valuable time by covering (large) distances at night, so you can see more of Vietnam.

I really enjoyed our train journeys in Vietnam. The 4 people soft sleeper cabins are pretty comfortable and I usually got a decent night’s sleep.

Another budget-friendly way to travel in Vietnam is by catching a local bus. Bus services are available in all of the major cities and most of the smaller towns as well.

This is a great way to explore parts of Vietnam where there aren't any train tracks (such as the more rural areas of the country).

A quick note: when traveling in Vietnam (and Southeast Asia in general), you need to be prepared for delays. Most of these delays will be relatively short but sometimes your train, bus or minivan can be delayed for hours (without anyone offering an explanation).

The easiest way to get from A to B in Vietnam is by booking your transportation ticket via 12Go Asia . This is an online platform where you can book tickets for trains, buses, ferries, minivans, and private transfers all around Southeast Asia.

I've used 12Go Asia several times and had great experiences with both the ease of booking on the platform itself as well as their fast and friendly customer service when I needed to amend our booking.

For example, you can use 12Go Asia to book train tickets from:

• Ninh Binh to Hue ( check availability here )
• Da Nang to Nha Trang ( check availability here )

How much did we spend on transportation in Vietnam?

During our trip around Vietnam, we traveled by night train, taxi, plane, bus, bike, and more.

Our total cost for transportation was 9.480.000 VND / €379 / $427. The average costs per day were 316.000 VND / €12,60/ $14,20 .

3. Cost of food and drinks in Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its delicious and unique cuisine, with many dishes that are sure to tantalize your taste buds!

Some of the most popular dishes in Vietnam you should definitely try include:

• Pho (noodle soup)
• Banh Mi (a type of sandwich and a personal favorite)
• Goi Cuon (spring rolls)
• Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancakes)
• Chả Giò (fried spring rolls)

Other classic Vietnamese dishes include Bún Bò Huế (spicy beef noodle soup), Cơm Tấm (broken rice with grilled pork), and Bánh Khọt (fried mini pancakes).

Whatever you choose, you're sure to enjoy a truly unique and flavorful experience when eating in Vietnam.

Dishes are freshly prepared, you can add all the spices you like (and stay clear of them if you don't), eat soup for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and find delicious smoothies on every corner.

How much did we spend on food and drinks in Vietnam?

Good news: the food in Vietnam is not only really tasty, but it’s also very cheap!

That is if you eat local food at local restaurants. Eating Western Food always triples the price of dinner when traveling around Southeast Asia.

So when it comes to food, explore the local markets to find inexpensive meals and try delicious street food whenever you have the chance.

Anyway, let’s talk numbers .

In total, we spent 17.145.000 VND / €686 / $772 on food and drinks which comes down to an average of 571.500 VND / €23/ $25,70  per day.

4. Activities in Vietnam

When you’re in Vietnam, make sure to take advantage of all the free activities the country has to offer, like exploring temples, local markets, green rice paddies, National Parks, and pretty beaches.

Doing so will help you make the most of your vacation while still sticking to your budget.

When planning your Vietnam trip, it's also worth looking into tour companies that offer (discounted) activities that can help you save money while still getting the best experience.

Klook is the largest tour operator in Southeast Asia, but Get Your Guide has been working really hard on growing their SEA offers as well so be sure to check out those websites as well when you're planning your Vietnam activities.

Some of the most worthwhile tours in Vietnam are:

• 2D1N cruise in stunning Halong Bay : explore Ha Long Bay on a 2-day cruise, and discover paradise. Climb aboard a traditional junk boat and zigzag through the tiny islands. Enjoy swimming, and kayaking in the blue waters, and discover hidden caves. Check availability .
• Tam Coc day trip from Hanoi : join a unique rowing boat trip to visit three caves, have a Vietnamese lunch, and bike to traditional villages. Visit Hoa Lu, Mua Cave, and enjoy panoramic views of the countryside and Ngo Dong River. Check availability .
• Full-day tour in historic Hue : explore the former Imperial capital of Hue, now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See amazing citadels, fabulous palaces, and royal tombs on a full-day private tour. Check availability .
• Cooking class in Hoi An : Master the best of Vietnamese cuisine from appetizers to main courses in an interactive cooking class. Go shopping at a local market and buy organic produce. Check availability .
• My Son Sanctuary half-day tour (from Hoi An) : Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of ancient Vietnam with a tour of the historic My Son Sanctuary. Check availability .
• Half-day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels (from Ho Chi Minh City) : discover the hidden underground world of Vietnam's complicated network of tunnels. Learn about the complicated and incredibly inventive lives of the tunnel residents. Check availability .

How much did we spend on activities in Vietnam?

In total, we spend 7.613.000 VND / €305 / $343 on tours and activities in Vietnam, which comes down to 253.767 VND / €10,20 / $11,40  a day.

Activity costs include things like museum tickets, organized tours, bike rentals, etc.

5. Vietnam Visa costs

The costs for a tourist visa to Vietnam depend on your nationality. In our case, we have Dutch nationality and paid $45 each for a 1-month single entry visa .

Most nationalities need a  visa for Vietnam and you can apply for a visa online.

Keep in mind you will need to pay two fees: online you will pay the  Visa Pre-Approval Letter Fee  and once you arrive at the airport you must pay a  Stamping Fee  (to be paid in cash, so be sure to bring dollars).

6. Travel insurance costs

I didn't include the cost of travel insurance in our Vietnam budget breakdown because we use our travel insurance for all our trips, not just for our Vietnam itinerary.

However, that doesn't take away the fact that making sure you have proper travel insurance is super important .

It helps protect you and your belongings in the event of a mishap during your travels. Furthermore, it provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost or stolen items, and more.

Also, having good travel insurance will provide you peace of mind, knowing that if something goes wrong, you have a safety net in place.

With so much to consider when planning a trip, having the right travel insurance can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey without stressing out about things that can go wrong.

Plan your Southeast Asia trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Book your transport tickets (train, bus, ferry, minivan, and more) via 12Go.Asia ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours with Klook and Get Your Guide . ? Plan your journey with the  Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Vietnam budget travel: in conclusion

These are the most important costs to take into account when you are traveling in Vietnam. As you can see Vietnam is a very budget-friendly destination and totally worth a trip!

