What budget to travel North? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings North?

Entrance fees to sites and museums are generally very modest (the equivalent of less than €2). It's customary to leave a small donation when visiting pagodas.

You don't need a big budget to indulge in sporting activities in Vietnam. Hiking, cycling, motorcycling and rock-climbing are all activities that require physical resources. In some tourist resorts, you can take part in activities requiring more specific equipment (diving, water sports...), but prices remain relatively affordable. Golf courses are becoming increasingly popular, especially among Asian customers. Here again, rates are largely affordable.

Vietnam is not yet a preferred destination for shopping enthusiasts, nor can it compete with other Southeast Asian capitals - Bangkok or Singapore - known for their oversized shopping malls, veritable temples to consumerism. But Vietnam has become one of the world's factories, and it's possible to get a good deal on certain products: sports shoes, luggage, clothing... You'll also find some superb handicrafts, and you can have your shirts, dresses and pants made to measure at low prices.

Vietnamese nights are still very affordable. However, more luxurious establishments are springing up, with relatively high prices. Tourist clientele are not necessarily welcome.

What budget to eat North?

Vietnamese cuisine is rightly renowned for its low-cost flavors. Emblematic dishes such as pho, bun bo (or bo bun) or bun cha make it possible to have lunch or dinner for less than 100,000 VND (around €4). However, restaurants in tourist areas tend to charge high prices for what is often very average quality. In the big cities, gourmet restaurants and those in luxury hotels often offer value-for-money lunch menus that make them easily accessible. In general, you should expect to pay between €7 and €15 per person for a meal in a mid-range restaurant, and over €20 per person in a more chic establishment. For more than €35 per person, you can dine in well-known restaurants and grand hotels. Expect to pay at least €50 per person to dine in one of Hanoi's Michelin-starred restaurants. Note that beer is not very expensive in Vietnam, but a bottle of wine can quickly add to the bill.

Drink a cup of coffee, enjoy a cup of tea or a freshly squeezed fruit juice, sip a beer: in Vietnam, these pleasures enhance the trip without threatening the balance of the budget, however tight it may be... A little more expensive in city centers and tourist areas, but nothing like the rates charged in European capitals.

What is the budget for accommodation North?

Prices naturally vary according to the category of establishment. The hotel infrastructure (hotel is called khach san) has developed enormously. Luxury resorts (over U$100 for a double room) are proliferating. Alongside luxury hotels that meet international standards, there are a multitude of inns or mini-hotels(nha khach or nha nghi). Not all are of high quality, but most offer acceptable comfort. In the more modest hotels, the hierarchy is established according to comfort - air conditioning or fan - but also according to floor (the last being always the cheapest, especially when there is no elevator...). The season is also a factor: the high season, which runs from May¹ to the end of September, also includes the months of January and February (Tet celebrations). In the major cities, expect to pay a minimum of US$40 per person for a room in a standard hotel. In mini-hotels, expect to pay between US$20 and US$30 for a double room with a certain level of comfort (in major tourist cities; elsewhere, it's half the price). All prices are given as an indication only; with tact, it is often possible to haggle. This is particularly true of resorts, which often offer substantial reductions on official rates (websites are full of promotional offers and full of pleasant surprises). More and more establishments accept payment by credit card (3% service charge), but this is not always the case, especially for the less expensive hotels.

Travel budget North and cost of living

The strength of the euro means you can travel to Vietnam in (very) good conditions, at a relatively low cost compared with other destinations.

For travellers on a budget, comfort may not be optimal, but the disadvantage will be more than compensated for by greater proximity to the rhythm of the country. Reserved, even harsh, Vietnam will nonetheless reward patient and available spirits without necessarily being equipped with a thick wallet.

Budget : on average €50/day (budget hotels, public transport and local restaurants). Some ascetics have made a fine trip on a more modest budget...

Comfort budget : average €100/day (for a luxury cruise on Along Bay or the Mekong Delta).

Luxury budget : from €150/day (top hotels and the best restaurants at every stopover).