Vietnam a great bang for buck budget destination: Australian travel brand

Vietnam offers great value for money as a budget destination in Asia, says Australia's travel site Escape.

"Lower inflation in Vietnam and a stronger-than-usual Aussie dollar against Asian currencies are a good confluence of events for those wanting to travel to Vietnam," it notes, narrating seven real-life experiences as proof.

Alcohol

"Drinking cheap ‘Bia hoi’ on a Hanoi street corner and having local street food became a mandatory experience for tourists after former US President Barack Obama joined celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain in an Old Quarter noodle shop in 2016," Escape notes.

From midday, on any given day, glasses of this local lager are enjoyed by both locals and tourists for as little as AU$0.20 ($0.14) to 0.50 cents a glass.

"Even a pint of craft beer from a premium brewery like East West in Ho Chi Minh City will set you back just AU$4-5 ($3.38)," it adds.

Coffee

"The Vietnamese have perfected coffee culture to a point where it rivals even Melbourne or Milan," Escape gushes.

"A basic Vietnamese coffee, with the usual (welcome) addition of sweetened condensed milk, will set you back just AU$1.60 ($1.08). But a popular Hanoi delicacy is an ‘Egg Coffee’ which is the yolk of an egg, machine-whisked with milk, then poured over an Americano. Depending on where you are, this will range from AU$2-3 ($2.03)."

Flights

The brand notes that with the introduction of the new international and domestic carrier Bamboo Airways, “flights between Australia and Vietnam have become even cheaper. The carrier has not just put pressure on competitors Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines, their domestic flights are incredibly affordable too."

A direct, return flight between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City in March 2023 can be bought for AU$700 ($472). The same month, one can fly between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from just AU$97 ($65) per person.

Ground transport

"Vietnam’s Uber equivalent, Grab, is not only ridiculously cheaper, it’s also way more efficient," Escape says.

A trip across the entire Old Quarter of Hanoi on the back of a Grab motorbike (with helmet supplied) will set the tourist back about AU$2-3.

Food

"The average price for a bowl of steaming, hot, delicious pho (pronounced “fuh”) is about AU$2.50 ($1.69) in Hanoi. While the price of a bánh mì (typical Vietnamese baguette sandwich) ranges from about AU0.50 cents to AU$1.50.

"There are hundreds of bánh mì shops around the city, but you can tell a joint is popular just by looking at the lunch lines," it advises.

The banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) has recently been named among 23 of the world's best sandwiches by CNN.

Accommodation

"If you’re looking ahead to March or April next year, a night at the five-star Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel in Hanoi will set you back just AU$160 ($108) including breakfast. Looking for something even cheaper? The Mayflower in Hanoi is a very affordable AU$29 ($19.58) per night."

Grooming & Pampering

Facials, pedicures, massages, and cut-throat shaves are all part of the experience.

"You can get a two-hour spa package from Serene Spa in Hanoi from AU$70 ($47) which includes a herbal foot soaking, manicure, pedicure, facial, massage and sauna experience. That’s a bargain."

In early this month, New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure has selected Vietnam as one of the world's 12 "perfect" honeymoon destinations that won’t break the bank. It describes Vietnam has a "generally less-expensive alternative to Thailand's famous tourist destinations".

In September, the country has been ranked ninth among the world's 10 money-saving travel destinations to suit any budget by Canadian travel site The Travel.

"If you don't mind slow, long-distance travel, buses, and trains around Vietnam are among the most affordable in the world, making it easy to explore all of this beautiful country. The country is also home to many affordable hotels," it wrote.

In July, Vietnam was named among the eight cheapest countries to retire by Travel + Leisure, with the overall cost of living about 49% lower than in the U.S., and rents about 75% lower, depending on the location.