![How Much Does a Trip to Vietnam Cost? [2026 Budget]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fzp10orjy%2Fproduction%2F1d3b1c2442f63fb879242f747efec764bb922967-1376x768.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
How Much Does a Trip to Vietnam Cost? [2026 Budget]
Full budget breakdown: flights, hotels, food, transport, and how to save
Where
A 7-day trip to Vietnam costs $950-$1,300 for budget travelers, $1,600-$2,400 for mid-range, and $3,000+ for luxury. Flights, hotels, food, and activities are all affordable compared to most destinations, especially if you travel outside peak season. Book on Travorio to split payments into four with Sezzle or use crypto for even more flexibility.
How Much Does a Trip to Vietnam Cost?
How much does a trip to Vietnam cost? For a 7-day itinerary, expect to spend between $950 and $3,000 per person, depending on your travel style, flight origin, and accommodation choices. This covers round-trip airfare, hotels, meals, local transportation, and activities. To lock in the best deals, I always use Travorio for flight and hotel booking, since you can pay in 4 with Sezzle and even use crypto if you want to avoid international card fees.
Vietnam is one of those rare destinations where your money stretches a long way, whether you’re backpacking through Hanoi’s Old Quarter or splurging on a luxury suite in Ho Chi Minh City. My last trip cost just under $1,200 for a week, staying in comfortable hotels and eating out daily. If you’re ready to start planning, search hotels on Travorio for live prices, flexible payment options, and over 200 suppliers compared in one spot.
Flight Costs
Flights are usually the biggest chunk of your Vietnam trip budget, especially if you’re coming from the US or Canada. On average, round-trip economy tickets from New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), and Miami (MIA) to Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) range from $450 to $900. JFK to Hanoi in October cost me $620 on EVA Air with a 2-hour layover in Taipei. Flights from LA can be slightly cheaper, often $480-$750 round-trip if you’re flexible with dates.
Business class fares are a different league: $1,200-$2,500 round-trip depending on the season and route. ANA and Korean Air have some of the best business class deals with layovers in Tokyo or Seoul. If you want a nonstop flight, Vietnam Airlines runs direct service from San Francisco (SFO) to Ho Chi Minh, but expect to pay at least $1,200 in economy and $2,800+ in business.
Cheapest months for flights are typically September, October, and early May. Lunar New Year (late January or early February) and July see prices spike by 30-60%. Booking 2-3 months ahead almost always gives you the lowest prices. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be cheapest for departure.
Ultra-budget travelers sometimes piece together multi-stop routes with budget airlines like Scoot, AirAsia, or ZIPAIR, flying via Tokyo, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur. You might save $100-$200 but will have long layovers (sometimes overnight) and less flexibility on baggage. For peace of mind, I recommend booking through Travorio, which shows both full-service and budget airline options, and lets you split payments with Sezzle or PayPal Pay Later.
Hotel & Accommodation Costs
Vietnam is packed with every type of accommodation, from $8 hostels to $350 luxury suites. Most budget travelers stay in hostels or guesthouses in the Old Quarter of Hanoi or District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. The Hanoi Buffalo Hostel is just $14/night for a dorm bed, and includes free breakfast. Budget double rooms at the Hanoi Graceful Hotel start at $29/night. In Ho Chi Minh, the Prei Nokor Hostel in District 1 charges $12 for a bunk or $38 for a private room.
Mid-range travelers have plenty of options. The Tirant Hotel (4-star, Hanoi Old Quarter) costs $68-$85/night with a rooftop pool and included breakfast. In Ho Chi Minh, the Silverland Yen Hotel (District 1) is $70-$110/night for a deluxe king room. Hoi An is even cheaper: the Allegro Hoi An Little Luxury Hotel & Spa goes for $90-$120/night including airport shuttle.
Luxury seekers are spoiled, especially in the bigger cities. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi runs $220-$350/night for a classic room. The Reverie Saigon in HCMC has some of the city’s most opulent suites from $320/night, and a night at Amanoi (Ninh Thuan) can set you back $800+ for a villa. Most five-star hotels include lavish breakfasts, spa credits, and airport transfers.
Peak season (December-February) and major holidays push prices up 25-40%. Booking ahead on Travorio gets you the best rates and lets you see which properties allow Sezzle’s pay-in-4 option.
