How to Travel Vietnam on $15 a Day
Traveling Vietnam on $15 a day requires staying in hostel dorms, eating exclusively at street stalls, and traveling between cities using local buses or slow trains rather than planes. You must avoid alcohol, expensive tours, and private taxis to keep costs this low.
- Choose the right accommodation. Stick to hostel dorm beds in cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Use sites like Hostelworld to find beds for $4–$6 per night, which almost always includes free breakfast.
- Eat strictly street food. Avoid any restaurant with an English menu. Eat Banh Mi ($1) for lunch and Pho or Bun Cha from a plastic-stool street vendor ($1.50–$2) for dinner. Drink iced tea (tra da) instead of beer or soda.
- Master local transport. Use the local city bus system instead of Grab or taxis. For intercity travel, book the 'hard seat' on the Reunification Express train or take a local public bus, which will cost significantly less than the tourist 'limousine' vans.
- Skip the paid tours. Do not book organized tours for sites like Ha Long Bay or Sapa. Instead, take public buses to nearby villages and walk the trails yourself, or visit free city attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Is it actually possible to have fun on $15 a day?
- Yes, if you enjoy local culture, walking, and street food. It is not possible if you want to go out to bars, drink cocktails, or do organized excursions.
- How do I pay for things?
- Carry Vietnamese Dong in cash. Street vendors rarely accept cards or digital payments. Withdraw your money from large bank ATMs like Vietcombank to minimize fees.