How much will a Vietnam trip cost? Full Breakdown 2023

How much will a Vietnam trip cost is usually the first question that comes to mind the moment you consider Vietnam as an option for your next trip. Isn’t it?

But you hardly ever come across a straightforward answer to this question. But in this post, I aim to clear the confusion for you and give you an actual estimate of a trip to Vietnam – at least one that’s recent, updated, and useful to you for Vietnam trip planning in 2023.

Don’t want to read the full post? Want a quick estimate for a trip to Vietnam? Use the Vietnam trip budget calculator below.

Have some extra time? Want more details on the average trip cost to Vietnam? Wondering how to use the calculator above?

Read this entire post to get a complete idea of the costs of traveling to Vietnam.

How Much Does a Trip to Vietnam Cost? Quick Overview

If you don’t want to read the full post but want a quick idea of how much a trip to Vietnam would cost, here’s an overview with the average costs per person.

Budget trip cost to Vietnam: USD 50 per day
Mid-range trip cost to Vietnam: USD 80-100 per day
High-end trip cost to Vietnam: USD 185+

The above figures are a slightly higher-end estimate of the total costs of a Vietnam trip. The actual costs would differ based on the number of internal flights, the type of Halong Bay cruise you book, the number of cities you cover, the amount of shopping you indulge in, and the type of sightseeing attractions you visit.

Read the detailed break-up section below to get actual per-day Vietnam trip cost estimates of the various heads of expenditure on a Vietnam trip.

Average cost of a trip to Vietnam – Full Breakdown

In this section, we will go over the key components of your Vietnam trip budget one at a time.

1. Accommodation in Vietnam

Accommodation in Vietnam is fairly affordable and offers tremendous value for money. The price will obviously vary depending on the city in which you’re staying and the quality of accommodation you choose.

But since I do not want to be vague, here are a few estimates for you

Accommodation in Hanoi costs

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and usually included in most Vietnam itineraries.

As a first time visitor to Vietnam, you should choose a stay in the Old Quarter of Vietnam. The location is central and there are plenty of things to do in the Old Quarter. Booking street food tours in Hanoi or tours to nearby places and cities is convenient if you stay in the Old Quarter.

The cost of accommodation in Hanoi shall be as follows:

• Budget accommodation – in hostels, guesthouses, etc. = approximately USD 7-10per person per day
• Mid-range accommodation – in centrally located hotels = approximately USD 40-60 (per person on a twin sharing basis) (We got a steal deal for the 4-star Hanoian Central Spa and Hotel – Agoda winner of the top choice of hotel in Hanoi – 2022)
• High-end accommodation – high end accommodation in Hanoi costs around USD 60-100 per person on a twin sharing basis

Accommodation in Hoi An/Danang costs

Accommodation in Hoi An or Danang is usually cheaper than accommodation in bigger cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Out of the central Vietnamese cities, Hoi An is probably the most expensive because of its touristy appeal.

The cost of accommodation in Hoi An, Danang or Hue shall be as follows:

• Budget accommodation – in hostels, guesthouses, etc. = approximately USD 7-10 per person per day
• Mid-range accommodation – in centrally located hotels = approximately USD 30-50 (per person on a twin sharing basis)
• High-end accommodation – high end accommodation in Hanoi costs around USD 50-90 per person on a twin sharing basis

But a few points to remember:
– Staying in Hoi An Old Town would be a bit more expensive than staying away from the Old Town
– Da Nang is home to numerous luxury chain resorts – a stay at one of the premium properties would be far more expensive than USD 50-90 per person. But mid-range properties in Da Nang are very affordable and offer the best value for money.

But since I do not want to be vague, here’re a few estimates for you

Accommodation in Ho Chi Minh costs

Ho Chi Minh is the biggest city in Vietnam and being its commercial hub – also the most expensive city in Vietnam.

Accommodation in central areas of Ho Chi Minh city like in District 1 or District 3 would be substantially more expensive than accommodation in central areas of Hanoi, Hoi An or Da Nang. But the extra money you spend on accommodation here would get set off against the more affordable stay in other parts of Vietnam.

As a first time visitor to Vietnam, you should choose a stay in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Most important tourist attractions in SaigonThe location is central and there are plenty of things to do in the Old Quarter. Booking street food tours in Hanoi or tours to nearby places and cities is convenient if you stay in the Old Quarter.

The cost of accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City shall be as follows:

• Budget accommodation – in hostels, guesthouses, etc. = approximately USD 10-15 per person per day
• Mid-range accommodation – in centrally located hotels = approximately USD 50-80 (per person on a twin sharing basis) We absolutely loved staying at Hammock Hotels in District 1 Ho Chi Minh City – and with all the freebies they offer, we ended up saving a lot of money on extras! Read our full review of Hammock Hotel.
• High-end accommodation – high end accommodation in Ho Chi Minh costs around USD 60-100 per person on a twin sharing basis

2. Food in Vietnam

The next expense on your trip to Vietnam shall be food. In Vietnam, you have plenty of food options. From local street food, to dining in local restaurants, cafés or fine dine places serving global cuisine – you can decide what to eat depending on your taste.