I found Vietnam an intriguing country with a very interesting history, beautiful temples and pagodas, friendly people, and delicious food.

You can download the infographic with all the information about our Vietnam trip budget below. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment!

This post was updated in December 2022.

Friday 16th of November 2018

Awesome blog Lotte!!! This is informative & especially relevant for a traveler on budget. Thank you so much. :D

Thank you Alice, happy to hear that!

Thursday 2nd of November 2017

Nice post! I'm planning to go to Hanoi on January to experience the winter, and the snow perhaps:p.

I'll be there for 4 days, would it be enough if I bring 8.5 million dong? The budget for accommodation and the ticket will be calculated separately. I'll travel solo:).

Thank you for reading the post! In my opinion 8,5 million dong should be more than enough, especially if you won't use that money for accommodation or your flight. Food is very cheap in Vietnam, but if you plan on doing a cruise in Halong Bay it will cost you around 80 USD. If you don't have enough money you can always get cash from an ATM. Just make sure you have a couple of different bank cards (Maestro Card and Mastercard).

Have a great trip! Lotte

Friday 17th of February 2017

Lotte I am so impressed with your detailed breakdown of costs, you must have recorded every cent! I am taking 30 days to backpack Vietnam so your guide has been fascinating reading, very informative and interesting. Thank you x

Sunday 19th of February 2017

Haha thanks Kevin, I did exactly that;-). But happy to hear my slight OCD has been helpful in your travel planning, have a great trip to Vietnam!

Jennifer Melroy

Tuesday 9th of February 2016

You did a good job at saving money. I have never really looked into the costs about daily travel. I should really track these things more.

Haha I did Jennifer, I just didn't want to have to go back to the Netherlands before my unpaid leave was up because I ran out of money;-)

Joe Ankenbauer

Monday 8th of February 2016

Excellent article and very informative! This will be very helpful!

Thank you Joe!

Vietnam Trip Cost Advice | What’s a Good Budget for Vietnam?

If you’re considering a trip abroad, one of the main questions you will ask yourself is how much is it going to cost and what is a suitable budget? If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, you will probably have the same question; what’s a good budget for Vietnam? In this post, we will give Vietnam trip cost advice. After living in Vietnam for over 5 years, we will share with you all of our knowledge of the expenses of travelling in Vietnam. We will cover costs to consider before your trip begins, including the cost of accommodation, food, activities, and transport.

Disclosure: Wander Vietnam contains affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can find our full disclosure policy and privacy policy here.

Vietnam trip cost to prepare before your trip

Vietnam tourist visa.

Whether you’re starting your trip from your home country or heading to Vietnam as part of a wider Southeast Asia trip , chances are you’re going to need to arrange a visa. Citizens from only 24 countries can enter Vietnam visa-free. Currently, the cost of a 30-day single-entry visa for Vietnam is $25, as set by the Vietnamese government. On top of this, you will need to pay a processing fee to the company that applies for the visa on your behalf.

>>> Check if you need a visa HERE! <<<

Travel Insurance

If you’re travelling to Vietnam, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered for any accidents or losses. We spent days and weeks searching for insurance, but most insurers would not allow us to take out a policy as we were already abroad. Our personal choice is SafetyWing as you can opt for automatic monthly payments, just like a subscription. More importantly, it is available for purchase in 180 countries and can be purchased whilst already travelling. There is no cap on the duration of travel.

Exchanging money

It is better to exchange your money once you arrive in Vietnam. As the Vietnamese Dong is not a currency that can be used outside of the country, you may find it difficult to get hold of the Vietnamese Dong before you arrive. We personally prefer to use ATMs to withdraw money, rather than exchange cash at a gold shop or bank. Out of experience, we find that Citibank has the highest withdrawal limit, which will save on fees for using the ATMs multiple times. International withdrawal fees at Citibank are around 60,000 vnd ($2.61) per transaction and the withdrawal limit for our British bank account is 6,000,000 vnd ($260.81) as opposed to 3,000,000 vnd ($130.40) at other banks inside Vietnam.

If you only need a sim card to access the internet, it is probably not worth the effort or money to set up a sim card as many cafes and restaurants are equipped with wifi for when you’re out and about. However, if you would like to have data for peace of mind, or to browse whilst you’re on long bus or train journeys, we recommend you get a Viettel sim card. Viettel is the major network in Vietnam and provides the most coverage in comparison to the other networks.

For the sim card only, expect to pay around 50,000 vnd ($2.17). You will then need to top up and add data according to your desired data package. If you’re in Vietnam for 30 days we recommend texting ST120K to 191. This will give you 2GB of data per day for 30 days. This data package costs 120,000 vnd ($5.22) and is what we personally use each month. The best place to buy your sim card is at one of the official Viettel stores.

Vietnam trip cost for accommodation

Vietnam offers a wide range of accommodation choices for travellers on all kinds of budgets; from shoestring to luxury. No matter your budget for Vietnam, you are sure to find something to suit your needs. Accommodation is probably the biggest thing to factor in your Vietnam trip cost.

Hostels are a great way to meet fellow travellers. Whether you’re a solo explorer, a group of mates, or even a couple, hostels are a cost-effective accommodation option. Hostels in Vietnam typically range from $4 – $8 per night for a dorm bed. Hostels in Vietnam are generally clean and equipped with air conditioning, which you will certainly need in the humid summer months.

Guesthouses

Guesthouses mainly consist of a few basic double rooms. This type of accommodation is perfect for couples who are travelling on a budget, or for solo travellers who would like to take some time to relax away from hostel life. Guesthouses are also a fantastic way to connect with the local people. Most guesthouse owners are extremely welcoming and a simple breakfast consisting of egg banh mi is often included in the price. Prices for guesthouses range from $10 – $15 per night.

If you want to go all out and go on a luxury holiday, Vietnam is the perfect place to get a bang for your buck. If you want a simple hotel with no frills, you can expect to pay between $15 – $20 per night. However, if you want a more luxurious stay with a pool, gym facilities, and spa facilities, prices range from $50 – $150 per night. However, we often find that once you reach the $50 mark the facilities and quality are generally the same as a room that costs $100+ per night.

