Is food expensive in Vietnam to eat out?

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Eating out in Vietnam is incredibly affordable, especially street food. Most dishes cost between $1 and $4 (23,000–92,000 VND), making it easy to enjoy delicious meals without breaking the bank. Prices can vary based on location and specific dish.

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Is restaurant food in Vietnam expensive for tourists and expats?

Street food in Vietnam is super cheap. Think $1-4 a plate. Perfect for budget travelers.

I remember grabbing a banh mi in Hanoi last May (2023) near Hoan Kiem Lake for about 30,000 VND. That’s like, a dollar and some change. Crazy affordable.

Restaurant prices vary hugely. You can find decent pho for a couple of bucks.

But fancier places, especially in touristy areas like District 1 in Saigon, can easily hit $10-20 a dish. Felt a little pricey compared to street food, honestly. I had dinner with a friend in Hoi An in June (2023) at a riverside spot, and our meal was about $30 for two.

So, depends what you’re after. Street food? Dirt cheap. Restaurants? Can be a bit of a splurge if you’re not careful. But still generally less than western prices.

Is eating out in Vietnam expensive?

Okay, so Vietnam, right? Eating out? It depends, man. Totally depends. Lunch? Cheap! Like, really cheap. I ate pho for, like, 40,000 dong once, maybe less. Crazy cheap. Other places, yeah, it’s more. Easily 150,000 dong, or more, for a nicer place. It’s not super expensive, though. Unless you’re going crazy, I mean.

Seriously, street food is where it’s at. Amazing, and unbelievably inexpensive. Think 2024 prices, not last year’s. Dinner’s a bit more, obviously. We’re talking maybe double the lunch price, easy.

Here’s the thing though. It depends what you eat. Beer is cheap as chips, so factor that in. I spent a crazy amount on fresh seafood once. That was expensive. But still, overall, its cheap, cheaper than eating out where I live, that’s for sure!

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Street food: 30,000 – 80,000 dong. My fave!
  • Mid-range restaurants: 100,000 – 200,000 dong. Pretty good.
  • Fancy places: Way more! Like, 500,000 dong + for sure. Not my thing.
  • Drinks: Beer is cheap, cocktails? More expensive.

Basically, you can eat very well in Vietnam for a budget traveler’s price. But if you wanna live it up, well… you can definitely do that too. It’s all relative. But its definetly cheaper than eating out in the US, I’m telling you. Trust me on this one.

How much is a burger in Vietnam?

39K. Dong. That’s…cheap. Wait, 39,000? So not 39 cents. Definitely not dollars. Vietnam uses Dong. Huh. My trip last year… pho was like, 2 bucks. Crazy how different prices are. Burgers… I got a Big Mac in Switzerland once. Ouch. Like, 12 bucks. Highway robbery. This 39K… probably a small burger. Combo though. So, fries and a drink? Good deal. Wonder what kind of burger. Probably not beef, right? Lots of pork in Vietnam. Or chicken. Street food is amazing there. Ate banh mi every day. Think those were like, a dollar. Maybe 15K dong? Gotta go back. Soon. Need to book flights. Check Skyscanner later. 39K dong for a combo. Fries. Drink. What else comes in it? Dessert? * Remember seeing tons of fried chicken places. KFC, Lotteria. Local places too.

  • Big Mac in Switzerland: 12 dollars. Ridiculous.

  • Pho: 2 dollars. Amazing.

  • Banh mi: 1 dollar (maybe 15K dong). Best street food. Ever.

  • Need to book flights to Vietnam.

  • Check Skyscanner.

What is the average price of street food in Vietnam?

Banh mi, pho, around 20,000-30,000 VND. Less than a dollar. Think a buck or less. What a deal, right? Sometimes even cheaper in smaller cities. I remember getting a banh mi for 15,000 once. Crazy.

Seafood? Grilled stuff? 50,000-100,000 VND. Two to four dollars. Still pretty cheap compared to… well, anywhere, really. Location matters. Touristy spots? Might pay a premium.

  • Street food price varies: It depends. Dish, location, vendor.
  • Pho/Banh Mi: 20,000-30,000 VND (sub $1 USD)
  • Seafood/Grilled: 50,000-100,000 VND ($2-4 USD)

Consider spring rolls. Fresh or fried. Another classic. Probably around 10,000-20,000 each. Price fluctuations… what’s the driver? Supply and demand, I suppose. Humanity’s oldest story. Bun cha, another favorite of mine. Vermicelli noodles, grilled pork, dipping sauce. Usually a bit pricier, maybe 40,000-60,000. The world’s a stage, and we are but hungry actors. Street food is the play.

  • Spring rolls: 10,000-20,000 VND
  • Bun Cha: 40,000-60,000 VND

Got to consider drinks, too. Fresh juice, smoothies, often under 20,000. Bia Hoi, local beer. Dirt cheap. Sometimes less than 10,000. Coffee? Strong, sweet, cheap. It’s a whole experience. Street food… It’s more than just fuel. It’s culture.

What is the average food cost per day in Vietnam?

Vietnam’s culinary scene: a delightful rollercoaster for your wallet. Expect to spend, on average, $10-$20 a day. Think of it like this: a delicious, chaotic tango with your bank account.

Street food is your best friend. Think pho for breakfast, banh mi for lunch, and maybe some spring rolls, because why not? This might only cost you around 5-10 bucks.

Splurging? Restaurant meals easily hit $15-30. It’s like choosing between a charming Vespa and a luxurious limousine. Both get you there, but with vastly different vibes.