Food & Dining Costs
Vietnamese food is legendary for both flavor and value. My daily food budget in Hanoi rarely exceeded $14, eating street food for breakfast and lunch, then splurging on a restaurant dinner. A steaming bowl of pho on the street costs 35,000-50,000 VND ($1.40-$2). Banh mi sandwiches run 20,000-30,000 VND ($0.80-$1.20). Egg coffee at Café Giang in Hanoi is 35,000 VND ($1.40).
Casual sit-down meals at places like Bun Cha Huong Lien (where Obama and Bourdain ate) come to about 70,000-120,000 VND ($2.80-$4.80) per dish. Dinner at a mid-range restaurant with drinks will set you back 250,000-400,000 VND ($10-$16) per person.
Fine dining is still a bargain compared to most countries. At Home Hanoi Restaurant, a multi-course set menu is 990,000 VND ($40). In Ho Chi Minh, a tasting menu at Quince Eatery costs 1,500,000 VND ($60) per person. Even the Park Hyatt Saigon’s Opera Restaurant offers an Italian dinner for about $70 per person, wine not included.
If you love street food, you can easily eat for under $10 a day. Western food is available everywhere, but expect to pay $6-$12 for a sandwich or pizza. Beer ranges from 15,000 VND ($0.60) for a local draft to 90,000 VND ($3.60) for a craft bottle in a trendy bar.
Transportation & Activities
Getting around Vietnam is cheap and easy, especially in the big cities. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh both have Grab rideshare, which is safer and cheaper than regular taxis. A 15-minute Grab ride covers most central neighborhoods for 35,000-70,000 VND ($1.40-$2.80). Airport transfers by Grab are usually 200,000-350,000 VND ($8-$14).
Public transit is improving, though not as extensive as Bangkok or Singapore. Hanoi’s Metro Line 2A connects Cat Linh to Yen Nghia for 15,000 VND ($0.60) per ride, and a day pass is 30,000 VND ($1.20). Buses run everywhere in the cities for about 7,000 VND ($0.30) per ride. Overnight trains between Hanoi and Danang cost $30-$60 for a soft sleeper ticket.
Domestic flights are a steal: a one-way ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh with VietJet Air or Bamboo Airways is often $40-$70 if booked ahead. The flight is just over two hours. If you’re hopping between cities, this saves time and is often cheaper than a long train ride.
Popular activities include the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (30,000 VND/$1.20 admission), a Ha Long Bay day cruise ($35-$60), and the War Remnants Museum in HCMC (40,000 VND/$1.60). Guided food tours start at $22 per person. If you’re headed to Sapa, trekking tours range from $18-$40 per day, including lunch.
Daily Budget Breakdown
Here’s what most travelers actually spend per day in Vietnam: Budget travelers can do $60-$85, mid-range is $110-$170, and luxury runs $350 or more. For a 7-day trip, that’s $950-$1,300 (budget), $1,600-$2,400 (mid-range), and $3,000+ (luxury), including flights. I tracked every expense on my last trip, and found that the biggest variable is accommodation, food and transport are always cheap.
A typical budget day: $20 hostel, $10 street food, $5 public transport and Grab, $10 for activities, and $50/day averaged for your flight. Mid-range travelers spend $80 on a nice hotel, $20-$30 on food, $10 on taxis or flights, and $20+ on activities. Luxury travelers book $250+ hotels, fine dining, and private tours.
If you want to splurge, book a Ha Long Bay overnight cruise ($130-$250) or a spa day at the InterContinental Danang ($90+). To save, eat breakfast at your hotel (many include it), use buses or trains for intercity travel, and skip Western restaurants.
The trick is balancing your splurges: save on hotels, splurge on food, or vice versa. Booking both flights and hotels together on Travorio often unlocks extra discounts, and Sezzle’s pay-in-4 can make a mid-range hotel possible even on a tight budget.
How to Save on Your Trip
I’ve shaved hundreds from my Vietnam vacation price by booking 2-3 months in advance, always during the shoulder seasons, late April to early June, or September to early November. Flights drop 20-30% outside of summer and Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Hotels have more availability and you can upgrade for less.