Click here to check out our best recommendations for accommodation of all types in Vietnam !

Vietnam trip cost for food & drink

Vietnamese cuisine is arguably one of the most delicious and flavoursome cuisines in the world. Unsurprisingly, like everything in Vietnam, the food is super cheap so! If you opt to eat in a local restaurant, often sitting on tiny plastic tools at plastic tables, you can expect to pay between 30,000 – 50,000 vnd ($1.30 – $2.17) per meal. If you fancy tucking into a Western-style dish, such as a burger and fries at a restaurant, expect to pay between 80,000 vnd – 150,000 vnd ($3.48 – $6.52). Below we have listed some of the classic Vietnamese foods and the general price based on the local eateries that we frequent whilst living in Hanoi.

Pho (noodle soup with beef or chicken) – 30,000 vnd ($1.30)

Bun cha (grilled pork & noodles)  – 50,000 vnd ($2.17)

Banh mi (Baguette with meat & veg) – 15,000 – 20,000 vnd ($0.65 – $0.87)

Nem nuong ((grilled sausages wrapped in rice paper with veg) – 35,000 vnd ($.1.52)

Mi xao bo (noodles with beef & veg) – 30,000 vnd ($1.30)

Banh cuon (steamed rice rolls with pork) – 20,000 vnd ($0.87)

Com binh dan ( broken rice with your choice of meat & veg)- 30,000 vnd ($1.30)

Hotpot – 200,000 vnd for 2 people with a beer each. ($8.70)

Beer  – Beer on Hanoi’s Beer Street is just 5,000 vnd ($0.22) per cup and is one of the cheapest beers you will find in Vietnam. Beers in bars range from 25,000 – 50,000 vnd ($1.09 – $2.17) per bottle.

Smoothies – Smoothies from an outside cart cost around 20,000 vnd ($0.87). In coffee shops expect to pay around 50,000 vnd – 60,000 vnd ($2.17 – $2.61).

Coffee – Coffees from a local coffee shop cost between 15,000 vnd – 30,000 vnd ($0.65 – $1.30). Prices rise the closer you are to the tourist area. P.s. don’t miss out on Note Coffee in Hanoi ! It is a unique quirky coffee shop in the heart of the Old Quarter.

Vietnam trip cost for activities and excursions

Vietnam is teeming with activities to suit all kinds of travellers. From a reposeful trip floating down the serene Mekong Delta to adrenaline-pumping activities like abseiling down the Dalatan waterfall in Dalat . One thing for sure though, is you are going to want to make the most out of your trip to Vietnam. The prices of activities and excursions vary. You can opt to book activities online before you leave for peace of mind that your holiday is all planned and ready for you to thoroughly enjoy. Another benefit of booking online is that you will sometimes find deals that won’t apply to you if you book in tourist shops, such as lunch included, or skip-the-line passes.

However, if you’re on a tighter budget, you may want to wait and book excursions from one of the tourist shops that line the tourist hotspots from north to south of Vietnam. Below we have listed some of the best activities and attractions that you simply cannot miss along with a guideline of how much they cost. Keep in mind though that Vietnam has a bargaining culture, so you may get quoted slightly more or less depending on your bargaining skills.

Below we have listed a few of the top attractions and the entrance fees:

Cu Chi Tunnels (Ho Chi Minh City) – 120,000 vnd ($5.18) for half-day tours

Mekong Delta (from Ho Chi Minh City) – 200,000 – 250,000 vnd ($8.64 – $10.79)

Abseiling waterfalls (Dalat) – 700,000 vnd ($30.21)

Egg mud baths (Nha Trang) – Around 300,000 vnd ($12.95). The price varies depending on the package

Sun World Ba Na Hills (Da Nang) – 700,000 vnd ($30.21) for entrance

Cooking Class (Hoi An) – 600,000 vnd  ($26)

Imperial City (Hue) – 150,000 vnd ($6.47) for entrance

Trekking rice fields and meeting tribes (Sa Pa) – 500,000 vnd – 600,000 vnd ($21.67 – $26) per day

Ha Long Bay boat tour – Prices start around 600,000 vnd ($26) per night for the most basic cruises

Of course, there are a million more sights and attractions for you to explore, these are just a few of the major things to do in Vietnam. Besides these, beaches are free to relax on and parks and temples are generally free to stroll around. If there is an entrance fee, the fee is very minimal and typically costs between 2,000 – 5,000 vnd ($0.20). In terms of museums and waterfall entrances, expect to pay in the region of 20,000 vnd – 50,000 vnd ($0.87 – $2.17).

Vietnam trip cost for transport

Domestic flights around Vietnam are usually super cheap if you’re not travelling during the national holidays. You can find fares for as low as $20 inclusive of taxes and VAT. The cheapest airlines to book with are VietJet Air and Air Asia . You may also want to check out Bamboo Airways and Vietnam Airlines as well.

When it comes to buses, you can either opt to venture into the local areas to catch a local bus or opt for a tourist bus which usually picks you up at your hotel and drops you off at your hotel in the next location. Local buses are relatively cheap, but you would need to pay the taxi fare to and from the bus/train station. Below we have listed some of the major routes and their fares. All of these routes can be booked online via Bookaway.

Hanoi to Sapa: 6-hour bus for $12

Sapa to Ninh Binh: 9-hour bus for $17

Ninh Binh to Hue: 11-hour bus for $14

Hue to Hoi An: 4 hours bus for $6

Hoi An to Dalat: 14-hour sleeper bus for $17

Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City: 7-hour bus for $22

The train system in Vietnam is quite slow but a fun and safe way to travel. The prices of trains vary depending on the class and the length of the journey. If you’re travelling during the day, 2nd class seats are available at low costs. If you’re travelling during the night, you can opt for a luxury sleeper cabin.

Click here to book train journeys online!

Taxis in Vietnam are cheap and easy to use. You can easily flag a taxi down from off the street and ask them to take you to your destination. However, we recommend using the Grab app instead. Grab works a little like Uber. You simply input your pick-up and drop-off point and you will be shown a price beforehand. Once your journey finishes you can pay in cash. You can opt for a car or motorbike taxi. Motorbike taxis start from 12,000 vnd ($0.52) and rise per km. However, in the cities, you are highly unlikely to spend any more than 50,000 vnd ($2.17) on a motorbike taxi. Cars tend to be double the price of motorbikes.

