How much money do you need for a holiday in Vietnam?

How Much Money Do You Need for a Holiday in Vietnam: Costs

Planning a trip requires understanding how much money do you need for a holiday in vietnam to manage expectations. Expenses fluctuate based on lifestyle choices, accommodation quality, and preferred travel methods across different cities. Knowing these financial requirements helps travelers avoid unexpected costs while ensuring a comfortable stay without financial stress.

How much money do you need for a holiday in Vietnam?

A holiday in Vietnam typically costs between $30 - $50 per day for budget travelers and $60 - $100 per day for a mid-range experience ^[1]. This wide range exists because the cost of vacation in vietnam per day depends on whether you choose 50-cent street beers or $500 luxury cruises.

Estimating your total budget depends heavily on your comfort level. For example, the vietnam trip cost for two for a 10-day trip can comfortably be around $1,200 USD or more, excluding international flights. This ^[2] covers decent mid-range hotels, plenty of delicious local food, and several major tours like a Halong Bay cruise.

Daily spending breakdown by travel style

To plan accurately, you need to identify which traveler tribe you belong to. While prices are rising globally, you may ask is vietnam expensive to visit? Most visitors find that their money goes about twice as far here as it does back home.

The Budget Traveler ($30 - $50 per day)

If you are happy staying in highly-rated hostels or basic family-run homestays, you can easily see Vietnam on $30 a day. This budget assumes you eat primarily street food - which is arguably the best food in the country anyway - and use local buses or walk between sights. It covers the basics and a few cheap beers, but you might have to skip the most expensive private tours.

The Mid-Range Explorer ($60 - $100 per day)

This is where most holidaymakers sit. At this level, you are staying in 3-star or 4-star boutique hotels with air conditioning and breakfast included. You can afford to take taxis or use Grab (the local version of Uber) for most trips and eat at a mix of local spots and air-conditioned restaurants. Understanding the vietnam budget vs mid range cost difference allows for bucket list items like a multi-day trek in Sapa or a mid-range Halong Bay overnight boat.

The Luxury Vacationer ($150+ per day)

Vietnam has an incredible luxury scene. For $150 or more per day, you can stay in world-class 5-star resorts, enjoy fine dining in colonial-era villas, and hire private cars with English-speaking guides. In places like Da Nang or Nha Trang, luxury beachfront resorts that would cost $800 a night in Hawaii often go for $250 - $350 here.

Key expense categories: Where your money goes

When I first moved to Southeast Asia, I spent hours obsessing over every dollar. I thought I could save a fortune by avoiding taxis. But here is the thing: the heat and humidity in Vietnam are no joke. Eventually, I realized that spending an extra $2 for a Grab car was the difference between arriving at a temple ready to explore and arriving as a literal puddle of sweat. It was the best $2 I ever spent.

Accommodation costs

Accommodation will be your biggest fixed cost. Private rooms in basic guesthouses start at $12 - $20 per night. If you want a pool and a central location, expect to pay $30 - $50. High-end hotels in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi generally range from $100 to $250. Keep in mind that prices can jump by 20 - 30% during the Tet Lunar New Year holiday, so book well in advance if traveling in late January or February.

Food and drink

Food is remarkably affordable. A bowl of world-class Pho on the street costs about $1.50 - $2.50. A local beer is usually under $1. If you prefer a nice sit-down dinner with wine in a tourist area, you might spend $15 - $25 per person. Interestingly, international food - like a good pizza or a burger - often costs nearly the same as it does in the US or UK because many ingredients are imported.

Transport and flights

Domestic flights between Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City are very common and usually cost between $40 - $80 one-way if booked a few weeks out. For those on a tighter budget, overnight sleeper buses are a classic experience, usually costing $15 - $25 for a long-distance journey.^[4] Within cities, a 15-minute Grab ride will typically set you back less than $4.

Vietnam Daily Budget Comparison

Budget Tier

- Hostel dorm or basic fan-cooled homestay

- Street food stalls and local markets

- Walking, local buses, or renting a bicycle

- $30 - $50 USD

Mid-Range Tier (Recommended)

- 3-star boutique hotel with AC and pool

- Mix of street food and sit-down restaurants

- Grab cars, domestic flights, and sleeper trains

- $60 - $100 USD

Luxury Tier

- 5-star luxury resorts or heritage villas

- Fine dining and hotel breakfast buffets

- Private car with driver and business class flights

- $150+ USD

Planning a Honeymoon: Linh and Mark's 14-day Budget

Linh and Mark, a couple from Australia, wanted a mix of adventure and luxury for their 2-week honeymoon in Vietnam. They initially budgeted $2.000 USD total but worried about overspending on 'tourist traps' and hidden fees.

They made the mistake of trying to book every single tour through their hotel lobby. Result: They paid nearly double for a Halong Bay cruise that turned out to be overcrowded and loud. They felt frustrated and like they were being 'milked' as tourists.

The breakthrough came when they started using local apps like Grab for transport and Klook for activity bookings. They realized that booking directly or through verified platforms saved them about 30% compared to hotel markups.

In the end, they spent $2.650 USD over 14 days ($95 per person daily). This covered three domestic flights, a high-end cruise, and several luxury dinners, proving that a 'splurge' trip is still very affordable compared to Sydney prices.