I Had a Wonderful Time in Vietnam… for $13 Per Day
It’s hard to spend much money in Vietnam – by ‘normal’ standards at least.
But when you’re backpacking, it’s amazing how quickly $1.30 suddenly becomes too expensive for a big meal and you find yourself nearly passing out with heat and hunger as you traipse around in search of something $0.40 cheaper.
I’ve been travelling around Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for the last 9 months, getting stingier and stingier as I go along. Out of these countries, Vietnam wins in terms of value for money. Put a little thought into it and you can stay at cute guesthouses, eat incredible street food and tour the country for around $10 a day.
Here’s how:
Work As You Travel
Let’s face it – the sheen of backpacking wears off after a while. Constantly changing hostels, figuring out where to go next, trying not to get ripped off along the way – it’s enough to make you crave routine! A way to combat this ‘backpacker fatigue’, and to save a little money, is to stop still for a while.
After 6 months of travelling, I decided to do just this and signed up to a Workaway placement in Hoi An. Workaway is a handy site that lists organisations (or ‘hosts’) who need a project completed in a given country. Volunteers can trade certain skills for accommodation (and often food) so it’s a win-win!
It means you get to experience local culture, take a breather and be pretty much cost-neutral for a while. I’ve been living and volunteering for these guys for the past 2 months and managing to spend less than $5 a day. Not too shabby!
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Eat Street Food. Drink Corner Coffee.
Vietnamese cuisine is reason enough for tourists to flock here in droves, or for many an expat to make it their base. What’s more, it’s incredibly cheap.
There are the more touristy cafes with Western favourites, or the places specialising in hotpots that middle-class families here enjoy. You’ll find happening smoothie spots in Ho Chi Minh, hipster egg coffee joints in Hanoi and BBQ bars clinging to Dalat’s hilly streets.
But my favourite places to go in Vietnam have been the streetside ones; the ones with teeny red plastic stools, the ones with a single item on the menu that they do really well, the ones where you’ll be greeted with a grunt at first but going more often will earn you an eventual nod of respect.
Here, you’ll pay 15,000vnd – 20,000vnd (roughly between $0.70 and $0.90) for a hearty and delicious bowl of pho, bun cha or cao lau, instead of paying double (sometimes triple) that for the same dish in a more established eatery. In Hoi An’s Central Market, I’ve found cao lau for just 20,000vnd, served by an incredibly smiley lady, that beats any meal I’ve had in fancier restaurants.
Same goes for coffee. Because even though pretty much every cafe here offers an oasis of cool greenery to hang out for an afternoon, my favourite coffee spots are usually the pop-up stalls on a corner.
Normally they’re all packed up by 8am. But get there early and you can hang out with some crinkly-faced old men, drinking a deliciously thick and strong brew that’ll send you rocketing into your day…all for less than $0.50. Sweet.
Psst: If you fancy an alcoholic alternative, check out ‘bia hoi’ – this ‘fresh beer’ can be found in places all over Vietnam but is most popular in Hanoi…and a glass will set you back just $0.17!
Get a Set of Wheels
Unfortunately, transport isn’t dirt cheap in Vietnam. Trains, which are normally an adventurous and inexpensive way to travel in SE Asia, are actually the fancier form of transport here.
Long-distance buses are good value – but very, very long – so sometimes flying might be your most tempting option.
But the cheapest and most scenic way to get around is surely by doing what the locals do – taking a bike.
You can rent motorbikes for around $5 a day or, if you’re staying a while, why not buy one? It’s a great way to see the country, many buses will actually let you take on your bike onboard for longer journeys (they’ll take it apart and reassemble it for you at the end) and the freedom that having your own transport brings you is unparallelled.
No haggling over ticket prices, no hassle from taxi drivers at the end of a long bus journey…just the open road.
Note: If you go for this option, make sure you know what you’re doing. Drivers here can be reckless and take no prisoners when speeding around bends or flying through crossroads. Take it steady, take out insurance, and make your horn your new best friend.
So, there you have it – your 3-step guide to living and travelling on the cheap in Vietnam. Now you’ve got some extra cash saved up for presents to take home, to create a whole new wardrobe or to pamper yourself with spa treatments.
Go on. You deserve it. 😉
Daily Cost Breakdown:
Hostel bed: $5
Bike rental: $5 (optional)
Coffee/fresh beer: $0.50
Meals x 3: $2.50
Total: $8 without the bike; $13 with the bike (plus maybe a dollar for petrol). Not bad, right?!
Hi Emma, I’m planning to become a Digital Nomad in Vietnam soon and one of my worries is the cost of being there.