Motorbike rental

Motorbikes are a great way to get around the country. Some people even take on the adventurous task of motorbiking the entire coastline from north to south . Motorbike rental costs around 120,000 vnd ($5.20) per day. For a full tank of petrol expect to pay around 50,000 – 70,000 vnd ($2.17 – $3.03), depending on the model of the motorbike.

Click here to read about the famous Hai Van Pass motorbike trip !

Essential Vietnam budget tips

Eat local food – Local food is always cheaper than eating international food. If you see small plastic stools and food carts, this is where the cheap, cheap food is at.

Stay in guesthouses – Guesthouses are perfect for couples. They tend to be cheaper than staying in two dorm beds. You will also get your own private space and bathroom.

Rent scooters to explore – Vietnam is the land of scooters. Scooters are a fantastic way to get around and explore cheaply, as opposed to using taxis or paying for private sightseeing tours.

Shop around for excursions – Similar to shopping at the markets , you can bargain with the price of excursions too. Don’t settle on the first price you are given. Pop by the next shop to check if the prices are similar, you will often find that they will either throw in an extra benefit or give you a better deal.

Exchange your currency before leaving the country – If you have some Vietnamese Dong left at the end of your trip, don’t forget to exchange it before you leave. Once you leave the country, the currency is essentially worthless and you won’t get as much, if anything, for it.

Check out freebies at your accommodation – When booking accommodation check what freebies are offered. For example, breakfast, water, tea, coffee, or bicycle rental. These costs can quickly add up, so if they are complimentary with your accommodation it is a win-win situation.

Don’t rule out the convenience stores – Convenience stores such as Circle K and Vinmart are great for grabbing a quick snack or refreshing drink. They sell sandwiches, rice dishes, and even noodle pots that can be made on the spot.

Team up with other travellers for excursions – If you’re going to book an organised tour, it is a good idea to team up with other travellers. The more of you on the tour, the more discount you can barter.

Skip the upgrade – If you’re offered to upgrade your seat on the bus, or upgrade your room on the Ha Long Bay tour, make sure it is very clear what you’re getting. We have found that the upgrade is essentially nothing more than a money-making scheme. In fact, the upgrade doesn’t even exist or is so minor that you may as well have taken the cheaper option. For example, we opted for a deluxe room with a window on the Ha Long Bay trip, and it turned out that all the rooms had windows with fantastic views anyway.

Daily budget for Vietnam

Shoestring budget – If you’re on a super tight budget, we recommend a budget of $30 per day, or $40 per day if you’re a couple. This will cover the cost of a dorm bed or a basic double room, street food, a few beers, transport, and excursions if you do it yourself as opposed to booking a tour.

Flashpacker budget – $50 per is a good budget if you want to stay in modern hotels and eat at restaurants and take the odd chartered tour.

Luxury budget -$80+. Of course, if you’re on a luxury holiday this can be as expensive and luxurious as you like. To stay in top-of-the-range accommodation, eat at high-end restaurants, and take air-conditioned transport everywhere you will need around $80 per day. If you plan to use spa facilities regularly and go on a lot of shopping trips, you will need to factor this into your daily budget.

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Vietnam travel budget – making the most of your journey.

Photo source: Internet

Vietnam is a captivating country, known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. For many travelers, exploring Vietnam is a dream come true, but managing the expenses associated with such a trip can be challenging. This article aims to provide comprehensive guidance on how to effectively manage your travel budget while experiencing all that Vietnam has to offer.

Understanding Vietnam Travel Budget

What is a Vietnam Travel Budget?

When planning a trip to Vietnam , it’s essential to establish a clear understanding of what a travel budget entails. A travel budget for Vietnam encompasses all the expenses you are likely to incur during your stay, including accommodation, transportation, food, activities, and miscellaneous costs. By creating a detailed budget, you can ensure that you make the most of your journey without overspending.

Factors Influencing Vietnam Travel Budget

Several factors influence the overall cost of traveling in Vietnam . These include the duration of your stay, the destinations you plan to visit, your preferred standard of accommodation, and your dining and activity choices. Additionally, the time of year you visit Vietnam can impact prices, as peak tourist seasons often lead to higher costs.

To give you an idea of potential expenses, here’s an estimated breakdown of average daily costs in Vietnam:

How to Plan Your Vietnam Travel Budget

Planning a travel budget for Vietnam involves careful research and consideration. To begin, it’s crucial to outline your travel priorities and set realistic financial boundaries. Here are some steps to help you effectively plan your Vietnam travel budget:

• Research Destination Costs : Different regions in Vietnam vary in terms of cost. Urban areas like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi tend to be more expensive compared to rural areas. Researching the average costs in each destination can help you allocate your budget accordingly.
• Accommodation Options : Explore various accommodation options, from budget hostels to luxury hotels. Consider the location, amenities, and reviews to find the best value for your money.
• Transportation Planning : Determine the most cost-effective means of transportation within Vietnam. This may involve comparing bus, train, and domestic flight prices, as well as considering the convenience and time efficiency of each option.

Pros and Cons of Vietnam Travel Budget

Advantages of Managing a Travel Budget in Vietnam

Managing a travel budget in Vietnam offers several advantages, including:

• Cost Efficiency : With a well-planned budget, you can enjoy your trip without worrying about overspending.
• Flexibility : By knowing your financial limits, you can make informed decisions about where to splurge and where to save.
• Local Experiences : Sticking to a budget encourages you to explore affordable local experiences, providing a more authentic insight into Vietnamese culture.

Challenges of Budget Travel in Vietnam

While there are numerous benefits to budget travel, there are also some challenges to consider:

• Limited Comfort : Opting for budget accommodations and transportation may mean sacrificing certain comforts or conveniences.
• Language Barriers : Communicating with locals and navigating through budget options may pose challenges for travelers who do not speak Vietnamese.
• Potential Trade-offs : Strict adherence to a budget might require trade-offs in terms of activities or dining experiences.