Travorio is my go-to for stacking savings: it compares over 200 suppliers, finds promo codes, and lets you split payments with Sezzle or PayPal Pay Later. You can pay later for hotels and lock in today’s prices with just a deposit, avoiding rate hikes. Crypto payments are accepted on Travorio, which can save you 2-4% in foreign transaction fees.
Traveling with friends? Book family rooms or apartments, which often cost less per person than two hotel rooms. In Hanoi, a two-bedroom at Somerset Grand Hanoi costs about $120/night. In Hoi An, you’ll find entire villas for under $90/night on Travorio.
Always compare flights on Travorio’s flight search. Set up fare alerts and check different departure airports. If you’re flexible, midweek departures are $50-$120 cheaper. Finally, don’t forget to haggle at local markets, but not at restaurants or hotels, those prices are fixed.
7-Day Trip Cost Summary
Monthly Price Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered clearly and concisely
September is consistently the cheapest month for both flights and hotels, with round-trip airfare from the US as low as $480 and mid-range hotels dropping 20-30%. April and early May are close runners-up, especially before the summer rush. Avoid Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and July, when prices and crowds peak. Booking 2-3 months ahead for September almost always gets the best deals.
Most travelers manage on $60-$85 per day on a budget, which covers hostels, street food, and public transport. Mid-range travelers spend $110-$170 daily for 3-4 star hotels, nicer restaurants, and some private tours. Luxury travelers should expect $350+ per day for five-star hotels, fine dining, and chauffeur-driven cars. Cash is still king for street food and markets, so keep small bills handy.
Tipping is not mandatory in Vietnam, but it’s increasingly appreciated in tourist areas. In restaurants, leaving 20,000-50,000 VND ($1-$2) is generous for good service. Round up taxi fares or leave small change for bellhops and hotel staff. For guided tours, a tip of 50,000-100,000 VND ($2-$4) per person is standard.
Vietnam is one of the best-value destinations in Asia. A weeklong trip, including flights, hotels, food, and activities, is often less than $1,300 for budget travelers. Even luxury accommodations cost less than half of what you’d pay in Europe or Japan. The main splurges are international flights and top-tier hotels, but day-to-day expenses are low.
Common hidden costs include e-visa fees ($25 for US citizens), ATM withdrawal charges (typically 40,000 VND/$1.60 per transaction), and laundry (40,000-60,000 VND per kilo). Some attractions and day tours tack on extra fees for English-speaking guides or hotel pickup, so always read the fine print. Paying with foreign credit cards can trigger a 2-3% conversion fee unless you use crypto or a fee-free card.
Cash is safest for street vendors, markets, and taxis, but major hotels, restaurants, and shops in cities accept Visa and Mastercard. Always use ATMs inside banks to avoid card skimming. Vietnam is generally safe for money, but check bills for damage since shops sometimes refuse torn notes. Travorio accepts 100+ cryptocurrencies for hotel and flight bookings to sidestep card fees.
In Hanoi, the Old Quarter is filled with affordable hostels and guesthouses, many under $25/night. In Ho Chi Minh City, District 1 (especially near Bui Vien Street) offers dozens of budget hotels and dorms. Hoi An’s Ancient Town is budget-friendly, too, with family-run homestays from $15/night. These areas are central and walkable, so you’ll save on transport.
Absolutely. Compared to Thailand or Japan, you get more for your money in Vietnam: cheap food, affordable hotels, and unique activities like Ha Long Bay cruises or Sapa trekking. The variety of experiences possible on any budget makes Vietnam especially popular with both backpackers and luxury travelers. Most leave wanting to return and see more.
Yes, Travorio lets you split your hotel or flight bookings into four payments over six weeks with Sezzle, at 0% interest for US and Canadian travelers. PayPal Pay Later is also supported for added flexibility. Just look for the pay-later badge when booking hotels or flights, and you’ll see your installment options before checkout.
Airport exchange kiosks are convenient but have higher rates. The best rates are usually at gold shops (tiệm vàng) in city centers, or major bank branches like Vietcombank. ATMs are everywhere but charge 40,000-60,000 VND per withdrawal. Bring some USD in crisp bills as backup, and avoid exchanging money at hotels, as their rates aren’t as competitive.
Ready to Book?
Search flights and hotels with crypto, Sezzle Pay in 4, or PayPal Pay Later.