Vietnam is one of the most affordable countries to travel to, yet it can get expensive when you compare it with neighboring countries like Thailand. This blog shares a treasure trove of money-saving tips while traveling Vietnam with information that you won’t stumble upon surfing other travel blogs or guidebooks. These frugal hacks are curated from the experiences and advice of Vietnam residents and our own experiences while traveling in Vietnam for close to a month.
These tips are guaranteed to enable you to travel smarter by maximizing your travel budget without compromising on savoring the essence of this Southeast Asian country.
5 Tips to Save Money in Vietnam
Table of Contents
1. Transportation
Remember “Futa Buslines” when you’re in Vietnam. This is the bus provider most preferred by locals for long distances, or for any journey that takes more than 2 hours. The prices of their Limousine and overnight sleeper buses are comparatively lesser and unbeatable when compared to the other companies. Their fares are fixed (not negotiable) and change every month.
Futa Buslines are available across the country. You also have the advantage of selecting your seats while booking which is not the case with other private buses. They also offer both pickup and drop services to and from your accommodation.
The next ideal option is to arrange transport with your hostel and book packages with a travel agency. Do put your negotiating skills to use by comparing prices online.
We do not recommend 12GoAsia in Vietnam as the prices are expensive.
You can also save a great deal by using public transport in Vietnam to explore the sightseeing places within the cities. Navigate Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with the use of Google Maps. This feature is not available in other cities in Vietnam. Cycling your way around and walking will also save you money.
2. Food & Drinks
Vietnamese cuisine is very affordable. On average, a good meal would cost you anywhere from 40K VND to 60K VND. But if you’re traveling for a longer time, you might be bored of the noodle soup and rice options. So if you wish to try Western food like burgers, pasta, or pizza, the best option is to order online from Grab or Shopee food. Apply all the coupons available to get a better deal than you would if you buy from the shops. In Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, we ate Indian Thali for just 80K VND.
Hot pots and buffets cost 100K VND for which you get unlimited food. You can spend up to 3 hours eating the best seafood. It is a nice way to spend quality time with your family and friends.
Drinking beer every day is common among the locals in the South while people in the North drink rice wine a lot. Draft or craft beers are freshly brewed beers that are popular among the localities, and we recommend that you try them. They are very affordable and cost only 6K VND – 8K VND.
3. Accommodation
Accommodations in Vietnam are very affordable. Although Vietnam has luxury resorts, beachfront stays, and star hotels, it is the homestays, and hostels that provide you the best deals across the country. Several stays also offer tourist services like bike rentals, laundry, bus, tour booking, etc. We used booking.com throughout our stay in Vietnam and never faced any issues. We highly recommend using their services.
While some of the accommodations accept card payments, they do charge an additional fee of 3%. Regardless, cash is the most commonly accepted form of payment, and it is always good to carry sufficient amounts.
4. Activities
The group tours in Vietnam are about as expensive as other Asian places. They are handy for those traveling as a family or with children. Do bargain on prices with the providers if your group is big.
Make sure you craft your adventures with DIY excursions. Atchaya biked the Ha Giang loop in Vietnam in DIY style. Though it required considerable effort in planning, she was able to save 75% more money than the organized group tours. We also took a shot of visiting the Cu Chi Channels from Ho Chi Minh City by public bus. If you’re doing slow travel and have plenty of time, you have several creative ways to be frugal. So if possible invest in time over money.
5. Traveling During Tet
The Vietnamese New Year or Tet is the biggest festival in Vietnam. Out of the 14 national holidays, seven days are allocated for the Tet festival. It falls in late January or early February every year. Do not travel to Vietnam during this time of the year. The prices skyrocket, and the buses and accommodations are fully booked and will cost you 10X more than the normal price.
The Vietnamese plan their vacations and prebook their tickets at least 2 months in advance. They tend to take a long break from work and go to their home from cities to spend quality time with their families, go on vacation, or explore different corners of the country. All the tourist attractions get very crowded. It is better to skip traveling the country during this time of the year.
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