Alternatives to Traditional Budgeting

When it comes to managing your travel expenses in Vietnam, traditional budgeting isn’t the only approach. There are alternative strategies that may suit different preferences and travel styles. Some alternatives to consider include:

• All-Inclusive Packages Tour : Opting for all-inclusive packages can provide a fixed cost for your entire trip, simplifying the budgeting process.
• Travel Rewards Programs : Utilizing travel rewards programs and credit card perks can help offset costs and provide additional value during your trip.
• Volunteering or Work Exchanges : Engaging in volunteer work or participating in work exchanges can provide unique opportunities to reduce living expenses while contributing to local communities.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Vietnam Travel Budget

Creating a comprehensive travel budget for Vietnam involves several key steps. By following this step-by-step guide, you can effectively plan and manage your expenses throughout your journey:

• Determine Your Total Budget : Start by establishing the total amount you’re willing to spend on your trip to Vietnam. This will serve as the foundation for your detailed budget breakdown.
• Research Average Costs : Gather information on the average costs of accommodation, meals, transportation, and activities in the specific regions you plan to visit.
• Allocate Funds : Divide your total budget into categories, allocating funds for accommodation, food, transportation, activities, and a contingency fund for unexpected expenses.
• Track Expenses : Throughout your trip, keep track of your spending to ensure you stay within your budget. Utilize apps or spreadsheets to monitor your expenses in real-time.
• Adjust as Needed : Be flexible with your budget and adjust allocations based on actual spending patterns and unforeseen circumstances.

Tips for Maximizing Your Vietnam Travel Budget

• Prioritize Off-Peak Travel: Traveling during off-peak seasons can result in significant cost savings, as accommodation and transportation prices tend to be lower when tourist demand is reduced.
• Embrace Street Food and Local Eateries: Exploring Vietnam’s diverse street food and local eateries not only provides an authentic culinary experience but also offers budget-friendly dining options.
• Use Public Transportation: Opting for public transportation, such as buses or trains, can be a cost-effective way to navigate Vietnam’s cities and regions, allowing you to save on transportation expenses.

FAQs: Answering Common Queries

How much should I budget for a trip to Vietnam? The average daily expenses for a budget traveler in Vietnam range from $30 to $50, including accommodation, meals, transportation, and activities. However, the total budget will depend on the duration of your stay and your individual preferences.

Is it safe to rely on budget accommodations in Vietnam? Budget accommodations in Vietnam are generally safe, but it’s essential to research and read reviews before booking. Opting for reputable hostels or guesthouses can provide both security and affordability.

Are there free or low-cost activities to enjoy in Vietnam? Yes, Vietnam offers numerous free or low-cost activities, such as visiting public parks, exploring local markets, and taking walking tours of historical sites.

What are the best ways to save on transportation in Vietnam? Utilizing overnight buses or trains for long-distance travel, sharing private car hires with other travelers, and using ride-sharing apps can help minimize transportation expenses in Vietnam.

How can I avoid overspending on souvenirs and shopping? Set a specific budget for souvenirs and shopping, and consider visiting local markets where bargaining is common. Avoid impulse purchases and prioritize items that hold sentimental value.

Managing a travel budget for Vietnam requires thorough planning and consideration, but it ultimately allows you to make the most of your journey while maintaining financial control. By understanding the nuances of budgeting, exploring alternative approaches, and implementing practical tips, you can embark on a fulfilling and cost-effective adventure through the captivating landscapes and cultural wonders of Vietnam.

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How to Plan the Perfect Vietnam Itinerary (2-3 Weeks)

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 10/25/2023

If you’re a backpacker or crave a little luxury while immersing yourself in culture, then Vietnam is for you. Vietnam is one of your best choices because the country is easily one of the most budget-friendly in the world making your luxurious vacation possible.

But with so much to see and do how do you even begin to plan traveling through Vietnam? Luckily Vietnam caters to tourists in many ways.

It’s a breeze to travel either by bus, train, or by motorbike, it’s relatively easy to communicate, and everyone travels on the same path so it’s easy to make friends (either north to south or south to north).

My best advice is to make sure you give yourself enough time to see all of the country. I’d say a minimum of 2 weeks, but even that makes for a tight schedule so I’d follow my Vietnam 3-week itinerary instructions below.

It’s easy to get a month-long Vietnam visa so I recommend getting one and being able to extend your stay if you need to (as you’ll probably want to!).

Table of Contents

Vietnam Fast Facts

Currency:  Vietnamese dong Language:  Vietnamese Population:  96.5 million Religion:  Buddhist is the majority

Now that you know all of the budget tips, here’s a rough backpacking Vietnam itinerary; what places to visit in Vietnam, for how long, and what things to do in Vietnam! Keep in mind this is a rough guide to give you an idea of how much time to spend in each place.

Vietnam Itinerary

Now it’s time to figure out where to go in Vietnam. This Vietnam route covers all of the best places to visit in Vietnam and what to see in Vietnam but there are definitely some other areas worth checking out too. This Vietnam travel guide covers the basics so you won’t miss the good stuff.

Recommended Vietnam Tours

• Vietnam Express Northbound – 10 days
• Vietnam Intro – 12 days
• Vietnam Experience – 12 days, read my review of Contiki tours

Vietnam Itineraries by Length

2 weeks in Vietnam

• Hanoi (2 days)
• Sapa (2 days)
• Halong Bay (2 days)
• Hue (2 days)
• Hoi An (2 days)
• Mui Ne (1 day)
• Ho Chi Minh (3 days)

3 weeks in Vietnam

• Halong Bay (3 days)
• Ninh Binh (1 day)
• Hoi An (3 days)
• Nha Trang (3 days)
• Mui Ne (2 days)

How this Vietnam backpacking guide works:  If you wish to spend 2 weeks in Vietnam choose the minimum amount of days for each destination. If you want a Vietnam 3-week itinerary choose the maximum amount of days. This itinerary moves north to south, it can easily be done in reverse.

Daily Breakdown of My Vietnam Trip Itinerary

Hanoi: 2 days.

DAY ONE:  Start to orient yourself in this hectic city by exploring the streets. You’re bound to find something cool. Visit the Old Quarter to take a step back in time with the French colonial buildings that stand between the merchants selling all sorts of random things.

Take a peek at the Women’s Museum to understand more about the women’s role in the Vietnamese culture and make sure you find a spot to try some egg coffee.

