Budget Travel in Vietnam

Where to Stay

Cheap Accommodation

Vietnam offers incredible value for accommodation. You can find clean, comfortable places to stay at a fraction of what you'd pay in Europe or North America.

Getting Around on a Budget

Transport in Vietnam is remarkably cheap. Here's how to get the best value:

• Use sleeper buses for overnight journeys between cities — saves a night of accommodation.
• The Reunification Express train offers scenic, affordable travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
• Book domestic flights early — VietJet Air offers fares from $25 one way.
• Use the Grab app for transparent, metered taxi and motorbike rides.
• Rent a bicycle in Hoi An or Ninh Binh for free or low-cost exploration.
• Negotiate xe om (motorbike taxi) fares before getting on, or use Grab for fixed prices.
• Local public buses are extremely cheap (5,000–7,000 VND per ride) in Hanoi and HCMC.

Eating on a Shoestring

Vietnam is a food paradise for budget travellers. You can eat incredibly well for just a few dollars a day.

• Street food meals cost 25,000–50,000 VND ($1–2). Pho, banh mi, and com tam are filling and delicious.
• Local "com binh dan" (people's restaurants) serve rice with multiple toppings for 30,000–50,000 VND.
• Markets are cheaper than restaurants — eat at the food stalls inside Ben Thanh, Dong Xuan, or Hoi An markets.
• Drink bia hoi (fresh draught beer) for as little as 5,000 VND per glass in Hanoi.
• Buy fruit from street vendors — a whole pineapple costs about 15,000 VND.
• Supermarkets and convenience stores (Circle K, Vinmart) sell snacks and drinks at fixed, fair prices.
• Avoid tourist-area restaurants with English-only menus — they charge 2–3x local prices.

Free & Low-Cost Attractions

Some of Vietnam's best experiences cost nothing at all. Here are our favourite free activities:

• Walk around Hanoi's Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake — free and endlessly fascinating.
• Explore Ho Chi Minh City's historic District 1 on foot — Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.
• Wander the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An's Ancient Town (entrance ticket required for specific houses/temples, but streets are free).
• Visit free Buddhist temples and pagodas across the country — Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in HCMC.
• Hike in Sapa's rice terraces — many trails are free to walk without a guide.
• Relax on Vietnam's beautiful public beaches — An Bang (Hoi An), My Khe (Da Nang), Long Beach (Phu Quoc).
• Enjoy Hanoi's weekend night market on Hang Dao Street every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening.
• Watch the sunrise over Halong Bay from the shore at Bai Chay Beach (free alternative to a cruise).