Let’s talk about the cost of traveling in Vietnam. In May/June 2018 I spent four weeks in Vietnam. My expenses for the month were roughly $700.
In this post, I am going to share with you everything about the cost of traveling in Vietnam.
In May/June 2018 I visited the following places in Vietnam:
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Da Lat
- Hoi An
- Da Nang
- Hanoi
- Sapa
The cost of traveling in Vietnam
How much do things cost?
The Basics
Accommodation
In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, you can get your own apartment for less then $20 per night through Airbnb. Airbnb is a great option if you happen to be traveling with someone else. Of course, prices will vary dependent on the season in which you travel. In most months a budget of $20 per night should suffice though.
If $20 is too much for you (it is for me whenever I travel alone), then you can opt for hostels and if you’d like to connect with a local then CouchSurfing is a great option. Unfortunately, house sitting isn’t extremely popular in Vietnam. That being said, I’ve seen house sits in Vietnam popping up and it’s definitely worth a shot.
Food
Food costs vary just as greatly as costs for accommodation. If you mainly stay in Airbnb apartments then you should be able to cook your own meals as most of them have a basic kitchen. I eat a vegan diet rich in fruits and vegetables and spent $50 on groceries and around $80 on eating out.
This means that on groceries and eating out I spent roughly $130 for the whole month.
While I did have my own kitchen in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, I didn’t have access to a proper one at all the other places that I visited. This, of course, increased my expenses on eating out.
Affordable vegan street food (think banh mi) is between $0.70-1 and affordable vegan restaurant meals are around $1.07-2.50.
If you are looking for affordable vegan food, check out these posts:
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Da Lat: Great vegan food at Brew and Breakfast in Da Lat
- Hoi An:
- Da Nang: Amazing vegan restaurants in Da Nang
- Hanoi
Transportation
One of the cheapest ways to get around Vietnam is by bus. I took heaps of buses and this is what I ended up paying:
- Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat: $8
- Da Lat to Hoi An: $12
- Hoi An to Da Nang: $1,30
- Da Nang to Hanoi: $15
- Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi: $28
More
Activities
The cost of activities is going to be hugely dependent on what you are into and what you are planning on doing while in Vietnam.
Some of my favorite activities in Vietnam are:
- Eating out
- Wandering around the city
- Hiking
I did a trekking tour in Sapa for $50 that I highly recommend. It was the highlight of my trip and I’ve included a whole bunch of information in my Beginner’s Guide to Trekking in Sapa.
If you are in need of inspiration, check out these posts:
- Travel diary: 48 hours in Da Nang
- 10 Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
- Travel diary: Exploring Hoi An
- Where to exchange money in Ho Cho Minh City
- Visit a textile factory with me!
The cost of traveling in Vietnam can be really low. Whether you perceive the stated amounts as a high or low is, of course, dependent on where you are coming from and how you usually travel. For long trips, my monthly budget is $1,000 per month. That’s not to say that I am spending that exact amount though, that’s just what I budget for.
As mentioned, I spent one month in Vietnam in 2018 and spent roughly $700.
Are you thinking of going to Vietnam? If you’ve been then I’d love to hear about how you liked it and your expenses! š