Vietnam Travel Budget 2026 — Daily Costs, Prices & Money Tips

Backpacker (USD 25–40/day): Dorm beds, street food and local restaurants, overnight buses, free walking tours, self-guided sightseeing.

Mid-range (USD 50–100/day): Private hotel rooms (3-star), sit-down meals, occasional domestic flights, guided tours, cooking classes and boat trips.

Comfortable (USD 100–200/day): Boutique hotels, restaurants with menus in English, mostly flying between cities, private day tours, spa treatments.

Luxury (USD 200+/day): Heritage hotels, fine dining, business-class flights, private guides, high-end cruises on Ha Long Bay.

These are average figures for central and southern Vietnam. Northern Vietnam (especially Hanoi) tends to be slightly cheaper; resort towns like Hoi An and Da Lat run a little higher.

Hostels (dorm): USD 5–12/night in major cities. Private rooms in guesthouses: USD 15–30.

Budget guesthouses and mini-hotels: USD 20–40 for a clean private room with air-con and Wi-Fi.

3-star hotels: USD 35–70/night in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang.

Boutique hotels: USD 60–150/night. Hoi An has exceptional value with atmospheric riverside options around USD 50–80.

Luxury resorts (Ha Long Bay, Phu Quoc, Da Nang): USD 150–400/night.

Book well in advance for December–January (peak season) and around Tet (Lunar New Year) — prices can double.

Vietnam's food is phenomenal and cheap. A bowl of pho at a local restaurant costs USD 1.50–2.50. A full meal at a sit-down local restaurant runs USD 4–8 per person. Only tourist-facing restaurants significantly exceed these prices.

Street food and markets: USD 1–3 per dish. Banh mi sandwiches USD 0.50–1.50. Fresh fruit juices USD 0.50–1.

Local restaurants: USD 3–8 per person including a drink.

Tourist restaurants: USD 8–20 per person. Hoi An and Hue have particularly good mid-range dining scenes.

International cuisine and fine dining: USD 20–60 per person.

Drinks: Local bia hoi draft beer costs as little as USD 0.25. A Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) costs USD 0.50–1. International beers in bars: USD 2–4.

Domestic flights: USD 20–80 one-way depending on route and booking window. Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City flights start around USD 35–50 if booked 2+ weeks ahead (VietJet, Bamboo, Vietnam Airlines).

Sleeper trains: USD 20–45 for a soft-sleeper berth on the Reunification Express (Hanoi–HCMC, 32 hours). Excellent value and a great experience.

Open-bus tickets: USD 15–35 for city-to-city segments (Da Nang–Hue–Hoi An corridor). Comfortable for short-to-medium distances.

Grab (ride-hailing app): USD 0.80–3 for short urban rides. Much cheaper than flagging taxis.

Motorbike rental: USD 5–10/day for a scooter (semi-auto). USD 10–15 for an automatic. International licence or Vietnamese licence technically required.

Airport transfers: Grab is the most reliable. Taxis from Tan Son Nhat (HCMC airport) to District 1: USD 5–8. Noi Bai (Hanoi) to Old Quarter: USD 10–15.

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). As of 2025, USD 1 ≈ 25,000 VND. Notes come in large denominations (500,000 VND ≈ USD 20) — get used to handling large numbers.

Cash vs card: Vietnam is still largely cash-based outside of upscale hotels and restaurants. Always carry VND. ATMs are widely available in cities but may charge fees (30,000–55,000 VND per withdrawal). Use ATMs inside banks or reputable locations to avoid skimming.

Best exchange rate: Exchange at licensed money changers or banks (better than airport kiosks). USD and EUR are the easiest to exchange. Keep USD bills clean and undamaged — torn or heavily written-on notes are often refused.

Tipping: Not expected in local restaurants and street food. Tip 10–15% in tourist restaurants, hotels, and for tour guides. Round up with taxi and Grab drivers if you want.

Bargaining: Expected at markets and with street vendors. Not appropriate in shops with fixed prices or restaurants.

Vietnam is generally safe, but a few scams are common enough to know:

Taxi scams: Avoid unmarked taxis at airports. Use Grab or official taxi companies (Vinasun in the south, Mai Linh nationwide). Watch for rigged meters.

Motorbike "helpers": Unsolicited riders offering to take you somewhere and later demanding payment. Agree on prices before getting on.

Xe om overcharging: Motorbike taxi drivers in tourist areas often quote 5–10× the fair price. Use Grab for transparency.

Shoe cleaning / flower seller pressure: Common in Hanoi and HCMC — someone cleans your shoes or hands you flowers without asking, then demands payment. Politely refuse upfront.

Fake travel agencies: Book tours with established agencies or through your accommodation. Be wary of very cheap tour offers with no reviews.