How Much is our finance series, meant to tell you how much you should--and shouldn't--spend on the road.
Vietnam is the SE Asian country that could truly say it has it all. And at this price, who would argue?
We expected Vietnam to be more expensive than it was, but with food so cheap, guesthouses so comfortable, and buses that run the length of the coast, our month long stay was as easy on the wallet as it was on the eyes and stomach.
The biggest expense was the visa, which you have to arrange before arrival in Vietnam. We paid US$63 each for our visas, which we arranged in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The visa is slightly cheaper if you can get it while you're still in the States.
Vietnam is actually the first country in which we arranged guesthouses over email. Why? We had a friend visiting and didn't want him to have to shlep his bag from place to place. Despite not bargaining for rooms, our budget was incredibly low.
Here's just a taste of what you can experience for $28 a day in Vietnam
- Delicious street food, which will not only save you money, but let you try the regional flavors
- Crazy sand dunes that make you feel like you're in the Sahara
- The cheapest beer in the world
- Fresh seafood, cooked and served right on the beach
- Disturbing facts about the "American War" and a chance to crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels
- An awesome booze cruise turned floating bar
- Corrupt cops
- The most incredible scenery on one of the best motorbike drives in the world in Ha Giang
- Friendly Hmong women who want to sell you tons of stuff
- Limestone karst cliffs that rise out of the mist at Halong Bay
- A trek through the hand-carved rice terraces of Sapa--you'll never take rice for granted again
Interested in reading more about traveling cheap in Vietnam? Check out our destination pages, Vietnam itinerary, and top tips for backpacking in Vietnam.
If you have any tips for backpacking Vietnam, leave a comment!
Disclosure
If you read our About Us page, you know that we're not your typical backpackers. Leaving our beautiful San Francisco loft and Lina's designer shoe collection behind didn't mean we'd revert to the way we traveled (or lived) when we were 17. So even if our trip looks cheap, know that you could spend a lot less. Most backpackers do!
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