How much cash should I carry in Vietnam?

How much cash do I need for a week in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam cash, right? $200-$400? Maybe. Depends. I spent like $300 last year, but I ate street food ALL the time. So cheap! Nom nom.

Luxury hotels? Forget the $200. Think more like…$800 minimum. Crazy, I know.

Transportation? Buses are super affordable. Grab is fine too, but expensive for longer trips. Need to factor that in.

• Accommodation: hostels are cheap; fancy hotels are expensive. Duh.
• Food: street food is the best. I love pho.
• Activities: Ha Long Bay cost me a bomb. Worth it though. Amazing views. Definitely budget that separately.

Seriously though, $400 is likely low if you like nice things. If you’re backpacking, yeah, $200 might work. But I’d err on the side of caution.

My friend spent $700. She went nuts shopping, which I totally get, those silk scarves, omg. My bank account is crying just thinking about it.

This is 2024, by the way. Rates can change. Better to overestimate than be stuck.

Need more cash? ATM fees! Did you consider those? They’ll eat into your funds. Annoying.

I need a vacation. Vietnam again, maybe?

Is $1000 dollars enough in Vietnam?

$1000 for a month in Vietnam? Easily doable. Especially if you’re savvy. My friend, Mark, lived comfortably on less in 2023. He even splurged occasionally.

Accommodation: Finding a decent room outside the very center of Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi is cheap. Think $200-$400 a month max. Seriously.

Food: Street food is king! Delicious and unbelievably affordable. A month’s worth of amazing meals? Easily under $300. Budget-conscious eating is a breeze.

Transportation: Grab is your friend. Negotiate motorbike taxis if you’re feeling adventurous. Public transport’s surprisingly efficient in bigger cities. Maybe $100 tops.

Activities & Entertainment: This is the variable. Museums are inexpensive. Exploring markets is free. A couple of nice dinners? Factor in $200-$300 for occasional treats. It’s a matter of priorities. Life’s too short to scrimp on everything, right?

Ho Chi Minh City specifically: Rent is higher there than other places, obviously. But still, $1000 as a monthly salary for an expat? It’s tight, but manageable if you live modestly. You’ll need to be resourceful. This all hinges on lifestyle.

Cash: Carry some Vietnamese Dong. Credit cards are increasingly accepted in larger cities, but having cash is always handy for smaller vendors. I prefer a mix; some cards, some cash, just in case.

Additional factors to consider: Visa fees if applicable (check current regulations). Health insurance – crucial for peace of mind. Unexpected expenses. The cost of living fluctuates depending on the time of year, for that matter. Always buffer your budget.

• High-end travel? Forget $1000. That’s not going to cut it.
• Backpacker budget? $1000 is luxurious.
• Mid-range travel? Perfectly viable, with sensible choices.

$1000 for two weeks? Probably sufficient, depending on your tastes. It’s a little less leeway, of course. Consider flying into a smaller airport, that helps reduce costs. Remember, it’s a matter of smart planning. Vietnam is stunning. Enjoy it.

How much do you need a month to live in Vietnam?

Okay, so Vietnam? Hmm, let me tell you about my crazy trip last spring.

Spent a month there, right? In Hanoi. Freaking amazing food, chaotic traffic, you know, the real deal.

I budgeted, like, a tightwad, aiming for $700 tops. Ha! Reality hit hard.

Rent alone? My tiny Airbnb (near the Old Quarter, super noisy) ate up, uh, $300. Worth it for the location, though.

Food? So cheap! Street food’s the way, man. Pho for, like, a dollar? Yes, please! Think I spent $150 on eating out every day, coffee, and stuff.

Booze, though… that adds up, especially Bia Hoi. That darn cheap beer. Call it $50.

Travel? Buses, motorbikes (rented one for a week, scary good), call it $100. The rest I used to buy stuff, gifts for my fam and new friends, random tourist traps and some nice art in the Hoan Kiem Lake area.

So, yeah, $700 was a freakin’ lie. I blew through, easily, over a grand. Worth every penny, I tell ya! Still, you could live on less.

I mean, if you stayed outside of the city center it would have been a completely different story, but I wanted all the fun of the noise!

Things to consider when budgeting:

• Location, location, location!: Hanoi or a beach town changes everything.
• Accommodation: Hostels are super cheap.
• Eating habits: Street food vs. fancy restaurants (duh!).
• Activities: Tours, museums, partying.
• Transportation: Walking, buses, taxis, renting a motorbike (be careful!).
• Shopping: Souvenirs, clothes, etc.

Anyway, go to Vietnam. It is truly something special.

How much does it cost to live in Vietnam for a couple?

$1300 a month? Wow. Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, a couple could… live.

$500? Seriously? I remember those days, ramen every night kinda life. Okay.

• Rent is different. My old apartment in District 3…gone, probably.

• Food is so good, pho at 3 AM. Those were the nights.

• Living cheap is possible. But enjoyable? I don’t know, man.

• Districts matter. Binh Thanh feels different.

Okay, so, a breakdown.

• Apartment, maybe $600-800. Depends where.

• Food, $300. More if you want to eat Western food.

• Motorbike. Gotta have one. $1000 to buy, maybe.

• Visas. Oh man, the visas. Such a pain.

Life happens, yknow. I miss it. Do I?