DAY TWO:  Get out early and head straight to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum . It’s quite interesting to see how they’ve preserved Ho Chi Minh’s body and all the grand facilities. It closes early (approx. 12PM) so be sure to line up early and double check the times.

From there you can visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and/or the Ho Chi Minh Museum which are both close to the Mausoleum. Then spend the afternoon on a street food tour of the city.

READ MORE: What to do in Hanoi & Where to Stay in Hanoi

Sapa: 2 Days

Sapa is one of the best places to see in Vietnam. And it is the place in Vietnam for trekking. You can either book a 2-3 day tour through a company that will include your buses to Sapa and back to Hanoi that includes your trek leaders, homestay, and food. Or you can choose to do it on your own . Plenty of backpackers stay at homestays so you’re bound to find someone to go trekking with if you’re solo.

READ MORE: Trekking in Sapa: The Good, The Bad and the Landslides

Halong Bay: 2-3 Days

Halong Bay is definitely some of the best of Vietnam. Most tours and buses will use Hanoi as their start and end point, so if you choose to do Sapa and Halong Bay (which I highly recommend) then you’ll come back to Hanoi in between for a night.

The majority of people choose to do a tour for Halong Bay (there are literally hundreds) that are either 2-3 days long. Or you can do it on your own. Most people who do it on their own will head to Cat Ba island which is the largest island in the area. Many tours include a stop at Cat Ba, but not all.

Tours can include either sleeping on the boat, on an island or both. They can include activities such as kayaking, cliff jumping, hiking and more. Though most are pretty much the same it’s best to go with a recommendation.

The one advertised in Central Backpackers has good feedback and by-far the most popular for backpackers is the Castaway tour. It has stellar reviews but is definitely for people who like to party and it’s not the most budget-friendly. But if you’re going to splurge while in Vietnam, Halong Bay is the place to do it!

Ninh Binh: 1 Day

My best advice for Ninh Binh is to get in and get out. Though it is beautiful and referred to as the Halong Bay on land, there is not much to do and you can do it all in one day. Stay in the Tam Coc area as it is the closest to all of the major attractions.

DAY NINE: Before it gets too hot jump on a boat and ride through Tam Coc to see all of the limestone formations and caves. Close by is Bich Dong pagoda, which is not spectacular, but interesting to see.

And lastly take a walk up the 500 steps to the top of the mountain to admire the limestone formations from above. Trust me, it’s worth the walk up!

Hue: 2 Days

Though Hue can be done in a day, it can be exhausting to take two nights buses back to back. So either get through quickly or take an extra day to leisurely explore Hue.

DAY 10:  In the morning explore the citadel . It’s a lot of walking so be prepared for the heat. In the afternoon rent a scooter and head to the abandoned waterpark for Instagram-worthy pictures.

DAY 11:  There are seven tombs around the countryside that you’re able to go take a peek at. They’re where some of the rulers from the Nguyen Dynasty lie. Then head over to Thien Mu Pagoda for a bit more history. It’s still regarded as a holy site that has many monks visiting every day.

And lastly check out the Dong Ba markets to get a taste of the local culture.

Hoi An: 2-3 Days

Hoi An is often called the Venice of Asia because of the river that runs through the city and all of the historical sites. Its got more of a small town than city feel and is famous for having anything tailor-made for you.

DAY 12:  Take the morning to get yourself oriented in town and start getting ideas of what you want made. It’s best to browse through the shops to see what they can make, though the tailors can make virtually anything.

If you need to move on quickly then go to a shop for a fitting as sometimes they need 2-3 fittings to get your piece exactly as you want it. You can then spend the afternoon lounging on one of Hoi An’s beaches that lie just outside of town.

DAY 13:  This day you’ll have to head back to any fitting’s that you may have. Before or after you can roam the streets some more and visit any of the historical sites that interest you. You need to purchase a ticket to see these sites.

During the evening make your way to see a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. It sounds funny, but it was actually quite entertaining. Tickets can be bought in town the day of the show.

DAY 14: Finish up any fittings you may have left. Take a cooking class in Hoi An because they have some unique dishes that are only made in this area of Vietnam and are some of the best dishes in the country.

On your last evening spend time walking by the river to see the lanterns and to explore the food and shopping markets in the area.

READ MORE: 11 Things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam and Where to Stay in Hoi An (The Best Hotels and Hostels)

Nha Trang: 2-3 Days

Though Nha Trang is known as the place where all the Russian tourists go in Vietnam, there’s good reason why they go: Vietnam beaches. It’s the perfect spot to rest up and enjoy some quality beach time before tackling the south of the country.

DAY 15: Enjoy the beach! Trust me, you’ll be tired after arriving on an overnight bus at 4 AM. At night head to Skylight to par-tay. Its got a seriously great 360 degree view and the drinks are worth the price. They’re delicious!

Warning: the party may not start right away, but it will end up a good time with everyone dancing. Pro tip: If you’re used to strong drinks make sure you ask for it, drinks in Vietnam are made weaker than western standards!

DAY 16: Embrace the inner kid in you and go to Vin Pearl. It’s a water and theme park in one. It is a pricier day, but it’s well worth it. Head in early to avoid line-ups and go to the water park first, everyone will go there in the afternoon and it gets packed but in the morning almost no one is there.

DAY 17: After a day of acting like a child and playing you can take some time to enjoy the spa. Head to one of the famous mud spa’s and leave feeling refreshed and cleansed. It’s a four step process and after you can relax by the pool. There are multiple spas to choose from, I arranged one with a pick-up and drop-off through the recommended hostel below.

READ MORE: 9 Things to do in Nha Trang and Where to Stay in Nha Trang

Mui Ne: 1 Day

DAY 18: Mui Ne can easily be done in a day. Spend the morning lounging at the pool at the hostel I recommend below then go on a tour of the red and white sand dunes and the fairy stream. You can head out that evening on another night bus to your last destination.

READ MORE:  8 Epic Things to do in Mui Ne &   Where to Stay in Mui Ne

Ho Chi Minh: 2-3 Days

Ho Chi Minh is more often referred to as Saigon, its original name that is preferred by the locals.