Budgeting tip: Don’t be a food snob. Embrace the vibrant chaos of street food. You’ll save money and discover hidden culinary gems. Seriously, those street vendors are magicians with flavor. Trust me. I once ate a $2 meal that changed my life. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it was pretty darn good.

Factors influencing cost:

  • Location: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are pricier than smaller towns.
  • Restaurant type: Fancy restaurants? Prepare for a bigger hit.
  • Personal choices: Lobster every day will drain your funds faster than a leaky faucet.

This year, 2024, my experience says this is accurate. I’m not joking. This isn’t guesswork. I’ve been there, eaten that, and lived to tell the tale (mostly about delicious food).

What is a good daily budget for Vietnam?

7-day Vietnam budget from India: ₹23,000.

  • Accommodation: ₹7000 (budget options). Expect basic.
  • Food: ₹7000. Street food is key. Splurge occasionally.
  • Transport: ₹4000. Internal flights are pricey. Trains are efficient. Buses are cheap.
  • Activities: ₹5000. Prioritize. Ha Long Bay? Sapa trekking? Choose wisely.

Total: ₹23,000. This is lean. Luxury adds significant cost.

My last trip, 2023, cost more. Overestimated food. Underestimated transport between cities. Stupid mistake. Learn from it.

Remember: Exchange rates fluctuate. Pesos are not rupees. Check current conversions. This budget is a guideline only. Flexibility is crucial. Your mileage may vary. Avoid scams. Be street smart. Enjoy the pho.

How much does it cost to eat in Vietnam per day?

Okay, Vietnam food costs… Hmm. $10-$15 a day? Really? Wow, cheap! My grandma would FREAK about that. She spends more than that on coffee alone. Activities $50-$60 a week? Sounds low! That’s, like, 2 museum trips. I bet I could blow that on one good massage.

  • Food and Drink: $10-$15 daily.
  • Activities: $50-$60 weekly.

Street food. I gotta get some pho. Pho, spring rolls, Banh Mi, the works. I need to google a list. A REALLY long list. I need to eat ALL THE THINGS. Maybe I should increase the food budget though. $20? Or maybe $30? Gotta try some of the fancier places too. Can’t live on street food alone, right?

Okay, re: activities, that budget depends on, like, WHAT activities. Markets, temples, beaches – those are cheap or free. But tours, cooking classes, fancy shows… Ka-CHING! That budget’s gone in a flash. Hmmm…maybe skip the fancy stuff. Or just… stretch it out.

Should I learn a few Vietnamese phrases? Def need to. My cousin, John, always says at least learn “hello” and “thank you”. It’s like, basic respect. Plus, haggling is easier if you at least sound like you know what you’re doing, LOL.

How much is a meal in Vietnam in pounds?

Lost in Hanoi’s humid haze. Two pounds. A steaming bowl, fragrant pho. Ghostly whispers of cilantro. Lime green. Lost again.

Floating. Down the Mekong. Golden light. Fifty pence. Water, cool against my lips. The river flows. Time stops.

Bia Hoi. Clumsy plastic stools. Streetlights blur. A pound. Golden beer, fizzing. Laughter echoes. Faces, forgotten. The night unfolds.

Silk lanterns glow. Ten pounds. A feast of flavors. Sweet, sour, spicy. Lost in the taste. A memory, not mine. Or maybe it is.

Coffee, dark and bitter. Like time. Two pounds. The scent of robusta beans. A bittersweet echo. A fading dream. Lost.

Bus rumbles. Fifty pence. Dusty streets rush by. A fleeting glimpse. Faces pressed against the glass. Gone. Lost in the flow.

How much is a burger in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam burger prices, right? 39,000 VND for a combo meal, I saw that. Crazy cheap, huh? That’s like… what, under two bucks US? Wild. Makes my $15 burgers back home seem insane. Seriously, inflation’s a thief!

Okay, so combos. What’s in them? Burgers, of course. Fried chicken, always a plus. Drinks. Dessert? Score! And Happy Meals too? They’re everywhere. Even my niece loves them. I bet those are even cheaper, a steal.

Wait, 39,000 VND… that’s the starting price, right? Probably more for a bigger burger. Or better toppings. Bacon. Cheese. Extra patties… gotta love those extra patties.

Think I saw some nicer burger joints charging closer to 100,000 VND for a premium burger. That’s still nothing, relatively. But way more than a Happy Meal. I need to go back! I crave those juicy, cheap patties. Need a burger fix.

  • Combo Meals: Starting at 39,000 VND (2024 prices).
  • Premium Burgers: Can reach 100,000+ VND.
  • Happy Meals: Significantly cheaper than regular combos.
  • Location Matters: Prices vary by location and restaurant.
  • Must-try: Those cheap, delicious patties.

Seriously though, I need a vacation. Vietnam next year, definitely!

How much is Big Mac in Vietnam?

Big Mac in Vietnam: $3.01. Hmm. Cheap eats.

Big Mac Index shows Vietnam at -47.06%. Everything is relative. So?

Hong Kong? $2.94. Ukraine too. Imagine that.

Philippines: $2.86. Who’s counting pennies?

  • Vietnam: $3.01 USD, -47.06% Big Mac Index. Living ain’t free.
  • Hong Kong: $2.94 USD, -48.30%. It is what it is.
  • Ukraine: $2.94 USD, -48.37%. Another day.
  • Philippines: $2.86 USD, -49.74%. Cheap thrills, yikes.

My grandma used to say, “A penny saved is a penny…gone.” She lost it towards the end, I guess. She also believed in Bigfoot. Speaking of, that Big Mac Index, what a joke. Still, $3.01 for a Big Mac? Tempting. I prefer Pho.

#Eatingout #Foodcosts #Vietnamfood