Budget travel destinations are aplenty in Asia. If you’re truly on a tight budget, you may be wondering what the cheapest Asian country to travel to is – based on my experience traveling all over Southeast Asia, it’s Vietnam! As an experienced traveler and frugal living expert who has been to over 20 countries and who currently lives in this country, I will provide my firsthand experience of exploring this country on a budget. Whether you’re a backpacker on a budget or a traveler who wants to free up some cash for other goals, this article is for you to help you plan your ultimate Vietnam travel itinerary.
Read on to learn all about the cheapest Asian country to travel – Vietnam.
Introduction
All About Vietnam, the Cheapest Asian Country to Travel To
Why Vietnam is Perfect for Budget Travel
Why travel to Vietnam? Below are the top reasons you should visit this beautiful country:
1. Diverse Climate
Vietnam’s land border from south to north spans nearly 3,000 miles and experiences a unique climate in each region. The North experiences four seasons ranging from cooler weather to hot, humid weather while the central and Southern regions experience dry and warm and wet and rainy seasons. If you cannot stand hot weather, you have the option of sticking to attractions in the North such as Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa. On the other hand, if you love warm weather and can handle a little heat, you’ll enjoy the beaches and Mekong Delta in the Central and Southern regions.
2. Range of Attractions
Vietnam has something for every travel style. Adventure-seekers will enjoy exploring caves, hiking, kayaking and swimming. Culture enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice as there are many museums and thousands of temples to explore. If you enjoy the beach, you’ll be glad to know that Vietnam has beautiful sandy spots such as the beaches in Phu Quoc, An Bang Beach in Hoi An and My Khe Beach in Da Nang. I’m personally someone who gravitates towards beaches but also loves some sports and exploring old buildings which is why Vietnam has been an ideal place for me to work and travel.
3. Wallet-Friendly Food, Activities and Accommodation
Vietnam is an inexpensive country. Even solo travel in Vietnam is cheap – if you’re concerned about spending lots on hotels as a single person, don’t worry! You’ll find private rooms in hostels and guest houses for $20-30 USD a night. Street food such as coffee, banh mi, pho and bun cha will run you 30,000 – 60,000 VND (around $1.25 – 2.50 USD). You can also go all-out in Vietnam and enjoy specialty Asian restaurants, international joints and swanky rooftop cocktail bars. I’ve found that the best way to enjoy budget travel with the occasional treat is to splurge once or twice during a trip. One day, I’ll enjoy higher-end dining and cocktail bars over street food and beer. Don’t be too stingy with your money – there’s a difference between being frugal and being cheap.
4. High Safety Level
Vietnam is ideal for single travellers. While travelling Vietnam solo, I’ve never felt unsafe as a single woman. Of course, you should still practice common sense like hiding valuables and sticking to main roads.
Exploring Vietnam, the Cheapest Asian Country to Travel To
Top Attractions and Activities in Vietnam
Exploring Hanoi
No travel itinerary for Vietnam is complete without visiting the country’s capital, Hanoi. There are many historic places to walk around including the Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. I spent 3 days total in Hanoi and felt that it was the ideal amount of time to explore, eat delicious food and also relax. Getting around Hanoi is easy. I recommend staying in the Old Quarter as I did. I was able to walk to many places which took me only 10-20d minutes total. For places a little further such as the French Quarter and the Temple of Literature, I took a motorbike taxi using Grab a popular ridesharing app in Southeast Asia.
Adventuring in Sapa
Sapa is located nearly 200 miles northwest of Hanoi and is full of stunning mountainous rice paddies and villages with ethnic tribes (Vietnam is home to over 50 ethnic minorities!).
Discovering Ha Long Bay
No trip to Northern Vietnam is complete without visiting Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning emerald waters and limestone karsts dotting the water. There are many different cruises you can take. I took the 1-night cruise with La Pandora and enjoyed it quite a bit (not sponsored – just my personal experience!). The food was fresh and the staff were very friendly and hospitable. Choose a cruise that suits you – for example, whether you want 1 or 2 nights on the water, access to a jacuzzi on the boat and how plush the accommodations are.
Various views of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay from my cruise ship.
Strolling Around Hoi An
Central Vietnam has tons on offer including the ancient capital of Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An, arguably its most popular attraction. Hoi An is best known for its Ancient Town with beautiful buildings dating back to the 15th century. Beach lovers can enjoy an afternoon relaxing at An Bang Beach. I enjoyed relaxing on the sand and then having dinner at a beachside restaurant. Hoi An was one of my favorite experiences travelling Vietnam solo as it was an ideal break from the busy city life in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Like This Article? Pin It!
Other Activities to Do in Vietnam
If you have extra time in Vietnam, below are other exciting and relaxing places you should visit.
Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam and is located in the south. This city is home to many different attractions such as the Saigon SkyDeck at the Bitexco Tower, the Landmark 81 Tower, the Pink Church and Ben Thanh Market. Other important places to visit include the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace. If you enjoy architecture, visit District 5, Saigon’s Chinatown where you’ll see many different Buddhist and Taoist temples.
If you have more than 3 days, you can start exploring like a local. I’ve been living here for over a year and have found other fun things to do as well such as relaxing at a pool, enjoying upscale vegetarian food and enjoying a cocktail at a rooftop bar.
Exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi tunnels are located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City and were an underground tunnel used during the Indochina War between 1945 to 1954 against French colonialists. The tunnels were used during the Vietnam War by Viet Cong soldiers to hide during combat. During your visit there, you’ll have the chance to go down the tunnel yourself! Tunnels have been expanded so you won’t feel as claustrophobic as you would if they had kept the original design for tourists. While you can travel there yourself from Ho Chi Minh City, I recommend doing a day trip there with a guided tour so you don’t have to drive a motorbike or rely on a taxi.
