# How much does a trip to Vietnam cost? > How much a 2-week trip to Vietnam costs in 2026: about $350 to $500 on the ground on a budget, plus flights, the $25 e-visa, sleeper trains and Halong Bay. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-much-does-a-trip-to-vietnam-cost - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-09-14 **A 14-day trip to Vietnam costs roughly $350 to $500 per person on the ground on a budget and $700 to $1,300 mid-range, plus the flight, which from the US is commonly about $850 to $1,600 return. Most American budget travellers land somewhere around $1,200 to $2,100 all in.** Vietnam is the cheapest country on our whole 20-country route per day, so the flight is an even bigger share of the total than in Thailand. The daily ranges match our [daily travel budget by country](https://clevertourists.com/resources/daily-travel-budget-by-country) table (about $25 to $35 budget, $50 to $90 mid-range) and are typical 2026 figures from published guides, not what we spent. We were in Vietnam for about four weeks in April and May 2023: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. ## The total for 14 days, three ways Per person, two weeks, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or the reverse, flights listed separately. • **Budget (about $25 to $35 a day): roughly $350 to $500.** Dorms or simple guesthouses, street food, sleeper buses and trains, one or two paid sights a day. • **Mid-range (about $50 to $90 a day): roughly $700 to $1,300.** Private rooms in good hotels, sit-down restaurants, one domestic flight to skip a long overland leg, a Halong Bay overnight cruise and a guided day in [Ninh Binh](https://clevertourists.com/guides/2-days-in-ninh-binh). • **Comfort: about $1,300 and up.** Upper-range cruises, beach resorts, private cars over the Hai Van Pass and a tailoring splurge in Hoi An. Add the e-visa if you need one (below), data and insurance. Two people sharing rooms pay well under double. To price your own dates, group size and style, try the [Vietnam trip cost calculator](https://clevertourists.com/tools/trip-cost-calculator/vietnam). ## Flights to Vietnam From the US, airline route pages in 2026 list economy returns to Hanoi from roughly $850 to $1,150 out of New York and Los Angeles, with some Midwest departures much higher. Fares rose sharply in 2026 on fuel costs; see [why flights are so expensive](https://clevertourists.com/resources/why-are-flights-so-expensive) and [how to find cheap flights](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-to-find-cheap-flights). Flying into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (an open-jaw ticket) saves a domestic flight back. From Australia and Europe, Vietnam is often reached via a cheap connection in Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Check what that hub adds in time, and avoid Tet: fares and domestic flights around the [Tet holiday](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tet-2027-vietnam-dates-holiday-closures-travel-guide) are the most expensive of the year. ## Rooms, food and getting around • **Rooms:** hostel guides put dorm beds at roughly $6 to $11. Hanoi's Old Quarter and Hoi An's centre are the priciest areas for what you get; [where to stay in Hanoi](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-hanoi) compares neighbourhoods. • **Food:** pho, banh mi and com tam cost a dollar or two at street stalls. Eating locally three times a day is the main reason Vietnam undercuts Thailand. Our [Vietnam food guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/food-vietnam) and [what to eat in Hanoi](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-eat-in-hanoi) list what to order. • **Long-distance transport:** the Reunification Express sleeper is the comfortable cheap option between Hanoi, [Hue](https://clevertourists.com/guides/hue) and the centre; see our [sleeper train guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/vietnam-train-travel-reunification-express-sleeper-guide). Sleeper buses are cheaper still. One domestic flight, usually Da Nang or Hue to Ho Chi Minh City, saves a long day for a moderate fare outside holidays. • **In cities:** Grab bikes and cars keep short rides to a dollar or two. ## The splurges that decide your budget • **Halong Bay:** 2026 operator price tables put a 2-day, 1-night cruise at about $108 to $250 per person in low season and $130 to $300 in high season, and most do not include the Hanoi transfer, which shuttles charge roughly $40 to $50 return. That single night can equal four budget days. Our [is a Halong Bay cruise worth it](https://clevertourists.com/resources/halong-bay-cruise-worth-it) weighs it against a Ninh Binh day trip from [Hanoi](https://clevertourists.com/resources/day-trips-from-hanoi). • **Hoi An:** the Ancient Town ticket and tailoring; see [the ticket guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/hoi-an-ancient-town-ticket-price-2026-guide) and [tailor pricing and turnaround](https://clevertourists.com/resources/hoi-an-custom-tailor-clothes-guide-pricing-turnaround). • **Hai Van Pass:** a motorbike or car transfer between Hue and Hoi An costs more than the train but replaces a transport day with a sightseeing one; options in [Hue to Hoi An](https://clevertourists.com/resources/hue-to-hoi-an-hai-van-pass-easy-rider-car-train-guide). ## Visa, money, data and insurance • **Visa:** UK, German, French and several other European passport holders get 45 days visa-free under a government resolution running to March 2028. US, Canadian and Australian visitors need an e-visa: the US Embassy in Vietnam confirms a government fee of $25 single entry or $50 multiple entry, valid up to 90 days. Apply only on the official government portal and ignore lookalike agencies that add fees; see [do I need a visa for Vietnam](https://clevertourists.com/resources/do-i-need-a-visa-to-visit-vietnam). • **Money:** Vietnam runs on cash at stalls and small hotels. ATM fees vary by bank, so take larger withdrawals; read [cash or card abroad](https://clevertourists.com/resources/cash-or-card-for-international-travel). Tipping norms are in [tipping in Vietnam](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-etiquette-vietnam). • **Data:** a local SIM or travel eSIM is cheap next to roaming; see [eSIM or local SIM](https://clevertourists.com/resources/esim-or-local-sim-for-international-travel). • **Insurance:** a few dollars a day; important if you ride motorbikes. See [travel insurance](https://clevertourists.com/resources/travel-insurance-for-international-trips). ## A two-week budget route A practical two weeks: 3 days in Hanoi, 2 in Ninh Binh, 2 in Hue, 3 in [Hoi An](https://clevertourists.com/guides/hoi-an), 3 in [Ho Chi Minh City](https://clevertourists.com/guides/ho-chi-minh-city) with a Mekong day. Our [2-week Hanoi to Saigon itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/vietnam-itinerary-2-weeks-hanoi-to-saigon) lays it out; our own [4-week route](https://clevertourists.com/resources/vietnam-itinerary-our-4-week-route-north-to-south) adds Da Lat and Nha Trang. Season changes prices less than in Thailand, but it changes the weather by region; see [best time to visit Hanoi](https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-hanoi) and [best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City](https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-ho-chi-minh-city). If you are choosing between neighbours, [Thailand vs Vietnam](https://clevertourists.com/resources/thailand-vs-vietnam) compares the two. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does a 2-week trip to Vietnam cost? About $350 to $500 per person on the ground on a budget or $700 to $1,300 mid-range, plus a flight that from the US is commonly about $850 to $1,600 return. ### How much money do I need per day in Vietnam? About $25 to $35 a day on a budget and $50 to $90 mid-range. ### How much is a Halong Bay cruise? A 2-day, 1-night cruise is roughly $108 to $300 per person depending on season and class, usually plus about $40 to $50 for the Hanoi transfer. ### How much is the Vietnam e-visa? $25 for single entry or $50 for multiple entry, valid up to 90 days. UK and several European passport holders get 45 days visa-free instead.