How Much Does A Vietnam Trip Cost?

When planning your trip to Vietnam, it’s crucial to consider the overall Vietnam trip cost. What expenses should you include, and how can you manage your budget to make the most of your vacation? Vietnam is a fantastic destination with diverse landscapes: mountains in the North, stunning beaches in the Central region, and the Mekong Delta in the South. Whether you’re traveling with family, as a couple, with friends, or even solo, this country has something to captivate you. In this article, we’ll provide the latest information to help you organize your Vietnam trip cost effectively. So, let’s dive in!

The short answer: a budget-minded traveller can manage on around 45 USD per person per day for accommodation, food, local transport and visits, before international flights, domestic flights, cruises and the visa are added. A bed in a dorm, hostel or homestay costs 12 - 25 USD a night and a 3-star hotel 50 - 55 USD, a bowl of pho is about 2.5 USD, a round-trip flight from the United States averages around 950 USD and the e-visa costs 25 - 50 USD if your nationality is not exempt. The sections below break these figures down, and a dedicated section further on estimates the cost by length of stay, from 1 week to 3 weeks in Vietnam.

I. How to organize your Vietnam trip cost?

To plan your Vietnam trip cost effectively, start by categorizing your expenses: airfare, accommodation, local transportation, activities, and meals. Costs can vary depending on the length of your stay and whether you’re traveling alone or in a group. It’s worth noting that group travel often costs less than solo travel. Here are some “fixed” costs you should consider for your Vietnam trip.

1. Vietnam flight price

The first expense to consider in your Vietnam trip cost is the price of flight tickets. Depending on when you plan to travel, prices can vary. For example, during Vietnam’s peak tourist season, which runs from October to April, tickets are generally more expensive.

For instance, a round-trip flight between America and Vietnam typically averages around 950 USD. That’s why it’s advisable to book your tickets as early as possible once your travel dates are set. This will help you manage your Vietnam trip cost and avoid any unexpected expenses.

2. Vietnam visa cost

Since August 2023, Vietnam has extended the visa exemption period for citizens from the UK, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russian, French and some other countries to 45 days. This means you can explore this beautiful country without paying any additional Vietnam visa fees.

If your country isn’t on the exemption list, don’t worry! Citizens from all over the world can obtain a Vietnam e-visa valid for up to 90 days, with a cost ranging from 25 to 50 USD. So if you are from the USA and Australia, you can apply to this e-visa for discovering Vietnam.

3. Vietnam accommodation cost

After planning your flights and visa, the next step in managing your Vietnam trip cost is choosing where to stay. Vietnam is known for its very affordable travel rates, meaning you can find hotels and hostels at really attractive prices.

Whether you prefer luxury travel or are looking to save money, there are options for every budget. Additionally, hotel prices can vary depending on the region you visit. Here’s an idea of the average accommodation costs in Vietnam: 

4. Local transportation cost

Organizing your Vietnam trip cost might seem a bit challenging, especially when it comes to transportation options. Fortunately, you have several choices depending on your budget and time. Here are some tips on choosing your mode of transport in Vietnam, along with the average prices:

- To travel between the North and South of Vietnam, opt for a flight: 100 USD for a Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight.

- If you’re looking to save money and don’t mind a longer journey (about a day and a half), choose the train: 55 USD for a Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City trip.

- For traveling between provinces and nearby cities, buses or sleeper buses are a good option: around 20 USD for a one-way ticket.

- For getting around within cities:

• Bus : 7 - 20 000 VND (0,3 - 0,9 USD)
• Moto-taxi : on average 2 - 4 USD per ride
• Taxi : on average 3 - 6 USD per ride

5. Food cost

When thinking of Vietnam, its delicious and affordable cuisine comes to mind. Just imagine: a large bowl of Pho for 2.5 USD, a coffee for 2 USD, and a Banh Mi for just 1 USD. Incredible, right?

If you’re mindful of your Vietnam trip cost, you can easily manage with 12 USD per person per day for food. Even dining at a restaurant, a meal costs on average only 10 USD per person. Vietnam is truly a country where eating well doesn’t have to be expensive!

6. Activities prices

Your Vietnam trip cost will vary depending on your travel style. If you dream of a beach getaway, you’ll need to budget for activities like a cruise in Ha Long Bay, flights to Phu Quoc Island, or boat trips to nearby islands for snorkeling or surfing.