DAY 19: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh and prepare yourself for a somewhat somber day. Ho Chi Minh is full of war history that’s both interesting and good to know.

First, you can head to the War Remnants Museum to learn about the Vietnam war. Secondly, check out the Independence Palace to be taken back to the 70’s that served as a government building during the war. And lastly, you should see the Bến Thành Market for some shopping and dinner.

DAY 20: Take a day trip to the  Củ Chi tunnels . They’re outside the city so it’s very popular to book a tour and have a bus full of tourists take you out. These tunnels are famous because they were used during the war, some locals even living in them. It’s difficult to understand what it was actually like until you go into the tunnels, which you actually do on the tour!

When you get back to the city find a rooftop bar (there are plenty) to chill at for the night and enjoy the view of the bustling city lights.

DAY 21:  For your last day in Vietnam you can take another day trip to the Mekong River or use this day to relax at another spot during your trip!

READ MORE: 12 of the Best Things to do in Ho Chi Minh  &   Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh

There are some Vietnam destinations that I didn’t mention, Dalat is one of them. I unfortunately, had to skip it because it is for those adventurous souls who like to jump from heights or go canyoning (these were not possible with my sprained ankle).

But if you’re into that then definitely take 2-3 days to see Dalat between Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh.

Where to Go in Vietnam

A quick overview of the best places to visit in Vietnam that are detailed in this Vietnam itinerary.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam

Deciding when the best time to visit Vietnam is tricky as the country is dominated by monsoon reasons (don’t be surprised to see streets flooding) and since the country is so long from north to south it can make picking one month of the year to travel difficult but not impossible.

Ideally, the best time to go to Vietnam is in the spring (February-April) or fall (August-October) as you will see the least amount of rainfall (but still expect some) during these two time periods. The temperature will be warm but not scorching hot and in the north you should expect to have a few layers as temperatures are cooler.

Avoid the north in the winter as places such as Sapa can get snow or the summer where the heat in the cities is almost unbearable.

In the spring and fall Hanoi (north) averages temperatures as low as 16°C and as high as 30°C. (60°-86°F). Ho Chi Minh (south) hovers around the 30°C (86°F) mark.

Vietnam Budget

Get excited because Vietnam is so cheap! You’ll be able to stretch your dollar far in this country with a backpacking Vietnam budget that doesn’t have to generous to get you far.

For a Vietnam daily budget you will be able to do everything you want and drink your heart out at night while backpacking in Vietnam easily for $50 a day which is a very easy Vietnam backpacking budget to follow. And if you’re on a tight budget you can still do plenty on $25 a day.

If you want a little luxury $75 a day will get you that and anything above $100 a day (which is a very high budget for Vietnam) and you’ll be living the life.

Vietnam accommodation is where you’ll save a ton. Hostels typically start at 100,000 ($5) for a night including breakfast and sometimes even a pool. There’s no need to pay more than 230,000 ($10) for a hostel as these will be plenty nice. Many also include free beer for 1-hour everyday.

Food is also dirt cheap. You can get a bowl of pho or other dishes at street stalls for as cheap as 20,000 (less than $1) (you must try Bánh mì). Sit down restaurants are typically double the price or more (so still very affordable) and western restaurants will be the most expensive 150,000 ($6.50) for a higher end meal.

Fresh beer is the cheapest for 3,700 ($0.16) in a restaurant with bottles costing between 20,000-30,000 ($0.86-$1.38) but expect to pay double in clubs.

Transportation is, you guessed it, also cheap but there’s more about that below.

Lastly, activities will be your most expensive cost in Vietnam. Entrances to most museums and buildings are around 15,000-45,000 ($0.65-$2). Day trips are typically $15-25 and multiple day trips average at about $100.

READ MORE: How to Create a Backpacking Budget for a Southeast Asia Trip

If you’re worried about not having enough money for your Vietnam trip, why not try volunteering to extend your travels? With Worldpackers you get access to a ton of volunteer opportunities with verified hosts in Vietnam (and around the world) plus you join a community of over 1 million travellers for only $49 a year (BUT you get $10 off when you use the code TAYLORSTRACKS ).

READ MORE: How to Volunteer in Southeast Asia (So You Can Travel for Longer)

Getting Around Vietnam

Travel to Vietnam can be easy or complicated but once you’re in Vietnam it’s quite simple.

Bus:  Vietnam is known for its night buses, and they’re dirt cheap. They have the best sleeper buses in Southeast Asia so your chance of getting a decent night’s sleep is pretty good.

I recommend buying them as a package. You simply pick which destinations you want (or may want) to go to as the price changes based on how many places you want to visit. You pay upfront and get the tickets on the spot. Then at each new destination, you call a day before and let them know you want on the next night bus.

Some I even booked day of and only once was I not able to get on that night’s bus. For $45USD I took 5 buses. Keep in mind that when taking night buses it means you don’t have to pay for accommodation!

Train:  Trains in Vietnam are a true Vietnamese experience where you may even get to mingle with some locals.  They are a more expensive option compared to buses but they are more comfortable.

The best part is that sleeper trains are available so you can save on accommodation as you travel longer distances overnight and not waste precious daytime travelling around Vietnam by air. Most train stations are in the city centre in main cities (with the exception of Hoi An, the closest train station is Da Nang which is only a taxi ride to Hoi An). Tickets can be as cheap as $11.50 but as much as $50 depending on the length of the route or class you opt for.

Motorbike:  A lot of travel in Vietnam is through the country by motorbike if you’re feeling a little adventurous. You’ll find plenty for sale either in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. I was definitely too much of a chicken to try but heard so many good things by others who chose to explore Vietnam by motorbike .

Flying: Flying in Vietnam should be your last option. I only recommend it if flying from one end of the country to the other or simply to fly into the country from wherever you are. Flying in Vietnam is cheap too as there are low-cost carriers. Just be sure to have the right visa if flying into the country.

For the most part you can walk pretty much anywhere in Vietnam if you’re staying in the central areas (which you can do so cheaply). Or taxis are very affordable. Be careful to not get scammed, it’s best to take the green taxis because they’re metered. You can also get taxi bikes through Grab.

