Vietnam captivates visitors with its stunning natural beauty, from the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay to the Mekong Delta's floating markets. This Southeast Asian nation seamlessly blends ancient temples, French colonial architecture, and dynamic modern cities with a rich culinary tradition that has gained worldwide acclaim.
Local currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Vietnam.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $7-12 (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $20-40 (budget guesthouse)
- Midrange
- $50-120 (mid-range hotel)
- Luxury
- $200-1000+ (luxury resort)
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (street food dish)
- Local
- $5-10 (local restaurant meal)
- Midrange
- $15-30 (tourist/mid-range)
- Fine
- $50-150+ (fine dining)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.20-0.50 (city bus)
- Taxi
- $5-15 (Grab car city ride)
- Airport
- $5-25 (airport transfer depending on city)
- Daytrip
- $15-60 (day tour or self-guided)
Activities
- Museum
- $2-5 (most Vietnamese museums)
- Sites
- $5-15 (major attractions like Hue Citadel, Ha Long)
- Tour
- $25-60 (half day guided tour)
- Excursion
- $60-150 (multi-day tour e.g. Ha Long overnight)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Vietnam costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$140-245/week
Midrange traveller
$350-700/week
Luxury traveller
$1400-3500+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Travel by overnight sleeper bus or train between cities to save on both transport and accommodation costs
Eat where local Vietnamese eat - street stalls and com binh dan (working-class rice shops) serve excellent food for $1-3
Book accommodation directly rather than through OTAs for 10-20% discounts in guesthouses
Use Grab for all taxi journeys to avoid overcharging - always check price before booking
Visit Vietnam during shoulder season (May, October) for 30-40% lower hotel rates with good weather
BusMap app for free navigation of city bus networks - fares are $0.20-0.50 vs $5-10 for Grab
Rent a bicycle or motorbike rather than taxis for exploring cities - costs $2-10/day vs $5-15 per journey
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Hoan Kiem Lake Walk, Hanoi
The central lake and Ngoc Son Temple island (free to walk around, small fee for temple access) are the heart of Hanoi's public life, beautiful at any time of day and magical when lit at night.
Hoi An Ancient Town Stroll
Wandering Hoi An's UNESCO Heritage streets is free - only entering specific ancient houses, museums, and halls requires the $7 tourist ticket. Sunrise and sunset are spectacular without entering paid sites.
Mekong Delta Village Cycling
Rent a bicycle ($2-3/day) and independently explore the back roads around Can Tho through rice paddies, coconut groves, and village communities without paying for organized tours.
Ben Thanh Market Browse, HCMC
Ben Thanh Market is free to enter and browse - only buy if you find something you want. The surrounding night market (6pm-midnight) has excellent street food at local prices.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Exterior, Hanoi
The mausoleum exterior, Ba Dinh Square, and the Presidential Palace gardens can be visited for free. Mausoleum interior entry is also free but requires queuing and modest dress.
My Khe Beach, Da Nang
Da Nang's 30km urban beach is entirely free with public access, good water quality, and basic facilities. Early morning joggers and evening beach volleyball provide authentic local atmosphere.
Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue
One of Vietnam's most photographed Buddhist towers is free to visit by bicycle from Hue (8km) along the Perfume River, with regular monks and fascinating historical car of monk Thich Quang Duc.