Vietnam Travel Budget: What a Trip Really Costs

Vietnam is one of Asia's most affordable destinations, but costs vary a lot between a backpacker eating at street stalls and a couple staying in beach resorts. The figures below are rough guides in Vietnamese dong (VND); prices change with the season and over time, so treat them as a starting point rather than a quote.

Daily budgets at a glance

These are per person per day, based on two people sharing a room:

• Budget: roughly 600,000 to 1,000,000 VND, with hostel dorms or simple guesthouses, street food, buses and free sights.
• Mid-range: around 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 VND, covering a comfortable hotel, sit-down restaurants, ride-hailing cars and a few paid tours.
• Luxury: from roughly 5,000,000 VND upwards, for boutique hotels or resorts, fine dining, private drivers and premium cruises.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and resort areas such as Phu Quoc sit at the higher end of each range, while small towns and the Mekong Delta sit at the lower end.

Accommodation

• Hostel dorm bed: around 150,000 to 300,000 VND, often with breakfast included.
• Private room in a guesthouse or homestay: roughly 300,000 to 700,000 VND.
• Mid-range hotel: around 800,000 to 2,000,000 VND.
• Upscale hotels and resorts: from roughly 3,000,000 VND a night, and far more for beachfront villas.

Rates jump during Tet, over the 30 April to 1 May holiday and on summer weekends at the beach.

Food and drink

Eating like a local is where Vietnam really shines. A bowl of pho or a plate of broken rice costs around 40,000 to 70,000 VND, a banh mi roughly 20,000 to 40,000 VND, and a glass of bia hoi in Hanoi around 10,000 to 20,000 VND. Iced coffee at a neighbourhood café is roughly 20,000 to 50,000 VND, while trendier coffee shops charge more. A meal with drinks at a mid-range restaurant usually comes to around 200,000 to 400,000 VND per person.

Transport costs

• Grab motorbike rides across town: roughly 20,000 to 60,000 VND, with cars costing more.
• City buses: usually under 10,000 VND a ride.
• Sleeper buses: a long overnight route often costs roughly 250,000 to 500,000 VND.
• Trains and flights: a soft-sleeper berth costs more than a bus but saves a night's accommodation, and domestic fares vary hugely depending on how early you book.

Activities and extras

Entry to temples, museums and historic sites is generally modest. The bigger costs are guided experiences: an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise can run to several million dong per person depending on the boat, and cave expeditions, cable cars, cooking classes and tailored clothes in Hoi An add up quickly. Set aside a separate pot for these so they don't eat into your daily spending.

Money-saving tips

• Eat at busy local stalls and markets, and drink iced tea or bia hoi rather than imported beer.
• Take overnight trains or sleeper buses on long hops to save a night's accommodation.
• Book ride-hailing cars rather than flagging taxis, so you see the fare upfront.
• Avoid Tet and holiday weekends, or book early if your dates are fixed.
• Pay in dong rather than US dollars, which are sometimes accepted at unfavourable rates.
• Withdraw larger amounts less often, as foreign cards often attract a fee at Vietnamese ATMs.
• Bargain with a smile at markets, but accept fixed prices in shops.

Stay connected in Vietnam

Having data on hand helps you spend wisely: you can compare ride fares, convert prices in a currency app and read reviews before you sit down to eat. Roaming on your home plan can be expensive, so check your current tariff before you go. A HelloSIM eSIM is a prepaid, data-only option that you install before leaving home and that connects when you land in Vietnam.