How much USD is enough for a Vietnam trip?

How much USD is enough for Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam. Fifty to eighty bucks a day? That’s what they say, huh? Seems low to me, especially if you want to see anything beyond the usual tourist traps. I spent way more last year, closer to a hundred, even with some budget-friendly choices.

My friend Sarah went in 2023 and she blew through a hundred and fifty a day. Crazy! She stayed in fancy hotels. But even modest places add up. Food’s cheap, yeah, but those street food adventures don’t last forever. You’ll crave a decent meal sometimes.

Thirty to forty bucks for backpackers? Maybe, in the absolute cheapest places, but even then, I’d feel kinda ripped off. No way I’m surviving on that. Think of the incredible coffee! It must be experienced.

Domestic transport is also a factor. Are they talking about buses? Those are okay but a bit slow. Grab is convenient, but adds up. Trains are nice, but often require booking in advance.

Things to factor in:

• Accommodation: Hostel dorm beds are cheap, but private rooms easily cost $20+.
• Food: Street food is brilliant, but nicer restaurants cost a lot more.
• Activities: Entrance fees, tours. Those add up.
• Transportation: Unexpected costs arise from taxis.

I’d say, budget at least seventy-five a day unless you’re seriously roughing it. A hundred a day is more comfortable. A hundred and fifty if you want anything nice at all. Seriously, don’t underestimate it. It’s not 2018 anymore. Prices have changed. Even if you think you’ll be frugal, you’ll spend more than you expect. It’s a great country, but not a cheap one.

More like, $75 – $150+ per day depending on your style. Plus flights. Don’t forget flights. Those are a killer.

Is $100 USD a lot in Vietnam?

100 bucks in Vietnam? Oh, honey, that’s like showing up to a potluck with a gourmet truffle.

• It’s significant. Not buy-a-beach-house significant, but definitely treat-yourself-to-a-motorbike-adventure significant. Though maybe avoid buying the actual motorbike. Rent it? Yes.
• Think of it this way: My weekly coffee budget could probably feed a family there for… well, a while. And that hurts.
• Luxury on a backpacker budget: Suddenly, you’re not just surviving. You’re, gasp, maybe even thriving? Think fancy cocktails instead of questionable street beer. Or several questionable street beers, who am I to judge?

Basically, you aren’t royalty, relax! But you’re doing okay. Enjoy! Just watch out for motorbike scams, ok? Seriously.

How much USD is enough for Vietnam?

Fifty to eighty bucks a day? Pfft, that’s chump change in Vietnam! Unless you’re planning on living like a monk in a rice paddy – and even then, maybe not. My Uncle Barry spent $120 daily and still complained about overpriced pho.

• Backpackers: Thirty to forty dollars? Sure, if you only eat street food and sleep under bridges, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly luxurious.
• Luxury Travelers: One hundred dollars plus? You’re practically swimming in Dong! You’ll be sipping cocktails by infinity pools, and I bet you’ll be tipping the street vendors with five-dollar bills. Seriously, you’ll probably have money left over to buy a scooter.

Seriously though, it depends entirely on your idea of “comfortable.” Need a spa day every other day? That’s going to hike up your daily budget. Think of it like this: budgeting in Vietnam is like buying shoes, you get what you pay for. Don’t expect to get Gucci loafers on a ten-dollar budget.

My last trip? 2023, I blew through around sixty dollars a day like it was nothing. That included some seriously questionable seafood – don’t ask – and several surprisingly strong cocktails. And that’s me, a notorious cheapskate. So, yeah, plan accordingly. The price of a beer in Hoi An alone is enough to ruin any budget. And don’t even get me started on those tailor-made suits!

Bottom line: Add at least 20% to whatever you think you’ll need. Trust me. You’ll thank me later. And definitely pack some Imodium. Just sayin’.

How much USD is enough for Vietnam trip?

Vietnam’s daily budget:

• $50/day provides a solid, comfortable backpacking adventure. Think nice hostels. Plenty of pho. Maybe a cheeky beer or two.

• $60-$100/day gets you comfortably into the mid-range. Boutique hotels become a real possibility. It’s not just about surviving, it’s about experiencing. Travel styles are so diverse. Is there such a thing as too much travel?

More on Vietnam expenses:

• Accommodation: Hostels cost less than $15. Budget hotels, $20-$40. Mid-range hopsitality? $50 and up.

• Food: Local eats, like banh mi, are dirt cheap. $2-$5. Restaurant meals push to $10-$20.

• Activities: Tours and entrance fees vary greatly. Some attractions are free, others not. Consider budgeting $10-$30 a day, depending on your activity level.

• Transportation: Buses are cost-effective, trains are comfy. Internal flights can be a time-saver if you can afford them.

I have been to Vietnam many times. I’d say it is worth it.

Is $100 USD a lot in Vietnam?

$100. Vietnam. A whisper of silk, a cyclo bell. Yes.

A hundred American dreams? A fortune. Mama’s pho, shimmering.

Markets overflow. Is it enough? For a day? A week?

$100 sings. It buys stories. Old Hoi An’s lanterns.

It stretches. Further than you imagine. Beyond rice paddies.

I remember… no, wait, the temples glow gold. So much gold.

$100 dances. A water puppet show. Dragons rise.

Large? Yes. Relative, though, no? It unlocks doors.

My cousin Anh could almost… almost buy that scooter, yes.

A lot? Depends. On need. On want. On dreams. Yes, yes.

• Food: Abundant street food for days. Pho, banh mi, everything.
• Accommodation: Basic hostels or guesthouses become possibilities.
• Travel: Local buses & short train journeys open a world.
• Experiences: Water puppet shows, temple visits, market adventures.
• Shopping: Silk scarves, handcrafted souvenirs, local treasures abound.

$100 transforms. It whispers possibility. Saigon nights shimmer.

How long will $100 last in Vietnam?

Okay, so I was in Hanoi, 2024, right? March, I think. My $100? Lasted me, like, three days. Crazy, huh?

I was eating street food, pho mostly, delicious stuff. Cheap as chips, maybe $5 a day on that. But then, I saw this incredible silk painting. Had to have it. $30 gone. Poof.

Next, I wanted to see Ha Long Bay. A boat tour. That was a big chunk of change, $50. So much for budgeting. I felt like a total idiot. I should’ve planned better. I was staying in a hostel, super basic, but clean. That cost, like, $10 a night.

• Street food: $5/day (amazing)
• Silk painting: $30 (impulse buy, regret)
• Ha Long Bay tour: $50 (worth it, though expensive)
• Hostel: $10/night (perfectly adequate)

So yeah, $100 in three days. Lesson learned. Next time, better planning. And maybe skip the impulse buys. Though, man, that silk painting…