What can you buy with 20,000 dong in Vietnam?

What can you buy in Vietnam with 20,000 Dong?

Twenty thousand Dong. It’s not much, is it? Just enough for small comforts, fleeting moments.

• Che, sweet soup. Fifteen thousand. Sweetness, then gone.

• Banh Trang Nuong. Crispy, grilled rice paper. I used to share these with Linh after school. Fifteen thousand, a memory.

• Banh Mi. Bread, pate, pickles. Eighteen thousand. So cheap, so filling, I miss Saigon street food.

• A bowl of noodles. Twenty thousand. Slurped down on a plastic stool. The taste of Vietnam. It’s always twenty thousand.

Is 1 million Dong a lot in Vietnam?

A million Dong? Hah! That’s like finding a twenty-dollar bill in your old jeans—nice, but not gonna buy you a yacht.

43 US dollars, that’s it. Think of it this way: a fancy dinner for two in a semi-decent Hanoi restaurant.

Seriously, you could blow that on pho and street food in a day. My cousin spent more than that on a single bowl of bun cha last week—the one with extra pork belly, you know? He’s a spender!

Here’s the lowdown:

• It’s not rich-people money. Think more along the lines of “enough for a decent meal and a beer.”
• Tourist trap alert. That 43 bucks vanishes faster than a plate of spring rolls at a popular tourist spot.
• Local context matters. For a local, it might be a week’s worth of groceries for a small family; for a tourist, a single taxi ride to the airport could gobble that up.
• Better to compare it to your daily budget than use some abstract notion of “wealth”. If you’re from Switzerland it is nothing. If you’re from Zimbabwe it is a huge amount.

My Uncle Nguyen, bless his heart, said he needs three million Dong a day for his daily needs! He always exaggerates.

Bottom line: Don’t quit your day job. Yet.

How much Dong does food cost in Vietnam?

Street food can be quite affordable, with meals averaging 20,000 to 70,000 VND. Think delicious pho or rice dishes. It’s the everyday fuel of Vietnam.

Mid-range restaurants, catering to tourists or offering a wider variety, usually range from 100,000 to 250,000 VND. This includes international options too. One finds what they seek, doesn’t one?

Prices are always subject to location. My favorite banh mi spot near District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, might be pricier, just because of its prime location. Such is life!

What is cheaper in Vietnam?

Okay, so Vietnam, right? Stuff’s crazy cheap there. Seriously. Rattan baskets? Those are a steal. Gorgeous, high-quality stuff, way cheaper than here. I bought, like, ten last year. Wicker too, it’s all amazing.

Coffee’s another thing. Robusta’s everywhere, it’s ridiculously inexpensive. You gotta be careful though, some places are tourist traps. But if you know where to go, man, the coffee is superb and dirt cheap. Way better than Starbucks, way cheaper too. Seriously.

And clothes! Oh my god, the clothes. I stocked up on so many shirts, the quality is good. So much better than those fast fashion places, and a fraction of the cost. Think tailor-made shirts for like, five bucks. Okay, maybe ten but still…

Things you should totally snag:

• Rattan baskets – the best deal ever!
• Robusta coffee beans – seriously good coffee, so cheap!
• Custom-made clothes – get shirts tailored, they’re amazing!
• Silk scarves – beautiful and affordable.
• Lacquerware – gorgeous stuff, great souvenirs!

I’m telling you, Vietnam 2024 was a shopping paradise. I spent so much money, but still saved a ton. My suitcase was way over the weight limit coming home. Its defintely worth checking out if you’re on a budget. Plus, you know, the food’s amazing, too! The street food… you have to try the pho. It’s unreal.

What is the cheapest business type to start?

Pet sitter… huh. Seems easy, right? Everyone loves animals. Seventy percent of homes own a pet now. Wow. Imagine being surrounded by fluffy faces all day. But is it really fulfilling? I dunno.

Dog walker… fresh air, exercise. I love that for them. Could I? Walking dogs for money sounds… strange. I’d probably get attached.

Babysitter. No. Just no. Been there, done that with my cousins. Never. Again.

Consultant. I wish. Like I have advice anyone needs. What could I even consult on? My crippling anxiety?

Tutor…I was barely passing myself, what makes me think I could teach someone else anything? It’s laughable.

Print-on-demand. So many options now. What’s the point? I’d probably just design depressing t-shirts. It requires marketing though.

Social media manager. That’s what everyone thinks they are now, even me. Everyone posts online. But can I really help someone to be influential? I doubt it.

Freelance writer/editor. I like writing, I do it so often. But, is it worth it if you write about meaningless topics to earn a penny? Sometimes, I ask myself this question.