Vietnam remains one of Southeast Asia’s best-value destinations, but total costs vary depending on your route, travel style, and booking choices. Having lived in Hoi An with children for two years and traveled extensively across the country—from the northern highlands down to Phu Quoc island—we know Vietnam well, and we’ve seen how prices can fluctuate across different regions. Flights, accommodation, food, and activities all affect the final total, while exchange rates and the season can shift prices further. This guide breaks down realistic costs in GBP across budget, mid-range, and luxury travel styles, so you can plan with confidence.
Main Expenses to Plan For
Before setting a budget, it helps to look at where most of your money is likely to go. Flights are often the highest cost, but accommodation, food and travel between cities can also take up a large part of your spending. Your budget should include:
- Return flights
- Accommodation
- Food and drinks
- Local transport and travel between destinations
- Entrance fees, tours and activities
- Travel insurance and mobile data
- Shopping, laundry and tips
That said, many travellers also look for ways to keep entertainment costs down while they’re away. On quieter days, adults might want to try offers such as 10 free bingo no deposit required, which let you play bingo without putting any money down upfront. It’s a low-risk way to get a feel for the game, play a few rounds, and compare different bingo sites before deciding whether to spend any of your own cash.
Estimated Costs for a 2-Week Trip
The figures below give a realistic idea of what you may spend during two weeks in Vietnam. Your final budget will depend on your route, travel style, season, exchange rates and booking choices, so these amounts should be used as a guide rather than fixed prices.
Flights
Return flights from the UK to Vietnam often cost between £500 and £750 when booked early and outside the busiest periods. During school holidays, Christmas, New Year and other popular travel dates, fares can climb to £800–£1,000 or more.
Prices vary depending on the airline, departure airport, travel dates and how far ahead you book. Flights from London usually offer more choice, while regional airports may require an extra connection. One-stop routes are often cheaper than direct flights, so being flexible with your dates can help keep costs down.
Accommodation
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Phu Quoc usually cost more than smaller towns, especially during busy travel periods. Typical nightly prices are:
- Budget: £7–£20 for hostels and basic guesthouses
- Mid-range: £30–£70 for comfortable hotels, often with breakfast and air conditioning
- Luxury: £100–£250+ for five-star hotels and beach resorts
For 14 nights, this works out at roughly £98–£280 for budget stays, £420–£980 for mid-range hotels and £1,400–£3,500+ for luxury accommodation.
Food and Drinks
Street food is widely available and offers excellent value, while cafés and restaurants remain affordable compared with many other destinations. If you mainly eat local dishes, you can comfortably keep your daily food budget fairly modest.
Usual prices include:
- Street food meal: £1–£3
- Local restaurant meal: £3–£8
- Mid-range restaurant: £10–£20
- Vietnamese coffee: £1–£2
- Soft drink: £0.50–£1
- Local beer: £0.50–£2
Travellers who mostly eat at street stalls and local restaurants can expect to spend around £10–£20 per day on food and drinks. Choosing international restaurants, rooftop bars or fine dining will increase your daily budget, but eating well in Vietnam is still relatively inexpensive compared with many European destinations.
Transportation
Domestic flights often cost around £20–£70, while long-distance trains are usually £10–£45 and sleeper buses £6–£20. In cities, short Grab or taxi rides generally cost £1.50–£8, and local buses are often under £1. For a two-week trip, a realistic transport budget is around £50–£150, depending mainly on how many domestic flights you take. Booking flights and trains in advance can help you find lower fares, while using Grab instead of hailing a taxi on the street is often the easiest way to avoid overpaying.
