Vietnam Travel Cost: A Realistic Budget per Day and per Trip

The Vietnam travel cost for most visitors is low by international standards: travel guides in 2026 put a backpacker budget at roughly 25 to 50 US dollars a day and a mid-range trip at roughly 65 to 100 US dollars a day, before international flights. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog breaks that down by accommodation, food, transport and the visa, then adds up a two-week trip.

Figures below are estimates from travel guides as of October 2026 and vary by city and season; prices in dong are more stable than conversions. Working out how much money you need for Vietnam starts with the visa, the one fixed cost; you can apply for a Vietnam e-visa online and see the price before paying.

Vietnam budget per day

A Vietnam budget per day depends mostly on where you sleep and how you travel between cities. Food and local transport are cheap at every level.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc in peak season cost more than smaller towns, and our Vietnam travel tips explain how to handle cash.

Accommodation

Accommodation is the biggest variable in a Vietnam trip. Hostel dorm beds and simple guesthouse rooms are very cheap, while comfortable three-star hotels and boutique stays in Hoi An or Hanoi's Old Quarter cost several times more.

Homestays in the countryside, such as in Sapa, Ha Giang or the Mekong Delta, often include dinner and are good value. Prices rise sharply around Tet and summer holidays, so book early for those dates.

Food and drink

Street food is cheap: a bowl of pho or a banh mi usually costs about 25,000 to 50,000 VND. A sit-down meal in a mid-range restaurant is a few hundred thousand dong per person.

Coffee and draft beer (bia hoi) are inexpensive, while imported wine and cocktails cost close to Western prices. Eating where locals eat, as in our guide to Hoi An street food, is the simplest way to keep costs down.

Transport

Transport within cities is cheap with Grab or buses, and long distances are covered by budget flights, trains and sleeper buses. Budget domestic flights often cost about 400,000 to 800,000 VND when booked ahead, plus baggage.

Sleeper buses are the cheapest way between cities, and trains cost more but save a hotel night on overnight routes. Our guide to getting around Vietnam compares each option.

Visa costs

The Vietnam visa cost is the one price you can know exactly before you go. The government fee for an e-visa is $25 for single entry or $50 for multiple entry when you apply yourself on evisa.gov.vn.

Prices last checked: 2026-10-13. Our Vietnam visa fees page lists every processing speed. If you are visa-exempt, check your allowed days first.

A two-week Vietnam travel cost

For two weeks, a backpacker typically spends about 9 to 16 million VND on the ground, and a mid-range traveler about 22 to 35 million VND, before international flights and the visa. Two domestic flights and a bay cruise are the biggest single items on a typical route.

Add the visa, travel insurance and a buffer of about 10% for tours, shopping and price surprises. Two habits save money on any budget: how you handle cash, and when you travel.

Saving money

Small choices keep a Vietnam budget under control. These two make the most difference.

Cash, cards and ATMs

Use bank ATMs rather than exchange booths in tourist streets, and pay hotels and tours by card where possible. Carry dong for street food, markets and taxis. Pay small amounts in cash and larger ones by card.

Cheaper months

Hotels and flights cost less outside Tet, summer holidays and the December to April peak in the south. Our guide to the best time to visit Vietnam shows which regions have good weather in shoulder months.

VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you would like your application checked before submission, start your application with us.