But to get the best feel of Vietnamese food, my advice to you would be
– to book a food tour in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city (to explore the best local food joints and taste the most authentic and delicious food, desserts and drinks in Vietnam)
– eat at a mix of street food places and restaurants serving Vietnamese food or global food (like Indian, Japanese, Italian restaurants)
– try their egg coffee, drip coffee, cold brew and other special coffee preparations

But to sum up, here’re typical cost estimates of meals in Vietnam:

• Vietnam street food cost: 1-2 USD per person per meal
• Vietnam Mid-range restaurant food cost: USD 10-15 per person per meal
• Vietnam High-end restaurant food cost: USD 20 and above per person per meal
• Vietnam beverage costs: USD 1-2 per person per beverage
• Alcoholic drink costs in Vietnam: USD 1 to USD 15 per person (Depending on what brand and alcohol you choose. Local beer is super cheap in Vietnam and a bottle of beer would cost only about 0.5-2 USD. But wines and expensive alcohol bottles could go all the way up to USD 15-20 per person depending on where you buy your alcohol from)

3. Sightseeing and Entrance ticket costs in Vietnam

The entrance ticket and sightseeing costs incurred would depend entirely on the places that you choose to visit.

Typically, the average cost of sightseeing in Vietnam per person per day are USD 20. Some Vietnamese attractions would be expensive but the free sightseeing places would offset those expenses and keep the overall Vietnam entrance ticket and sightseeing tour costs to around USD 20.

Some places where you’d end up spending a lot of money on entrance fees and sightseeing tours are:

Ba Na Hills: Approximately USD 40 (Booking a guided tour of Ba Na Hills using Viator saves some money)

Day trips: During your time in Vietnam, you’d go on a few day trips from your base city. An average day trip costs around USD 60-70 per person.

Some typical day trip options are:
– Day trips to Hue from Hoi An or Da Nang
– Day trip to My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An or Da Nang
– Day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City
– Day trip to Halong Bay from Hanoi
– Day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
– Day trip to Mua Caves from Hanoi

So if you’re on a budget, you should avoid a few of the above places or try to visit these places by yourself.

4. Local Commute costs in Vietnam

You can commute within a city either on a two-wheeler, or a car with driver. Grabs are available only in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, etc. Public transport is available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh but isn’t a very practical way of visiting the many tourist attractions in the city.

The typical costs of local commute are:

• Two wheeler rental costs in Vietnam (With petrol) – USD 7 per day
• Costs of hiring a car with a driver are USD 35-40 for about 8 hours

Grab even though available in major cities in Vietnam is often not a convenient
– language is a major barrier and communicating with Grab drivers could be a challenge
– many areas in the heart of the Hanoi and Hoi An are shut off for vehicular traffic

That said, taking a Grab from the airport to your hotel is one of the most comfortable and value for money option.

The other way of accessing tourist places when on a short trip to major cities in Vietnam is by using the well-connected hop-on-hop-off bus in Hanoi or the hop-on-hop-off bus in Ho Chi Minh city.

5. Inter-city commute within Vietnam

Vietnam is a long country and its major cities are spread out and quite far away from one another. Road journeys between cities are possible but not comfortable or recommended due to the vast distances between two cities.

The best way to travel from one city to another is by a flight. The average cost of an internal flight between two cities is around USD 70-100. I highly recommend booking a Bamboo Airways flight for their excellent hospitality and fewer flight cancellations. Read my full review of the Bamboo Airways.

You could also take a train between cities. The cost of AC- sleeper trains between major cities is around USD 35-50. But for how long a train journey between cities takes and how little the difference in ticket costs is, taking a flight between cities makes the most sense.

6. Other Vietnam Trip Expenses

Now that we’ve covered the basic costs of a trip to Vietnam, it is important to look at a few more expenses that you’d incur while traveling in Vietnam.

Halong Bay Cruise

Most tourists visiting Vietnam visit the Halong Bay area. You could either take a day trip to Halong Bay cruise or go on an overnight cruise to Halong Bay. A 2 day 1 night cruise is the most popular way of visiting Halong Bay. But some even prefer to go on a 3 day cruise to Halong Bay.

The typical average cost of a Halong Bay cruise are:

Day trip to Halong Bay: USD 70 per person
1 night 2 days Halong Bay cruise: USD 160 per person
2 nights 3 days Halong Bay cruise: USD 320 per person

Airport Transfers

Airport transfer costs in Vietnam would depend on the nature of transport you choose.

For a comfortable airport transfer, book a Grab or a private car transfer. Choose an airport shuttle if you’re on a budget. The cost of an airport shuttle is approximately USD 3. You can take an airport shuttle from Hawould be approximately USD 3.

The costs of airport transfer are:

By Grab (From airport to central touristy areas in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City): USD 15

By private car: USD 20

Quick note:
Getting a Grab will require you to go to a specific Grab pick up point. You’ll need internet access on your phone. Communicating with the driver would be challenge because of the language barriers. The drivers may try to cheat you by taking longer routes.