However, in general, entrance fees to tourist sites in Vietnam are very affordable, ranging from just 1 to 10 USD. Additionally, you can easily check prices on the websites of the places you plan to visit, helping you better organize your Vietnam trip cost.

If you’d like a English-speaking guide to accompany you, plan for about 40 to 50 USD per day. But if you’re traveling in a group, you can share this cost, making it more manageable for everyone.

II. Daily trip cost in Vietnam

For a budget-friendly trip to Vietnam, plan for around 45 USD per day per person. Here’s the breakdown:

• Accommodation: 17 USD per night
• Food: 12 USD for three simple meals
• Transportation: 10 USD
• Activities: 6 USD

If you prefer a more luxurious stay, your daily Vietnam trip cost will be higher. Keep in mind that this amount does not cover long-distance travel (such as international flights, domestic flights, sleeper buses, cruises, etc.), visa fees, or shopping expenses.

Vietnam trip cost by length of stay

The daily figures above are the building blocks; how long you stay and how far you move around the country decide the total. Here is how the Vietnam trip cost usually evolves with the length of the holiday.

1 week in Vietnam

With a single week, the most economical plan is to stay in one region, for example Hanoi with Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, or Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta, so that you need few or no domestic flights. On the budget-friendly basis of around 45 USD per day, the week itself stays modest and the international flight becomes the main expense.

10 days in Vietnam

Ten days give you time to combine two regions, usually the North and the Centre or the Centre and the South, with one domestic flight in between. The daily budget hardly changes, but you add that flight plus one or two bigger excursions, such as a bay cruise. For a detailed breakdown, read our guide to the 10 days in Vietnam budget.

2 weeks in Vietnam

Two weeks is the classic length for a first North-to-South trip, and the budget depends more on your travel style than on the route itself.

• Budget trip: hostels or homestays, street food, buses and trains. Count roughly the 45 USD daily budget from section II for each of your 14 days, remembering that it excludes international and domestic flights, sleeper buses, cruises and the visa.
• Comfortable trip: 3-star hotels, local restaurants, a guide and a couple of domestic flights. As a reference, the 2-week package in section III.2 starts from 1600 USD per person with 3-star hotels, excluding the international flight.
• High-end trip: 4 and 5-star hotels or resorts, a private guide, a domestic flight on every long leg and a premium cruise push the total well above the comfortable level.

Budget by stage. One independent traveller who followed the classic route (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta) found that the overnight Ha Long Bay cruise was by far the most expensive stage, since cabin, meals and activities come as a bundle. The stages that included a domestic flight and airport transfers, Ninh Binh before flying to Hue and Hoi An before flying to Ho Chi Minh City, came in the middle. The cities and the Mekong Delta were the cheapest: entrance fees, a sampan ride and street food cost very little. In other words, the cruise and the number of domestic flights decide most of a 2-week budget; everything else is cheap.

Is Vietnam expensive or cheap for 2 weeks? Cheap by most standards, as long as you pick the right style. Visits, local transport and food cost little, so a simple trip stays low and a comfortable one remains reasonable; only resorts, premium cruises and private services move it into the luxury bracket. To plan the route itself, see our 2 weeks in Vietnam itinerary.

3 weeks in Vietnam

Three weeks let you cover the North, the Centre and the South without rushing and add a beach extension or a mountain trek. The daily spending stays similar, but the extra week, one more domestic flight and additional excursions raise the total; the 3-week beach package in section III.3 gives an idea of the all-inclusive level. Read our detailed 3-week Vietnam trip cost guide and our 3 weeks in Vietnam itinerary.

III. Estimated Vietnam trip cost for an all-inclusive holiday

Below is an estimated cost for some of the most common and popular all-inclusive tours in Vietnam. These prices are not fixed but offer a reference range. Please note that the vacation package prices do not include international flight tickets to Vietnam.

1. Vietnam trip cost 500 USD for 2 people

Mai Chau to Pu Luong Tour - Itinerary: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Pu Luong - Hanoi

Highlights: In northern Vietnam, Pu Luong and Mai Chau are natural paradises for nature lovers and hikers. With their mountains, terraced rice fields, waterfalls, and hiking trails, these destinations offer spectacular landscapes and unforgettable outdoor adventures.