How to Travel Vietnam on $25 Per Day (Vietnam budget travel guide)

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Greetings from Vietnam

Imagine me, Mikki— solo traveling one of Southeast Asia’s greatest treasures, a street-coffee drip in hand, ready to tell you how to spend a month in Vietnam on just US$25 a day. Yes, you read that right. No, it’s not a Monty Python sketch where I starve on rice paper and water. With the right approach, you can eat well, move swiftly and soak up culture without blowing your budget. Buckle up.

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How’s $25 a Day Even Possible?

Vietnam is a budget traveller’s dream. Street food costs next to nothing, buses and trains are dirt-cheap, and dorm beds in hostels can start at around US$5 per night. Here’s a rough breakdown:

Accommodation: US$5–7

Food and drink: US$8–10

Transport: US$3–5

Activities and extras: US$3–7

Total per day: US$19–29 (with wiggle room for a Bánh mì or two).

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Sleep Tight on a Shoestring

Hostels Are Your Best Mate

Dorm rooms in Vietnam can be unbelievably affordable. I typically book through Hostelworld to snag reviews, cheap nightly rates and free pasta nights (yes, seriously). In Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find beds for US$5–8. Smaller towns like Hoi An or Hue sometimes dip to US$4 if you’re happy to share a six-bed dorm.

Homestays and Guesthouses

If you have a little extra wiggle-room or crave privacy, look to local guesthouses for US$8–12 rooms. They often include breakfast and a genuine local welcome (plus you might make new friends over a board game or two). I’ve even scored sunrise views of rice paddies from a homestay for about US$10–11 a night.

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Fuel Up—Eating for Under a Five-Spot

Street Food: Cheap, Tasty, Endless

Vietnamese street food is the MVP of this budget game. A steaming bowl of phở or bún chả sets you back roughly US$2. A classic Bánh mì sandwich has me exclaiming “mate, that’s delicious” for around US$1. You’ll eat like royalty for under US$6 a day if you stick to local vendors.

Local Cafés and Coffee

Vietnamese coffee culture is on another level. A cup of cà phê sữa đá (iced milk coffee) costs around US$1.50. If you’re here to write your next bestseller or just want Wi-Fi, grab a seat in a café— many provide free Wi-Fi in exchange for ordering just one drink.

Grocery Runs

Pop into a local market for fruit, eggs or bánh mì ingredients and whip up a self-made picnic. Spending about US$3–4 on groceries can cover breakfast and snacks for the day. Bonus: you gain bragging rights for cooking in a foreign kitchen.

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Getting Around Without Breaking the Bank

City Buses and Xe Om

City buses in Hanoi and HCMC cost around US$0.30 per ride. You’ll need to know the routes, but it’s a safe, local experience. For those urgent moments, grab a xe om (motorbike taxi) for about US$1–2 per short hop. Haggling is encouraged.

Trains, Buses and the Vietnam Reunification Express

For longer distances, book buses or trains via 12Go. A soft-sleeper train from Hanoi to Hue hovers around US$30–35, but if you break the trip into shorter hops (Hanoi to Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh to Vinh, etc.), you can shave the cost by combining a night bus (US$7) and day train (US$10). Overnight soft-sleeper buses between major cities often cost US$12–15 and save you both time and a night’s accommodation fee.

Budget Airlines (Use Sparingly)

If pressed for time, VietJet or Bamboo Airways sales sometimes pop up with fares as low as US$25 for a one-hour flight. But once you factor in baggage fees, it might not be worth the splash if you’re truly on $25 a day. Personally, I only fly when it’s a screaming deal.

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Cheap (or Free) Adventures

City Walking Tours

Many cities have free walking tours; just tip the guide US$5 or so if you enjoyed it. Check local Facebook groups or hostel noticeboards. You’ll learn hidden alleyway history and find secret coffee spots.

DIY Motorbike Loop

Ever dreamed of cruising Vietnam’s coastline? Rent a motorbike for US$5–7 a day and design your own loop from Hoi An to Hue. Fuel costs me about US$3 per 100 km. Just wear a helmet (mandatory) and beware of surprise potholes.