Travel Insurance Vietnam

READ MORE: 11 Common Southeast Asia Travel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Did you get all of that?! Vietnam is a country so vastly different from North to South that it needed to be broken down like this. Every place I mentioned is worth a visit and there are still more places to visit. These are the highlights and some of the best places in Vietnam that are the ideal Vietnam backpacking itinerary!

Be open to the people, the customs, and the food when you backpack Vietnam. Visit Vietnam without any expectations. Let the country tell you how to feel and you will have an unreal time and unforgettable adventure during your Vietnam holidays.

Heading to Southeast Asia? You’ll love these posts:

• Vietnam Trip Planning Resources
• 51 Travel Tips for Backpacking Southeast Asia

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Budget-Friendly Travel in Vietnam for Tourists

Vietnam is a must-visit destination for affordable, adventurous vacations. Located in Southeast Asia, this breathtaking nation provides a dizzying selection of affordable adventures. Every kind of tourist will find something to their liking in Vietnam, from the lively metropolis to the peaceful countryside. So, what can you experience with budget-friendly travel in Vietnam? Let’s look at some low-cost vacation ideas in Vietnam that anybody from anywhere in the world may enjoy.

What is budget-friendly travel in Vietnam? 

Get ready to explore the charm of Vietnam without exceeding your budget. Vietnam is a wonderful place for thrifty vacationers since it combines low prices with exciting activities.

With its abundance of free or cheap activities, cheap lodgings, and tasty street cuisine, Vietnam is a traveler’s dream. If you want to have a memorable vacation without breaking the budget, this nation is a great pick because of its welcoming locals, beautiful scenery, and diverse culture.

Budget-friendly travel in Vietnam has become a trend recently.

Going on a low-budget trip in Vietnam can let you save money while still experiencing the local culture, meeting people, and making genuine memories. Vietnam provides a wide variety of affordable experiences, from lively metropolises to peaceful countryside.

Planning Your Budget-Friendly Trip to Vietnam

You should decide on a budget for your Vietnam journey before you even think about packing. Make sure your vacation budget covers all of your essentials by adding transportation, lodging, meals, activities, and mementos.

When would you recommend a low-cost vacation to Vietnam?

To maximize your low-cost Vietnam vacation, go between April and May or September and October, when rates are lower and tourists are fewer. To get better discounts on lodgings and activities, try to avoid popular tourist seasons.

Try out some of Vietnam’s many inexpensive lodging alternatives, from homestays and hostels to hotels and guesthouses. If you want a pleasant stay that fits your budget and personal tastes, you need to do your homework to get the best bargains.

Attractions and activities

1. explore the vibrant cities..

Visiting some of Vietnam’s intriguing and different towns is a wonderful way to see the country without breaking the bank. History, culture, and mouthwatering street cuisine abound in Hanoi, the nation’s capital. You can locate inexpensive guesthouses and hostels by taking a tour around the picturesque Old Quarter. Vietnamese noodle soup, or pho, is a must-try at any of the area’s restaurants.

Aside from Saigon, another must-see is Ho Chi Minh City. This lively city is home to interesting historical places that provide visitors with a look into Vietnam’s illustrious history, such as the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels.

2. The Culture of Street Food in Vietnam

Vietnam is home to a thriving street food culture where you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious foods at very cheap prices. Affordable, genuine Vietnamese cuisine is available from street vendors, who sell everything from pho and banh mi to spring rolls, coffee, and more.

3. Local Markets and Affordable Eateries

For inexpensive, authentic Vietnamese food, visit one of the many local markets or one of the many small restaurants spread out over the country. In addition to saving money, you’ll get a genuine experience of the flavorful and historically significant Vietnamese food by eating where the people do.

4. Lessons in Home Cooking for Travelers on a Budget

Joining cooking workshops designed for frugal tourists is a great way to hone your cooking chops and discover the secrets of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Participating in these seminars is a fabulous way to learn about Vietnamese cuisine while also getting some practical experience in producing regional delicacies.

5. Take in the scenery as you explore.

Vietnamese scenery is a sight to see for those who appreciate the beauty of nature. Ha Long Bay is well-known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its verdant waterways and several limestone islands dominated by tropical rainforests. You may enjoy the bay’s splendor without going into debt on one of the many inexpensive overnight cruises offered by tour companies.

Another inexpensive treasure is Hoi An, with its picturesque old town and peaceful countryside. For a serene and inexpensive adventure, rent a bike and pedal around the picturesque towns and rice farms.

6. Affordable lodging

There is a large choice of affordable lodging alternatives in Vietnam. A wonderful option to stay for a cheap price after a day of seeing is one of the many hostels or guesthouses that are common, particularly in tourist hotspots.

Homestays in rural locations provide a special chance for travelers to immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture while also connecting with local residents.

7. Try the cuisine

Any trip to Vietnam must include sampling its famous cuisine. You can’t beat the price of fresh, tasty, and reasonably-priced Vietnamese cuisine. If you want to try some real, genuine cuisine without breaking the bank, go to a local market or street food stand.

Indulge in a hot bowl of bun cha, a dish of grilled pork with rice vermicelli and fresh herbs, or relish a plate of banh mi, a tasty baguette sandwich stuffed with a variety of savory ingredients. Taking a cooking class to master the art of Vietnamese cuisine is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture while staying within your budget.

Vietnam Souvenirs and Shopping: How to Save Money

Souvenir buying in Vietnam often involves haggling over prices. If you want to obtain the greatest bargains on local products, apparel, or crafts, don’t be shy about haggling with the vendors at markets or street stalls.

If you’re looking for inexpensive souvenirs and interesting treasures, skip the tourist stores and go to local marketplaces like Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh Market or Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A large variety of goods are available at affordable costs in these marketplaces.

Stay away from tourist traps and high-end businesses that target visitors if you want to keep your spending in check. Shop at neighborhood establishments to show your support for the local economy. Additionally, pick up reasonably priced trinkets that honor Vietnam’s rich history and culture.

Wrapping up

As a conclusion, Vietnam is an ideal vacation spot for those watching their pennies. Vietnam offers a little bit of everything: a wide variety of sights, delicious food, and cheap lodgings. By visiting its lively towns and taking in its breathtaking surroundings, you can have an unforgettable experience in Vietnam. Additionally, indulging in its delicious street cuisine ensures a memorable trip without breaking your budget.

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