How to travel in Vietnam on a budget

Vietnam is a beautiful place filled with amazing food, brilliant landscapes, and unique revolutionary history. If you’re traveling in Vietnam on a 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 travel in Vietnam on a budget 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

Accommodation is another significant expense when you visit Vietnam. Compared to Europe, it is easy to find comfortable lodging in this country at an affordable price. The prices of accommodation vary depending on the hotel category you choose. Below are the suggested prices for accommodations in Vietnam: 

• 2-star hotel: 26.62 – $31.95/night 
• 3-star hotel: 37.27 – $69.22/night
• 4-5 star hotel: 95.84 – $212.99/night 

These prices vary depending on the region where you stay: the more tourist the destination, the higher the costs. For example, the average price of one night in a 3-star hotel in Phu Quoc is $69.22, while a night in a similar hotel room in Hoi An or Hue costs only $42.60. If you wish to travel to Northern Vietnam, you can stay with locals, which is the best way to immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture while saving a lot of money. Usually, one night with a local family costs $6.39-$8.52 per person only. 

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 Ha 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 Ho Chi 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.

Bus, Limousine

The bus is the cheapest option. From Hanoi, you can take a sleeper bus to Sapa or a limousine to reach Halong Bay or Tam Coc, Ninh Binh.

Bus

• Hanoi – Halong: $13.84/person
• Hanoi – Ninh Binh: $9.58/person

Sleeper bus Hanoi – Sapa or Sapa – Hanoi (one-way): $21.43/person

Limousine:

• Hanoi – Halong: $15.97/person
• Hanoi – Ninh Binh: $10.65/person

  

Private Car

Private car service is the best option for those who want to fully enjoy their trip to Vietnam. It is possible to drive a car yourself in this country with your international driver’s license, but with the “dense” traffic, we strongly recommend renting a car with a driver. Compass Tourist also offers car rental services with experienced drivers so you can avoid all risks and fully enjoy your stay.

Train

The night train allows you to travel from one region of the country to another, for example from Hanoi to Sapa or from the North to the Central, with the best price. In recent years, the Vietnam railway system has been improved with air-conditioned soft sleeper night trains catering to tourism. The price varies depending on the route, for instance:

• Hanoi – Lao Cai/Sapa: $26.62/person
• Hanoi – Hue: $42.60/person

Domestic Flight

For travel in Vietnam on a budget, it’s worth considering the cost of transportation. The airplane is undoubtedly the most convenient and fastest means of transport for long journeys. Most major tourist destinations in Vietnam have their own airports which simplify travel.

• Hanoi – Hue: $95.84/person
• Hanoi – Danang: $85.19/person
• Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City: $117.14/person
• Danang – Ho Chi Minh City: $85.19/person

Please note that transport prices are for your reference. They may be higher during the country’s holidays such as Reunification Day on April 30th, National Day on September 2nd, and Tet (which lasts about 10 days between late January and mid-February). On these occasions, the flight price can increase by 30% to 40%.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Ask for prices before ordering your food or deciding on a purchase to cut back your Vietnam vacation costs
5. Look for free or super-low-cost activities like historic temples or just walking through the cities – you’ll find plenty!

Conclusion

Vietnam is a wonderful country that offers a lot of opportunities for backpackers. You can enjoy the beauty, the culture, the food, and the fun of Vietnam without breaking the bank. You can also learn more about the history, the people, and the traditions of Vietnam by interacting with them and respecting them. Vietnam is a place that will leave you with unforgettable memories and stories to tell.

We hope that travel in Vietnam on a budget has given you some useful information and tips on how to plan your trip. We also hope that you have a great time backpacking Vietnam and discovering its wonders. Happy travels!