Plus, the difference in costs of a Grab airport transfer and a private car is minimal. So to save yourself unwanted hassle, I highly recommend booking this private airport pick up in advance.

Data+SIM

Leading SIM card companies in Vietnam are Viettel, Mobiphone and Vinaphone. I used Mobiphone and loved the network coverage and data speed. A Sim Card with My husband used Viettel – a slightly more expensive option but ran into trouble with insufficient data (probably because he was scammed and sold a used SIM card).

The sim cards sold at the airport often prove to be more expensive than SIM cards sold at official network companies. But regardless of which network provider you choose and where you buy your SIM from, the cost of a SIM card in Vietnam per day shouldn’t be more than USD 2 per day.

But based on our scammy experience with the vendors, buy an Airalo E-sim in advance. You don’t need to go through the hassle of changing the physical sim card and the prices are comparable with locally sold sim cards.

Shopping

There are plenty of things to buy in Vietnam – all available at super affordable rates. From silks, souvenirs, coffee, cheap shoes and clothes to fancy artwork – there is something for everyone.

So what you shop for and how much you shop for is a call you have to take and estimating how much you’ll spend on shopping is difficult.

The only tips I have for you to save money on shopping are
– to shop from local markets like the Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh city or Da Nang market and
– to bargain heavily.

Vietnam Budget Calculator

Now that I have given you a break-down of the costs of a trip to Vietnam, you can use the handy Vietnam budget calculator below.

The Vietnam trip calculator below takes into consideration the following:
– the average daily accommodation costs (based on style of travel)
– the average daily food, sightseeing and airport transfer costs (based on style of travel)
– the average cost of internal flights between cities
– the average cost of a Halong Bay cruise.

How to use the Vietnam budget calculator for your Vietnam trip
– Insert the number of people traveling to Vietnam
– Insert the number of days you plan on spending in Vietnam
– Insert the number of internal flights you plan on taking
– Insert whether you plan on going on a Halong Bay cruise and the type of cruise you’d take
– Insert your travel style (budget, mid-range or high-end)

The result will give you an approximate Vietnam trip budget for all adults put together excluding costs of flights to Vietnam and shopping expenses.

Vietnam Trip Cost – Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vietnam expensive?

Vietnam is not an expensive country and traveling on a budget of as low as as 50 USD per day including stay, food, sightseeing, internal commute and flights is easily possible. If you stick to just one city or travel internally within the country by train or bus, eat street food and stay at hostels and guest houses, you can even bring down the per day cost of Vietnam travel to USD 35-40.

How much money Do I need in Vietnam?

As you can see from the above breakdown, if you want to cover Vietnam properly and travel between important cities within the country, your average daily budget inclusive of stay, food, sightseeing, local commute and internal flights or train would be as follows:

Budget trip cost to Vietnam: USD 50 per day
Mid-range trip cost to Vietnam: USD 80-100 per day
High-end trip cost to Vietnam: USD 185+

The above amounts are purely an estimate and the costs can be brought down further by skipping expensive sightseeing options, opting for airport shuttles, renting two-wheelers for commute, etc.

How much does a trip to Vietnam for 7 days cost?

A trip to Vietnam for 7 days would cost USD 350 for a budget vacation, USD 700 for a mid-range vacation and USD 1295 for a high-end vacation. The suggested costs are costs per person for the entire duration and do not include internal flights, Halong Bay cruise and shopping and other extras.

How much will a Vietnam trip cost from India?

The average cost of a trip to Vietnam from India for 8 nights 9 days inclusive of flights, stay, food and sightseeing for a mid-range traveler would be around INR 1,00,000.

The break-up of these expenses would be as follows:
– Flights to Vietnam from India: INR 25000-30000
– Stay in mid-range accommodation in Hanoi, Hoi An/Danang and Ho Chi Minh city: INR 2,500 per person per day or approximately INR 20,000 for the entire trip
– Total Sightseeing costs (inclusive of Hanoi sightseeing, Da Nang, Hoi An, Ba Na Hills and Ho Chi Minh City) = INR 15,000 per person
– Food expenses (mix of street food, food at Indian restaurants and mid-range restaurants) = INR 18,000
– Internal flights from Hanoi to Da Nang, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City = INR 18000

In addition to this, you will need to factor the costs of your Halong Bay cruise, shopping and miscellaneous expenditure.

When we went to Vietnam, we also went on a 2 days 1 night Halong Bay cruise, which cost us USD 160 per person. So our total expense per person was approximately INR 130,000.

You can see our experience of the Halong Bay cruise in the video below:

Does Vietnam use cash?

Most commercial establishments, restaurants, hotels, super markets, grocery stores, spas and tour operators accept cards. But small shops and local street food vendors do not accept cards. The only currency accepted all over Vietnam is VND or Vietnamese Dong. So always carry some local currency cash with you when traveling in Vietnam.

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