Attractions and Activities
Many museums, temples and historic sites in Vietnam cost only a few pounds to visit. Guided tours, cooking classes and cruises are more expensive, so it helps to choose your main activities before setting your budget. Typical costs include:
- Museums and historic sites: £1–£5
- Temples and cultural sites: £2–£8
- Cooking classes: £20–£40
- Guided day tours: £25–£60
- Ha Long Bay day cruise: £40–£90
- Ha Long Bay overnight cruise: £80–£330+
A budget of £100–£300 should cover several attractions and one or two organised activities. If you’re combining Vietnam with a wider Southeast Asia trip, it’s also worth considering a detour to the https://thailandstartshere.com/2025/08/19/grand-canyon-of-thailand/, a former quarry near Chiang Mai now home to a large water park. Since this is in Thailand rather than Vietnam, you’ll need to budget separately for the extra transport, accommodation and entrance fees.
Other Expenses
It’s easy to overlook the smaller travel costs, but over two weeks they can add up. It’s worth getting travel insurance – a two-week policy usually costs £20–£60, depending on your age and level of cover. A local SIM card or eSIM will set you back £2–£10, which is far cheaper than roaming. UK citizens don’t need a visa, as Vietnam offers visa-free entry for stays of up to 45 days. You should also budget for shopping, laundry, tips, snacks and any unexpected purchases – £50–£150 is usually enough, though this depends on how much shopping you plan to do.
I also recommend to read my post Important Things To Consider When Traveling To Asia.
Budget Examples by Travel Style
A two-week trip to Vietnam can cost very different amounts depending on how you travel. The table below shows typical totals for one person, including return flights from the UK.
| Expense Category | Budget Traveller (£) | Mid-Range Traveller (£) | Luxury Traveller (£) |
| Return Flights | 500–750 | 650–900 | 900–1,400 |
| Accommodation (14 nights) | 98–280 | 420–980 | 1,400–3,500+ |
| Food & Drinks | 140–280 | 280–560 | 700–1,120 |
| Local Transportation | 50–100 | 100–150 | 150–300 |
| Attractions & Tours | 100–180 | 180–300 | 300–700 |
| Travel Insurance | 20–60 | 30–70 | 40–100 |
| Miscellaneous | 50–150 | 100–250 | 250–600 |
| Estimated Total | 958–1,800 | 1,760–3,210 | 3,740–7,720+ |
Tips to Save Money in Vietnam
Vietnam offers good value, but a few simple choices can help you spend less. Booking early, eating local food, and using low-cost transport are some of the easiest ways to save money traveling around the country.
- Book international and domestic flights in advance.
- Eat at street stalls and local restaurants.
- Use Grab so you can see the fare before the ride.
- Compare tour prices before booking.
- Visit markets, beaches and walking streets, which are often free.
- Carry some cash for small shops and food stalls.
- Travel outside the busiest holiday periods.
It also helps to balance cheaper days with more expensive ones. You could book a guided tour one day and explore on foot the next. This keeps spending under control while leaving room in your budget for the activities that matter most.
FAQ
Is Vietnam expensive to visit?
Vietnam is generally good value, especially compared with many other destinations in Southeast Asia. Your total cost will depend on your hotels, transport, food and planned activities.
Is £1,000 enough for two weeks in Vietnam?
It may be enough for a budget trip, particularly if you find a cheap flight, stay in hostels or guesthouses and eat mostly local food.
How much should I budget per day?
Budget travellers may spend around £35–75 per day, not including international flights. Mid-range travellers may need £80–165, while luxury travel typically runs £200 or more per day.
What is the cheapest time to visit Vietnam?
Flights and hotels are often cheaper outside school holidays and major public holidays. Shoulder-season months can also offer lower prices, although the best time depends on the part of Vietnam you plan to visit.
Should I carry cash or use bank cards?
It is best to use both. Cards work well in hotels, shopping centres and larger restaurants, but cash is still useful for markets, street food, small shops and local transport.
Lived in England since 1998 and travelled the world since 2005, visiting over 100 countries on 5 continents. Writer, blogger, photographer with a passion for adventure and travel, discovering those off beat places not yet on the tourist trail. Marco contributes the very best in independent travel tips and lifestyle articles.
