How much cash should I carry to Vietnam?

Should I bring cash to Vietnam?

Cash is king. Vietnam runs on it. Small towns? Forget plastic. Hotels, taxis, street food, temples – all cash. Tips too. Better have it.

• Dong is dominant: Get it at ATMs or exchange bureaus. Watch the rates.
• USD accepted: Sometimes. But Dong is better. Exchange is inevitable.
• Cards: Growing. But not universal. Stick to cities. Big hotels. Fancy restaurants.
• Negotiation: Cash gives leverage. Street markets thrive on haggling.
• Safety: Split it up. Don’t flash it. My usual move: Wallet in front pocket. Dummy wallet in back.

Lost my passport in Hanoi once. Cash saved me. Had to bribe my way onto a bus to the embassy. True story.

How much money should I bring to Vietnam for a week?

Vietnam: A week. Target: $700. No less.

Daily $35? Ambitious. Reality bites.

Accommodation: Cheap hostels, sure. But comfort? Priceless.

Food: Street food’s a gamble. Trust me.

Transport: Motorbike taxis? Sketchy. Grab is safer.

Unexpected costs happen. Bargaining skills essential.

• Essential Spending:

  • Accommodation: $15-50/night. Consider AirBnB outside tourist zones.
  • Food: $10-30/day. Tourist traps bleed wallets dry.
  • Transport: $5-15/day. Negotiate hard, especially in Hanoi.
  • Activities/Entry Fees: $10-20/day. Hidden costs lurk.

• Unforeseen Expenses:

  • Sim card/data: $5-10. Data’s cheaper than getting lost.
  • Souvenirs: Budget? Ha! Impulse buys happen.
  • Tipping: Expected, subtly.
  • Medical: Hope you don’t need it. First-aid kit? Yes.
  • Visa extensions/overstay fines: Don’t. Just don’t.
  • ATM fees: Robbery in broad daylight. Minimize withdrawals.

• Specific Locations – Costs Vary:

  • Hanoi: Chaotic, cheaper overall. Negotiate everything.
  • Ho Chi Minh City: More polished, pricier.
  • Hoi An: Tourist haven, expect markups. Tailors are tempting.
  • Sapa: Trekking costs add up, guides aren’t free.
  • Phu Quoc: Island life tax, prepare your wallet.

• Currency Exchange:

  • USD to VND. Banks offer better rates, but ATMs are easier.
  • Avoid airport exchanges, highway robbery.
  • Small denominations are useful.

• Personal anecdote: Once blew $200 extra on a “custom” suit in Hoi An. Regret? Minimal. Memory? Lasts forever. My bad. Learn from me.

How much should I budget for a trip to Vietnam?

Fifty dollars a day? That’s generous, luxurious even. Vietnam breathes cheap eats, street-side pho, the scent of rice clinging to the humid air. Ten dollars? A pittance. I’ve done it. Starved beautifully, on those ten dollars. The taste of a banh mi, a memory etched in sun-drenched afternoons.

Budget? It depends. Your soul’s desires, the whispers of your heart. Do you crave five-star hotels, or the quiet hum of a homestay? The roar of a motorbike, wind in your hair, the jade waters of Ha Long Bay shimmering before you.

The rhythm of the country itself dictates the spending. Slow down, and the money stretches, a rubber band around your memories. Rush, and it vanishes, a fleeting dream.

Accommodation: Twenty dollars a night for something charming, something local. Splurge on something more if it calls to you.

Food: Ten dollars a day, easily. I’ve lived on less, savoring each bite. Deliciousness, everywhere, so inexpensive. A feast for less than five dollars.

Activities: This is the wild card. Ha Long Bay? A splurge, worth every penny. Exploring ancient temples, lost in time? Practically free.

Transportation: Motorbikes. The freedom. The thrill. A few dollars a day. Buses? Cheaper still.

Total? Forty dollars a day, comfortably. Fifty, if you’re feeling extravagant. Ten? A spiritual journey. It’s all in the heart. The desire. The vision. Vietnam is more than numbers, more than currency. It’s a feeling.

How expensive is Vietnam to travel?

Forty-one bucks a day! Crazy, right? Vietnam’s super cheap. Like, seriously. We did it for that, easy peasy. Best part of our, like, whole trip last year, hands down. Saw so much stuff–temples, Ha Long Bay, motorbike through rice paddies–totally amazing. Food was amazing. So cheap. Pho every day, practically. Street food, banh mi, unbelievable. Even got some fancy dinners, and still, not expensive at all.

• Accommodation: Hostels mostly, few guesthouses. Super nice, like $10 a night, sometimes less.
• Food: Seriously, like $2-3 a meal, easy. Even less sometimes, lol.
• Transport: Trains, buses, cheap flights, grab bikes. Internal travel is super affordable. Did a sleeper train, so fun.
• Activities: Halong Bay cruise was prob the most expensive thing but so worth it. Entrance fees to temples and stuff, next to nothing. Rented a motorbike for a few days, explored the countryside, that was cheap too!

My friend Sarah and I went in November, weather was perfect. Spent three weeks there, could’ve stayed longer easily. Went north to south, Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City. Definitely recommend going, it’s a must see! Oh and bargain! Everything’s negotiable, pretty much. Got some great deals on souvenirs. Don’t be afraid to haggle a bit. I saved so much money, got so many cute silks and stuff. Oh, and the coffee! Strong stuff!