With my online job, I am basically earning $24 per day and when I read your blog, it made me feel confident to work there. 🙂
Thanks…
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Your breakdown of Vietnam’s daily costs really hit home—especially how quickly even a small difference in meal prices adds up when you’re backpacking. I also liked the practical angle on balancing cheap food with comfortable guesthouses; that’s the kind of detail that makes budget trip planning much easier. If anyone needs to turn their travel photos into cleaner blog visuals or quick promo images afterward, qwen image edit can be handy.
Your breakdown of Vietnam’s everyday costs really captures the backpacker mindset—once $1.30 feels expensive, the hunt for a good cheap meal becomes part of the adventure. I also liked the point about cute guesthouses and street food making the country such strong value
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One of my concerns is the expense of living in Vietnam, where I intend to live as a digital nomad in the near future.
One of my concerns is the expense of living in Vietnam, where I intend to live as a digital nomad in the near future. slice master
Choosing this mode of transportation means no negotiating ticket prices or dealing with taxi drivers at the end of bus rides—just you and the open road. However, it’s crucial to note that riding a motorbike in Vietnam requires caution and experience. The traffic can be chaotic, with drivers often exhibiting infinite craft reckless behavior. It’s essential to take things slowly, ensure you have insurance coverage, and use your horn liberally to alert others to your presence.
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I plan to live as a digital nomad in Vietnam in the near future, thus one of my worries is the cost of living there.
I am a big fan of eating street food and drinking coffee on the corner – that’s the real way to experience the local culture. This post will 1v1 lol inspire those who want to travel without spending too much money!
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Your post brought back such vivid memories of my own Vietnam backpacking days! That 20,000vnd cao lau from Hoi An’s market was my daily ritual too. A quick tip for future travelers: the 6am ‘coffee uncles’ near Hoan Kiem Lake will teach you how to properly drink cà phê sữa đá while sharing war stories. Just be ready for the caffeine kick!
instead of motorbike rentals. Vietnam’s traffic fatalities are among Asia’s highest (15,000/year), and most travel insurance won’t cover motorcycle accidents without a Vietnamese license. That said, your street food recommendations are gold—the 30k banh mi stands by Bui Vien are still my benchmark for budget deliciousness!
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Wow, Vietnam on $13 a day? That’s insane! I gotta try those street food and corner coffees. Sounds like an amazing adventure! Definitely adding this to my travel list. Internet Roadtrip
Wow, this travel experience sounds absolutely amazing! I mean, living frugally in a stunning place like Vietnam while making connections through working as you travel really adds a unique flavor to the journey. It’s like diving deep into the culture instead of just skimming the surface. By the way, if you’re thinking of something to bring home, maybe check out some creative goodies from some creative goodies from Syloon.
This post has me dreaming of a Vietnamese adventure! The way you describe street food, especially the bun cha, makes my stomach rumble! It’s all about the little joys, right? And hey, if you’re ever in need of color inspiration for memories or anything craft-related, the Pantone Colors Chart could be super helpful. Just saying! You can find it at the Pantone Colors Chart.
I love this! Your insights on finding joy in budget travel really resonate with me. Not only do you save money, but you also get to make unforgettable memories. If you’re looking to add some fun to gatherings, consider checking out that giant Tetris game for a unique twist! It’s a perfect way to relive some childhood nostalgia, right? You can check it out here: that giant Tetris game.
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Wow, Vietnam for $13 a day? That’s incredible! I’m totally adding this to my Space Waves list.
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Reading about your $13-per-day adventure in Vietnam made me nostalgic for my own backpacking days! It’s amazing how cheap and delicious street food can be there. I love your tip about Workaway—immersing yourself in the culture while saving money sounds like the perfect combo. Sometimes stretching that last dollar requires real creativity, almost like reaching a new level in a game like Run 3, where each decision matters!
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Wow, $13 a day in Vietnam sounds incredible! I remember backpacking and pinching pennies like crazy. Speaking of remembering angles and values on the fly, I wish I had known about a good Interactive Unit Circle (https://www.analog-clock.org/tools/unit-circle) back then. It would have made planning my routes so much easier!
Incredible value in Vietnam! Love the tips on street food and local transport. Volunteering with Workaway is a smart way to save and immerse. Inspiring read!
Great budget breakdown for Vietnam! Love how you combined practical tips with real experiences. The street food and corner coffee suggestions are spot-on – those tiny plastic stools really do lead to the best meals. 🇻🇳
Vietnam sounds amazing for budget travel! Love the street food tips and Workaway idea—$13/day is impressive. Motorbikes seem risky but worth it for the freedom. Great read!
