Vietnam Travel Costs

Depending on how you like to travel, daily spend can range from as little as 750,000 VND ($30 USD) on a lean backpacker day to well over 5,000,000 VND ($200 USD) for resort-and-fine-dining comfort. Most independent travellers land somewhere in the middle, and that sweet spot is excellent value by any measure.

Mid-range travellers typically spend between 1,500,000 and 3,000,000 VND ($60 to $120 USD) per day, comfortably covering a private hotel room, two or three good sit-down meals, ride-hailing between sights, and the occasional paid attraction or day trip. If you’re travelling on a tight backpacker budget, the country genuinely rewards the effort, street food, free beaches, and local buses keep daily costs remarkably low.

At the high end, luxury travel in Vietnam punches well above its weight too. Five-star resorts, private speedboat charters, and Michelin-level tasting menus cost a fraction of what you’d pay in Bangkok or Bali for the equivalent experience. For a detailed first-timer’s overview of where to put your money, our complete Vietnam first-timer guide covers everything from what to budget to what to skip.

• Transport Apps: Download Grab, Xanh SM, and Be before you land. All three offer upfront fixed pricing for both motorbike and car rides, and are the safest way to get around cities without fare disputes.

• Airport Transfers: For stress-free arrivals, particularly with family or heavy luggage, Welcome Pickups offers pre-booked private transfers with a meet-and-greet service and fixed rates. Worth every dong on a long-haul arrival day.

• Accommodation: Agoda has the deepest inventory in smaller Vietnamese towns and is the go-to for budget and mid-range options. Booking.com is the better choice when free cancellation is a priority.

• Activities and Tours: Klook and Get Your Guide are the go-to platforms for booking vetted day trips, cooking classes, and skip-the-queue tickets.

• Data and Connectivity: Pick up a local eSIM via Yesim before you fly. It activates from the moment your plane lands, so you have maps and translation ready from your first step out of the terminal. Saily and Airalo are solid alternatives if Yesim doesn’t cover your home country for purchase.

Vietnam’s accommodation scene caters to everyone, from solo travellers pinching every penny to families wanting full resort comfort. Hostel dorm beds start from around 150,000 VND ($6 USD) per night in most cities. Clean, well-reviewed private rooms in guesthouses and mini-hotels are widely available for 375,000 to 750,000 VND ($15 to $30 USD).

Where to Stay and What to Pay

In Hanoi’s Old Quarter, atmospheric boutique hotels are stacked into narrow shophouses, and even mid-budget options often come with rooftop terraces and included breakfasts. Heading south to Da Nang, beachfront apartments along My Khe are a firm favourite for mid-range travellers and remote workers who want space, a kitchen, and the sea on their doorstep.

At the top end, the colonial-era hotels in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 and the oceanfront resorts on Phu Quoc command international five-star rates, often starting above 6,250,000 VND ($250 USD) per night. Central Vietnam offers some of the best mid-range value on the continent: Hoi An guesthouses and Hue boutique hotels deliver genuine charm at a fraction of beach-resort prices.

For families booking resort-style stays or villa packages, Agoda and Booking.com offer the widest selection and the most transparent cancellation policies across all regions.

Getting around Vietnam is remarkably affordable, and the range of options is impressive. A quick motorbike taxi hop across a city centre costs around 25,000 VND ($1 USD) via ride-hailing apps. Domestic flights between major cities such as Hanoi and Da Nang typically cost between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 VND ($40 to $80 USD) when booked a few weeks out.

Booking trains and buses in advance through 12GO is one of the most reliable ways to compare routes, lock in a seat, and skip the queue at the station.

Moving Between Cities

Domestic airlines like VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines run frequent, affordable routes the full length of the country. For something more atmospheric, the Reunification Express train hugs the coastline between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and booking a soft-sleeper berth conveniently folds your accommodation costs into your transport spend.

Overnight sleeper buses are the cheapest long-haul option, particularly useful for reaching mountain destinations like Sa Pa or the dunes of Mui Ne. Our full how to get around Vietnam guide breaks down every mode with current prices.

Getting Around Town

Ride-hailing apps have completely transformed urban transport here. Grab, Xanh SM, and Be all offer transparent pricing for both motorbike taxis and car rides, making it easy to get anywhere without worrying about being overcharged. Not sure which app to use?

Our Grab vs Xanh SM comparison will help you decide. Renting your own scooter costs around 150,000 VND ($6 USD) per day and gives you total freedom, though city traffic does take some getting used to. For families or groups arriving at airports, Welcome Pickups offers pre-booked private transfers with fixed pricing and a meet-and-greet service, removing a lot of first-day stress.

Bargaining is completely normal in traditional markets and street stalls selling clothing, souvenirs, and handicrafts. A reasonable starting counter-offer is around 50% to 60% of the first price quoted, negotiated with warmth and a genuine smile. If the vendor won’t come down to a number you’re happy with, politely walking away is perfectly acceptable and very often results in a better offer being called after you. Never bargain for street food or drinks; those prices are fixed.

Tipping is not a customary expectation in Vietnam at casual eateries or market stalls. At high-end spas, luxury hotels, or with private tour guides at historic sites like Hue’s Imperial Citadel, a tip of 50,000 to 100,000 VND ($2 to $4 USD) is a very welcome and appreciated gesture. For a broader look at how to navigate social customs without accidentally causing offence, our Vietnamese culture and etiquette guide is worth a read before you go.

At Temples and Sacred Sites

Entry to most pagodas and temples is free, though leaving a small donation in the charity box at places like Hanoi’s Tran Quoc Pagoda is a respectful sign of gratitude. Always cover shoulders and knees when visiting religious sites. Vietnam’s festival calendar is worth checking too, visiting during Tet or a regional festival adds a layer of cultural richness that no entrance fee can buy.

Vietnam is a very safe country for travellers of all kinds. The most common issues are minor currency confusion and opportunistic petty theft in busy tourist areas. The Vietnamese Dong has a lot of zeros, and the 20,000 VND note looks surprisingly similar to the 500,000 VND note under dim market lighting. Take a moment when counting out cash, especially at night.

Keep bags zipped and phones out of plain sight in crowded spots like Hanoi’s Old Quarter or Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City. Carry a mix of denominations rather than large notes, as small stalls struggle to break 500,000 VND bills. For a thorough run-through of common scams and how to sidestep them, our Vietnam safety guide has you covered. It’s also worth taking note of common travel mistakes visitors make, currency mix-ups and overpaying for transport feature near the top of that list.

It’s also worth keeping a note of AirHelp in case flight disruptions affect your itinerary. Knowing your passenger rights for delayed or cancelled flights can save a significant amount of stress and money on longer trips. Travel insurance is non-negotiable for any Vietnam trip of substance, SafetyWing is a solid option for flexible, rolling cover that works whether you’re here for two weeks or six months.