What a Vietnam trip costs
A long, narrow country usually travelled north to south or south to north. Costs are low by regional standards, with internal travel distance the main budget variable. Figures below are on the ground only for a 10-day trip, one person, per day and in total. Airfare and visa depend on where you start — pick your city below and the page recalculates.
Hostel dorms and guesthouses, street food and local canteens, public buses and shared transport.
Private room in a 3-star hotel or good guesthouse, a mix of local and sit-down restaurants, occasional taxis.
4-star hotels or well-reviewed boutique stays, restaurant meals, private transfers and paid tours.
Per person, 10 days, excluding flights and visa. Shown in US dollars; converted from VND at rates from October 2026.
Add your departure city
Airfare is usually the largest single line in a Vietnam budget, and it changes completely by origin. These pages add flights and the visa fee for your passport.
Full breakdown, mid-range
Every line carries the basis it was calculated from and how much we trust it.
| Item | Basis | Confidence | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily costs | |||
| Accommodation | 9 nights | estimated | $310 |
| Food & drink | 10 days | estimated | $200 |
| Local transport | 10 days | estimated | $61 |
| Activities & entry fees | 10 days | estimated | $185 |
| One-off costs | |||
| eSIM / local SIM | Once per trip | estimated | $8 |
| Airport transfers | Both directions | estimated | $20 |
| Internal transport | Typical multi-city route | estimated | $135 |
| Total per person, 10 days | $915 | ||
| Per day | $91 | ||
Costed routes
Trip length and routing change the total more than daily spending does.
North to south, 14 days
Hanoi → Ha Giang → Hoi An → Da Lat → Ho Chi Minh City
The full-length run. Two internal flights keep it feasible in two weeks.
| Backpacker | $465 |
| Mid-range | $1,270 |
| Comfort | $3,160 |
14 days on the ground, excluding international flights.
Northern Vietnam, 7 days
Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Sapa
Short trip with no internal flights. The cheapest way to see Vietnam properly.
| Backpacker | $225 |
| Mid-range | $620 |
| Comfort | $1,550 |
7 days on the ground, excluding international flights.
When to go, and what it does to the price
Timing moves a Vietnam budget more than travel style does at the margins. The cheapest window is May–Sep.
| Months | Season | Lodging | Flights | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Peak season | +30% | +35% | Lunar New Year closes businesses and spikes domestic fares. |
| Mar–Apr | Shoulder season | +5% | +5% | Dry and mild |
| May–Sep | Low season | -15% | -10% | Central coast sees typhoon risk Aug–Oct. |
| Oct–Nov | Peak season | +20% | +15% | Autumn high season |
| Dec | Shoulder season | +15% | +25% | December |
Entry cost by passport
| Passport | Type | Fee | Max stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IN | e-visa | $25 | 90 days | 3–5 working days |
| GB | visa-free | Free | 45 days | |
| US | e-visa | $25 | 90 days | 3–5 working days |
| AE | e-visa | $25 | 90 days | 3–5 working days |
Visa rules change without much notice. Confirm against the official source for your passport before booking.
Vietnam cost questions
How much does a trip to Vietnam cost?
It depends almost entirely on where you fly from and how long you stay. On-the-ground costs in Vietnam are among the lowest in Southeast Asia, so for most travellers airfare is the single largest line item. The breakdown on this page separates the two so you can see which one you can actually change.
Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand?
On the ground, generally yes — accommodation and food run lower in Vietnam, particularly outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Total trip cost can still land higher if Vietnam needs a connecting flight from your city while Thailand has a direct one.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your passport, not where you fly from. The visa line in the breakdown above updates with the origin you select, because the fee follows your passport.
What is the cheapest month to visit Vietnam?
May to September is the low season for both lodging and airfare, at the cost of heat and rain, with typhoon risk on the central coast from August. Avoid Tet in January or February, when domestic prices spike and many businesses close.
Where these numbers come from
This page is not yet verified. 7 of 7 line items are reasoned estimates rather than checked prices. Treat the total as a planning range, not a quote, and confirm current prices before you book.
- Data confidence
- Estimated 0 verified · 0 sampled · 7 estimated
- Oldest figure
- October 2026
- Record last reviewed
- October 2026
- Exchange rates
- October 2026 (Static table — pending live feed)
Sources
- Placeholder estimate — not verified