Adventuring in Mui Ne
Mui Ne is a resort town located in Phan Thiet located just over 100 miles from Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a place where you can relax for a few days and get away from the chaos of Saigon. I spent 4 days in Mui Ne which was an ideal amount of time to both relax at the beach and visit key places such as the fishing village, the red and white sand dunes and the Fairy Stream.
If you can muster getting up at 4 am, I highly recommend doing a tour of the red and white sand dunes. A car will pick you up and take you to the red and white dunes just in time for sunrise and before the sand gets hot. I had lots of fun pretending to ride an ATV and taking lots of scenic photos!
Experiencing Dalat
Dalat is the capital of Lam Dong province and is located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, 300 km away from Ho Chi Minh City. This city offers forests, waterfalls and coffee to enjoy.
Famous tourist spots to visit in Dalat include the visiting the Crazy House, a building designed around the structure of a tree. The house is a maze with many hidden places, bridges and paths. Other places you shouldn’t miss include riding the Alpine coaster at Datanla Waterfall and the Dalat cable car.
Visiting the My Son Ruins
The My Son Sanctuary is a series of old Shiava Hindu ruins built between the 4th and 14th centuries by the Cham people and is located approximately 70km southwest of Da Nang. Since the ruins are located outside Da Nang, I recommend a day tour. My tour picked me up from my hotel and took me around the ruins along with about 10 other tourists. I booked a tour with my hotel the day before. Check with your accommodation about booking tours. Another great thing about Vietnam is that you can book tours directly with your hotel the day before.
Exploring Hue
Along with Hoi An, central Vietnam also offers some other historic attractions. Start by visiting Hue, the former capital of Vietnam that hosted the Nguyen dynasty. The main attraction in Hue is the Imperial City and tombs where the remains of the emperors lay.
Relaxing on the Beach in Danang
If you enjoy beaches, travel to Danang, Vietnam and relax at My Khe and My An beaches! These beaches are the ideal place to relax and unwind from sightseeing in Hue and at My Son. When I visited Danang, I rented a beach chair on My Khe Beach for 60,000 VND (around $2.50 USD) and enjoyed a coconut for 30,000 VND ($1.25 USD). Danang has some great beach bars as well. After dinner, head back to the beach and enjoy a cocktail on the sand after dark.
Travel Tips for Budget Adventurers
Navigating Vietnam on a Budget
As I mentioned earlier in this article, traveling Vietnam on the cheap is possible. Undertake the following steps to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck when traveling:
Book Guesthouses Instead of Hotels
Vietnam is home to many fantastic guesthouses. While hotels are inexpensive here, in my experience, guest houses are the best option for a budget traveler. When I traveled to Hanoi, I stayed in both a guest house and a hotel. The hotel was nearly twice the price but provided a similar experience to the guest house. Plus, the guest house provided breakfast and the hotel did not.
Guest houses are also ideal because you’ll get a more personal experience. They’re owned by locals who are happy to provide you with tips on the best places to buy souvenirs and will help you book tours. When you book a guest house, the profits go straight to the owner instead of padding the pockets of investors.
Visit During Shoulder or Off-Season
Save money by booking during the shoulder and off-season when prices are lower. Off-season in Vietnam is between April and November.
Book Low-Cost Airline Carriers
If you’re traveling north to south in Vietnam, you’ll likely need to rely on flying at least once. Vietnam offers two carriers: Vietnam Airlines, the flagship carrier and Vietjet, the low-cost carrier. Vietjet generally offers lower prices, so try booking with them over Vietnam Airlines. Before you book, compare prices on Skyscanner or Google Flights. Sometimes, the prices are similar. For example, I recently booked a flight to Phu Quoc and found that the prices of Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet were nearly identical.
Opt for Sleeper Buses Over Flights
Sleeper buses are a fraction of the price of flights. Opt for an overnight bus for trips such as Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne or Da Lat. I’ve taken the Futa Bus lines (the orange bus) and they’re incredibly reliable and on time.
Further Reading for Planning a Trip to the Cheapest Asian Country to Travel To
Related Articles
- Frugal Backpacking Tips and Tricks article by Frugal Fun Finance
- Budget Backpacking article by Frugal Fun Finance
- Cheap June Travel Destinations article by Frugal Fun Finance
- Is Southeast Asia Safe to Travel? article by Southeast Asia Backpacker
- Vietnam Travel Guide by Lonely Planet
- Southeast Asia Travel Guide by Nomadic Matt
- 10 Things to Know About Long-Term Travel by Nikki On Her Way
A Final Word on Vietnam, the Cheapest Asian Country to Travel To
If you follow a strict budget and plan, you’ll find that Vietnam is the cheapest Asian country to travel to. Take the time to set a spending limit, book accommodation ahead of time and choose budget-friendly attractions. It’s possible to enjoy travel without emptying your bank account!
Like This Article? Pin It!
Janita is a frugal living expert and owner of Frugal Fun Finance. With over five years of personal experience finding and trying out the best ways to make and save more money, she's eager to share her knowledge. Janita's strategies have helped her save thousands of dollars for funding investments and traveling to over 20 countries.
Janita completed training in personal finance at The University of Western Ontario and McGill University, two prestigious Canadian universities. Her expertise has been shared on GoBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, and NASDAQ.com.