Boat Rides and Kayaks

In places like Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh, skip the expensive group cruises and opt for a simple boat rowed by locals—around US$4–6 per person for a couple of hours. For kayak fans, hiring a kayak yourself costs about US$5/hr. Much cheaper than the thousand-boat junk-yacht tours.

Cultural Sights on the Tight

Many pagodas and temples ask for a tiny donation (under US$1) or are completely free. Museums and historic houses usually charge 20,000–50,000 VND (US$1–2). Pick a few highlights rather than trying to tick every box.

If you do want a guided experience—say a street-food crawl in Saigon or a Cu Chi Tunnels tour—book through GetYourGuide to compare prices quickly. Often you can secure a spot for US$15–20, which is worth budgeting for once or twice on your trip.

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Handy Hacks for Frugal Femmes (and Gents)

Travel Off-Peak. Weekday transport is sometimes cheaper than weekends.

Bring a Reusable Water Bottle. Fill up at hostels or filtered water stations—save up to US$1 daily.

Bargain (Politely). Markets expect you to haggle; aim for 20–30% off the first price.

Pack Light. Dorms have limited space; avoid extra baggage fees by travelling with a 10–12 kg pack.

Free SIM or eSIM. Snag an eSIM before arrival via Airalo for cheap data—no airport SIM queues.

Multi-City Buses. Companies like The Sinh Tourist or Hoang Long have loyalty cards with free rides after a set number of trips.

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Sample 5-Day Itinerary on $25/Day

Day 1: Hanoi’s Old Quarter

Morning: Free walking tour (tip US$5)

Lunch: Phở giá rẻ (US$2)

Afternoon: Temple of Literature (US$1)

Evening: Beer Hơi and street eats (US$3)

Night: Dorm bed (US$6)

Daily total: US$17

Day 2: Ninh Binh Excursion

Transport: Bus from Hanoi (US$5)

Ride a boat at Tam Cốc (US$5)

Lunch and snacks (US$4)

Rent bike to explore pagodas (US$3)

Overnight bus to Hue (US$12)

Daily total: US$29

Day 3: Historic Hue

Arrive early, grab bánh mì (US$1)

Imperial Citadel entry (US$2)

Lunch at local eatery (US$2)

Motorbike hire for Hue loop (US$7)

Dinner plus coffee (US$3)

Dorm bed (US$6)

Daily total: US$21

Day 4: Hoi An by Sleeper Bus

Morning market with fresh fruit (US$2)

Bus to Hoi An (US$12)

Cycling to rice paddies (free, bike rental US$1)

Hoi An street food tour or small group cooking class (US$8 via GetYourGuide)

Dorm bed (US$7)

Daily total: US$30

Day 5: Beach Day or Marble Mountains

Beach chill (free) or entry to Marble Mountains (US$1.50)

Lunch from a seaside vendor (US$3)

Evening lantern-lit Old Town walk (free)

Dinner and cheese coffee (US$4)

Dorm bed (US$6)

Daily total: US$14.50

Across five days, you average around US$23 per day. Proof that the math works if you resist splurging on fancy resorts or overpriced cruises.

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Safety and Peace of Mind

Travelling solo means staying safe and health-conscious. I always recommend insurance—both for peace of mind and real emergencies. Grab a quick quote from World Nomads or consider SafetyWing if you want monthly coverage that rolls with your journey.

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Wrapping Up Your $25/Day Adventure

Vietnam is generous, vibrant and surprisingly kind on the wallet. With hostels around US$5–7, street food that’s both cheap and nutritious, and countless free or low-cost activities, sticking to US$25 daily is absolutely doable. You’ll sip local coffee in alley-way cafés, glide past limestone karsts, wander ancient citadels and still have enough budget left for that cheeky mango smoothie.

So lace up your walking shoes, pack that lightweight backpack and get ready for a frugal yet fulfilling Vietnamese escapade. Who says you need big bucks to have the trip of a lifetime?

Safe travels—and don’t forget to send me a postcard (or at least some envy-inducing travel snaps).

Cheers,

Mikki

(Note: All prices are approximate and subject to seasonal changes or promotions.)