Vietnam truly is a budget traveler’s dream! Love how you balanced cost-saving tips with authentic experiences—street food and Workaway are game-changers. Motorbike adventures sound thrilling but scary! 😅 #TravelSmart
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The $13 per day budget in Vietnam, with pho at 20,000vnd, is amazing; I’d love to ‘edit any photo with simple words using our advanced AI’ to remember such trips. This makes me consider a nano banana image editor while I’m on my coffee break, thinking how cleverly they managed Workaway for under $5 daily, truly inspiring!
I loved the bit about the street-side cafes with those tiny red plastic stools. (elastic coupling.) It reminds me of my travels, where finding those simple spots for coffee under $0.50 was the highlight. Elastic coupling between travel cost and local experiences can make every dollar stretch further. Ah, who knew budget travel could be so rich!
Oh, those $0.70 bowls of pho really got me thinking! I love how drive shaft is used as a metaphor here; exploring Vietnam on a $5 rented motorbike sounds so freeing, just like zooming on a perfect flexible coupling. Have you tried finding deals on your daily commute while enjoying a hot cup of coffee?
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I love those tiny plastic stools for street food! It’s wild that you can get a full bowl of cao lau for only 20,000vnd in Hoi An.
I really appreciate your insight on using Workaway to combat ‘backpacker fatigue’ and save money. It’s a practical strategy for travelers seeking routine and deeper cultural immersion.
Your point about street food being a fraction of the cost at tiny plastic stool spots is spot on. It’s a great reminder that the most authentic and delicious experiences often come without the tourist markup.
This really captures the reality of long-term backpacking — especially how your idea of “expensive” completely changes over time 😄 The details about corner coffee spots, tiny street food stalls, and slow travel through volunteering made Vietnam feel incredibly alive and approachable.
I enjoyed the angle on but you backpacking amazing how quickly. It gave me something simple to take away.
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Reading your experience in Vietnam brings back such great memories; there really is something special about slowing down and living like a local to truly appreciate the culture. Staying hydrated while trekking around in that heat is so important, which is why I’m always conscious of the quality of durable travel drinkware I carry on my own trips. It’s amazing how much you can learn about a country when you aren’t just rushing from one tourist spot to the next!
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Adorei a descrição das ruas de Vietnam com seus pequenos restaurantes e o foco no custo baixo. É incrível como lugares simples podem oferecer experiências tão autênticas e deliciosas. Acho que essa abordagem reflete bem a essência da cultura local That same kind of structure is probably why Game Is Hard Walkthrough feels easier to keep organized too.
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This is such a refreshing take on slow travel in Vietnam. I love how you emphasize the value of stopping still for a while through Workaway — it really does change the rhythm of a trip and makes you appreciate the little routines again. The street food point is spot on too; some of the best meals I’ve had in Southeast Asia were for less than a dollar, and it’s easy to get stuck in the mindset of “cheaper is better” without realizing you’re compromising on experience. Your breakdown of daily costs is honestly inspiring for anyone looking to stretch their travels further. It reminds me a bit of the resourcefulness you need when exploring game worlds like in Palworld, where managing resources and finding the right balance is key to enjoying the journey. If you’re ever looking for another way to plan a budget adventure, all pals palworld is a fun little side quest to pass the time between bus rides. Thanks for sharing your story — it makes me want to book a ticket immediately!
I really enjoyed this breakdown—Vietnam has a special way of
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What a refreshing take on slow travel! I love how you flipped the typical backpacker burnout on its head by using Workaway to reset both your budget and your mindset. Vietnam really is the ultimate destination for stretching a dollar, especially when you lean into local street food and corner coffee stalls rather than tourist traps. Your point about the psychological shift—where $1.30 starts to feel extravagant—is so relatable. It’s amazing how perspective changes after months on the road. For anyone planning a similar budget-conscious trip, I’ve found that doing a bit of research before you go makes a huge difference; resources like The RoboLibrary Homepage can help you prepare without spending a cent. Thanks for sharing your experience—it’s a great reminder that travel isn’t about how much you spend, but how deeply you immerse yourself. Safe travels
What a refreshing take on slow travel in Vietnam! Your point about backpacker fatigue really resonates—it’s easy to forget that taking a break and volunteering can be both budget-friendly and rejuvenating. The Workaway route sounds like a fantastic way to truly live somewhere rather than just pass through. And I completely agree about Vietnamese street food; some of the best meals I’ve had were sitting on tiny plastic stools for under a dollar. For anyone planning a similar trip, documenting those experiences with a few good visuals makes the memories last longer. By the way, I’ve been using ia imagenes gratis to create quick travel-style images for my blog, and it’s been a fun way to add a creative touch without spending extra ba
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