Is Vietnam cheap or expensive?

Is Vietnam cheap or Thailand?

Vietnam’s cheaper. Definitely. That’s what I found anyway, last year, when I went backpacking through Southeast Asia. Felt the pinch in Thailand more, you know?

Sixty to a hundred dollars a day in Thailand? Yeah, sounds about right. Especially if you’re using tuk-tuks often. They’re fun, but…expensive. My bank account felt that.

Fifty to eighty in Vietnam. More manageable. Still, budget carefully. Even with that, I remember some days stretching those dollars thin. Tight.

Key Differences:

• Transportation: Tuk-tuks in Thailand rack up the cost quickly. Vietnam’s more affordable options abound.
• Food: Street food in both places is amazing, but Thailand’s a touch pricier in some areas I visited.
• Accommodation: Mid-range hotels—similar standard—are cheaper in Vietnam. Always book ahead though, especially during peak season. This is important. Learned that the hard way in Hoi An.

My Experience (2023):

• Went to both countries. Spent three weeks in Vietnam, two in Thailand. This is a fact.
• My daily spending aligned with those ranges, I swear.
• Amazing experiences in both, but I felt less stressed about money in Vietnam.
• Note: This is just my experience. Things change, prices fluctuate.

Is food and drink cheap in Vietnam?

Cheap? Relative. Lunch: VND 40,000-150,000. Soups cheaper, sometimes.

That iced coffee? Dirt cheap. Just don’t look too closely. Worth it. Probably.

Food cost varies. Street food is your friend. Restaurants, not so much. It’s a trade-off.

• Street Food: VND 20,000-70,000. Hygiene… debatable.
• Restaurants: VND 150,000+. Air conditioning costs extra, metaphorically speaking.
• Drinks: Bia Hoi: ridiculously cheap. Imported beer? Prepare your wallet.

Coffee stronger than my regrets. Maybe. Depends on the day, really.

What is a good daily budget for Vietnam?

A suitable daily budget for Vietnam from India is approximately ₹2,429. This covers:

• Accommodation: ₹1,000, allocating for simple lodging.
• Food: Another ₹1,000 – savoring the local pho and banh mi! The culinary landscape is diverse.
• Transportation: Roughly ₹571, good for buses, taxis, or ride-hailing. The traffic is wild, be warned!
• Activities: About ₹714, for temples or boat rides.

Seven days could cost approximately ₹17,000. Traveling is never cheap. My sister actually bargained down a silk scarf vendor by 20%!

However, you can adjust based on preferences.

How much Vietnamese dong do I need for 10 days?

Okay, so Vietnam…Budgeting, hmm? Okay, so I remember like, 2018? Yeah, 2018 I was in Hanoi.

Ten days huh? Listen, a mil a day is comfy. Seriously.

I spent like, 1 mil VND in a day? Maybe even less, but more if i shopped. Its easy to eat cheap.

• Cheap food: Street food is key. Like, pho for under 50k dong? Yes, plz.
• Sleep: Hostels are the WAY.
• Transport: Buses, buses, and more buses. So cheap.
• Bargaining: Always haggle, okay?

Yeah, 10 million VND for ten days. Should be good.

Airbnb’s are also good, if you dont wanna hostel.

Oh! and remember, the exchange rate changes, so check the current rate.

I bought a sick fake North Face jacket. Cost like, nothing! Ha! I still got it.

How much does food cost in Vietnam per day?

Ah, Vietnam. Food costs? Depends if you’re eating like a local god or a picky tourist.

• Lunch? Think $2 to $7.50 USD. Basically, pocket change. Bargain!

That is, IF you skip the overpriced tourist traps. Those will bleed your wallet dry. Like a mosquito on a summer night! Seriously. Avoid those “authentic” pho places plastered with English signs.

• Street food is your friend. Trust me on this one.

I ate pho once for like, 50 cents? Life-changing! Okay, maybe not. But close.

• Dinner? Up the ante slightly. Maybe $5 to $15 USD. Ooh, fancy!

But still, compare that to, say, ordering a single appetizer in New York? Highway robbery, I tell you!

• Drinks? Dirt cheap. Especially bia hoi. It is basically the nectar of the gods. Or, at least, budget travelers.

Seriously, you can get a beer for less than you’d pay for water in some places. Priorities, am I right? And my sister, she insists on bottled water. Spoiled.

• Overall, expect to spend $15-$30 USD a day on food. Assuming you’re not living off instant noodles. Though, let’s be honest, sometimes instant noodles just hit different, right?

  • But hey! splurge on that bowl of Bun Cha, okay?

Let’s unpack that, yeah? Street food rocks, but hygiene standards differ. And negotiation? Hone your skills, friend. Those vendors see a naive face from a mile away! Plus! Don’t be that person, the one constantly haggling over pennies. Also, water. Safe is better. My stomach thanks me.