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"How much money to take to Vietnam?" — this is probably the most important question after choosing a hotel. The answer depends heavily on the format of your trip. We have traveled Vietnam from north to south, and more than once, and are ready to share our experience: in this article you will find two separate calculations — for those going on a package tour and for independent travelers.
Our main conclusion: Vietnam is one of the most affordable countries in Asia, but the expense structure for package tours and independent travel is radically different. If in the first case the main expenses are already included, in the second you will have to plan and think through every aspect.
While you are calculating your budget, remember the golden rule of Vietnam: bargaining is possible and necessary almost everywhere, except supermarkets. We always politely ask for a "discount" — this works great when renting a motorbike, buying souvenirs, or even checking into a hotel. Aggressive bargaining, as in Egypt or Turkey, is not appreciated here.
How much money to take if you are going on a package tour
This is the easiest option to plan. Your tour already includes flights, accommodation, breakfasts (and sometimes lunches), transfers. Your task is to calculate the budget for "pocket money": additional food, excursions, souvenirs and entertainment.
Tours usually last 10-14 days. We will provide a daily calculation, and you simply multiply by the duration of your trip.
| Expense item | Budget | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch and dinner (cafes/restaurants) | 200,000 - 300,000 | 400,000 - 600,000 |
| Drinks (water, juices, coconuts, beer) | 50,000 - 100,000 | 100,000 - 200,000 |
| Local transport (taxi/motorbike rental per day) | 50,000 - 100,000 | 120,000 - 200,000 |
| Additional excursions and entrance tickets | 100,000 - 200,000 | 300,000 - 500,000 |
| Souvenirs, small purchases | 50,000 - 100,000 | 150,000 - 300,000 |
| TOTAL per day | 450,000 - 800,000 ≈ 17.08 - 30.37 USD |
1,070,000 - 1,800,000 40.62 - 68.33 USD |
| For 10 days | 4.5 - 8 million dong
171 - 304 USD |
10.7 - 18 million dong 406 - 68.33 USD |
| For 14 days | 6.3 - 11.2 million dong 239 - 425 USD |
15 - 25.2 million dong 56.94 - 957 USD |
Conclusion: when going on a standard 10-day tour, we recommend taking from 5 to 18 million dong (190 - 683 USD) per person (in addition to money for souvenirs and larger purchases, such as silk or coffee). This amount will be enough to not deny yourself delicious food, a couple of excursions and pleasant little things.
How much money to take for independent travel
It's more complicated and interesting here. You need to account for everything: from accommodation and intercity transport to daily small expenses. This format provides incredible freedom but requires more careful planning. Our calculation is a framework that you can adapt to your route.
Accommodation: from hostels to good hotels
- Hostel bed – from 100,000 dong/night / 3.8 USD.
- Small air-conditioned room in a guesthouse for two – from 250,000 dong/night / 9.49 USD.
- Good room in a 3* hotel with pool and breakfast for two – from 400,000 dong/night. / 15.18 USD.
Useful tip: you can save a decent amount of cash by booking accommodation with online payment, we always do it this way. Even the most budget options for 1-2 day stops during travels in Vietnam are available in booking systems. You can pay with a Russian card on these websites:
- 🛌 Trip.com (👍 Recommended. Lowest prices and excellent support)
- 🛌 Yandex.Travel
- 🛌 Ostrovok.ru
Food and dining: street food and restaurants
- Eating "instant noodles" and supermarket products (in extreme cases) – from 20,000 dong / 7.59 USD.
- Pho or Bun Cha in a street eatery – from 40,000 dong / 15.18 USD.
- One dish in a tourist cafe – from 100,000 dong / 3.8 USD.
- Hearty dinner in a good restaurant with seafood and a drink – from 300,000 dong / 11.39 USD.
Transport: motorbikes, taxis and intercity travel
- Motorbike rental per day – from 120,000 dong (can be found for 80,000 if you bargain) / 3.8 USD.
- Taxi ride (Grab) within the city – from 30,000 dong / 1.14 USD.
- Intercity bus (e.g., Nha Trang - Da Lat) – from 150,000 dong / 5.69 USD.
- Train (Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City) – from 1,000,000 dong (depending on class) / 37.96 USD.
Entertainment and shopping
- Full-day excursion – from 500,000 dong / 18.98 USD.
- Massage (1 hour of traditional) – from 150,000 dong / 5.69 USD.
- Quality ground coffee (1 kg) – from 200,000 dong / 7.59 USD.
| Expense item | Budget traveler | Standard option | Comfortable vacation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 150,000 - 250,000 | 400,000 - 600,000 | 800,000 - 1,500,000+ |
| Food | 200,000 - 300,000 | 400,000 - 600,000 | 700,000 - 1,000,000+ |
| Transport (local) | 50,000 - 100,000 | 120,000 - 200,000 | 200,000 - 500,000 |
| Entertainment/shopping | 50,000 - 100,000 | 150,000 - 300,000 | 400,000 - 800,000+ |
| TOTAL per day | 450,000 - 750,000 17.08 - 28.47 USD |
1,070,000 - 1,700,000 40.62 - 64.53 USD |
2,100,000 - 3,800,000+ 79.72 - 144 USD |
Important for independent travelers: This table is only a basis for calculation. You must add the cost of flights, insurance, and transport for moving between cities to the indicated amounts. If you plan to visit 3 cities in 2 weeks, budget an additional 500,000 - 1,500,000 dong for buses or trains. Each independent trip is unique, so we advise using our prices as a guide, but creating your own detailed budget, taking into account all the nuances of your route. For this, our complete guide to prices in Vietnam, where we have collected even more detailed information, is perfect.
Budget calculator for a trip to Vietnam
Final budget tips
- It's better to take money in dollars or euros and exchange for dong on the spot, at currency exchange points or in jewelry shops.
- Bank cards are accepted in large supermarkets and shopping malls, but the main world of Vietnam is cash.
- Don't rely solely on a bank card – it can stop working at any moment, so keep a reserve in cash.
- Download the Grab, XanhSm, Maxim apps — this will save you from inflated taxi prices and help with food delivery.
- Book and pay for hotels online — this will allow you not to carry a lot of cash and in many cases save time and money.
- For independent travel, don't rely on rough calculations – everything needs to be worked out in detail depending on the route.
We hope our experience will help you plan your trip and not worry about finances. Vietnam is a country where you can get an incredibly rich vacation for reasonable money, regardless of how you travel. Have a good trip!
Also read our separate guides on the topic:
- Shopping in Hanoi: best shopping places, markets and malls, where to buy coffee and souvenirs, prices
- Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City: where to shop besides Ben Thanh market, malls and markets with best prices, where to buy coffee
- Souvenirs from Vietnam: what and where to buy
- All about Vietnamese coffee: where is best to buy and what are the prices, how not to be deceived