Guides

The Ultimate Budget Guide to Vietnam

How to travel Vietnam on $25 a day or less, from overnight trains and street food to the best-value regions for first-time backpackers.

Alex Rivera

Founder & Editor

· 2 min read

Wooden boats on the river at sunset in Hoi An, Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the best places on earth to stretch a travel budget. Stretching over 1,600 km from north to south, it packs mountains, coastline, and megacities into a single, cheap, well-connected trip.

How much does Vietnam really cost?

On $25 a day you can cover a dorm bed, three meals of genuinely great food, local transport, and a couple of sightseeing stops. Push that to $35–40 and you’re staying in private rooms with air conditioning and taking the occasional taxi.

  • Dorm bed: $4–8/night
  • Private guesthouse room: $12–20/night
  • Street food meal: $1–3
  • Local coffee: $0.50–1
  • Overnight sleeper train (long haul): $15–25

Getting around cheaply

The Reunification Express train line runs the length of the country and doubles as overnight accommodation — book a soft sleeper berth and you’ll save a night’s hotel cost while covering serious distance. Open-tour buses are the budget alternative, with flexible multi-stop tickets that let you hop on and off between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Renting a motorbike (from about $5/day) is the most popular way to explore regions like Ha Giang or the Hai Van Pass at your own pace, though it’s worth having some riding experience first.

Where to go on a budget

The north

Hanoi’s Old Quarter is dense with cheap eats and low-cost hostels. From there, budget bus tours to Ha Giang or Sapa cover dramatic mountain scenery for very little money.

The center

Hoi An and Hue combine historic charm with some of the cheapest tailored clothing and best street food in the country. Da Lat, in the central highlands, is noticeably cooler and cheaper than the coast.

The south

Ho Chi Minh City is the transport hub, but the real value is further out — the Mekong Delta offers boat tours and homestays for a few dollars, well off the standard tourist trail.

Money-saving tips specific to Vietnam

  1. Eat where locals eat — plastic stools and a handwritten menu almost always beat anywhere with an English menu and photos.
  2. Negotiate politely for motorbike taxis and market goods; a small discount is normal and expected.
  3. Buy a local SIM on arrival — data is inexpensive and makes navigating markets and bus stations far easier.
  4. Travel overnight on buses or trains to save a night of accommodation on longer routes.

With a bit of planning, two to three weeks in Vietnam comfortably costs less than a week in most Western European capitals — without compromising on food, scenery, or comfort.