In our previous post, we shared all the exciting experiences, delicious food, and amazing sights we encountered during our time in Hanoi. Today, we’re diving deeper into our budget and revealing how we managed to spend $1,142 USD for a fantastic three-week stay in Hanoi, Vietnam, in April 2023. While our main motivation for choosing Hanoi was its renowned food scene, we were pleasantly surprised by the breathtaking surrounding regions we had the opportunity to explore, such as Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh (don’t forget to check out our destination guides for these incredible places!). So, without any more delay, let’s dig into the nitty-gritty of our expenses and uncover the most remarkable aspects of our unforgettable journey in Hanoi, shall we?
We stayed in Hanoi for 21 days and the two of us spent $30.54 per person per day or $1,168 in total.
| Where We Traveled Hanoi, Vietnam |
| What did we do, see, eat? Check out our destination guide of Hanoi |
| Number of Days 21 days (from April 4, 2023, to April 25, 2023) |
| Type of Travel Married Couple, Slow Travel/Nomadic, Price Conscious |
| Total living cost $1,142 (for 2 people) or $18,948 per year (for 2 people) or $1,579 per month (for 2 people) or $25.96 per person and per day |
Note: Unless specified otherwise, prices are in USD and were converted from the local currency (VND or Vietnamese Dong) to USD with the following exchange rate: 23,500 VND = 1 USD.
With our previous trips to Montreal, Quebec City, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Oaxaca City, San Miguel de Allende, Aruba, Porto, Lisbon, Kotor, Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta, Penang, Costa Brava, Ubud, Koh Samui, Siem Reap our average monthly spend per person was around $33.37 / person / day (Excluding the cost of getting in & out). Hanoi is 28% below this average with a daily budget of $25.96 / person / day.
Here is a breakdown of our living expenses for this trip:
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Our accommodation topped our budget category (representing 43% of our living expenses), followed by recreation (representing 23% of our living expenses), dining out (representing 11% of our living expenses) groceries (representing 7% of our living expenses), local transportation (representing 5% of our living expenses), visas (representing 4.5% of our living expenses), snacks/sweets (representing 3% of our living expenses), scam (representing 2% of our living expense – Ah Vietnam!) and data (representing >1% of our living expenses).
We had an absolute blast in Hanoi with our budget! We went all out exploring the city, trying every possible food we could get our hands on (literally every day!), and indulging in 24 amazing meals at local restaurants. We even managed to squeeze in a fantastic 2-day/1-night adventure to Ha Long Bay and a memorable 3-day/2-night getaway to Ninh Binh.
What did we exactly spend on this budget? Well, let’s look into each main budget category in more detail.
(For more details about what to do, eat, see & avoid, please check out Part I of our destination guide about Hanoi)
How much did we spend?
Note: If you are curious about how we generally decide to spend our money, check out this article where we explain our decision-making process.
Accommodation: $11.12 / person / day (OR $677 / person / month).
During our 3 weeks stay in Hanoi, we were able to find very affordable accommodation. For $455 USD, we rented a 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom apartment that was located a 15 minutes walk from the Old Quarter.
Situated on the fifth floor of a secure building, our apartment was located in a safe and tranquil neighborhood. The building had a very welcoming family residing on the first floor, while our host occupied the fourth floor. While most of the units in the building had undergone renovations and were rented through Airbnb, our particular unit had yet to receive its makeover. However, given the affordable price we paid, we didn’t mind in the slightest. The apartment was fully functional, complete with a well-equipped kitchen that met all our needs.
One notable aspect that truly impressed us was the exceptional responsiveness of our host. She promptly answered our requests, which greatly enhanced our overall experience. It was a definite bonus for us, especially considering that we can sometimes be a tad demanding 🙂
You can check out our AirBnB rental listing here.
If you want to know how we score great deals with AirBnB, check out our own AirBnb tips.
You can also check our accommodation on our boat cruise!
⇒ In total, for the length of our say, the 2 of us spent $489 ($455 on this apartment for a total of 21 nights + $34 on 2 nights in Ninh Binh)
Local Transportation: $1.28 / person / day (OR $78 / person / month)
Our Local Transportation cost was mostly covering for our Uber from/to the airport as well as our semi-private transportation to Ninh Binh.
⇒ In total, for the length of our stay, the 2 of us spent $56.12 on local transportation.
Groceries: $1.82 / person / day (OR $110 / person / month)
Finding groceries in Hanoi proved to be a bit challenging. While there are numerous food vendors available, navigating the local market scene in Vietnam can be a bit of a hassle. Negotiating prices and not knowing the local rates can be time-consuming. However, we did manage to discover an organic store that, although pricier, offered better quality options. Additionally, we found a local grocery store for the rest of our food needs.
⇒ In total, for the length of our stay, the 2 of us spent $79.92 on groceries. This covered 20/44 meals (lunch, snack & dinner – we don’t eat breakfast) which is about $2.00 / meal / person.
Eating Out: $3.66 / person / day (OR $223 / person / month)
During our stay in Hanoi we tried every Vietnamese food we could find.
To name a few of our favorites:
- Chá Cá: Seasonal fish served with tons of spring onions, dill & accompanied with rice noodle, sauce & peanut.
- Bûn Bon (beef salad): A delicious & simple bowl of semi-dry beef noodles with vegetables, bean sprouts, shallots.
- Banh Xeo: An irresistible crispy, yet delicate, golden brown crepe, filled with pork & shrimp.
- Hanoi Broken Rice.
- Bûn Chá: A classic vermicelli noodle dish served with delicious Vietnamese meatballs made from ground pork and authentic Vietnamese seasonings.
- Bánh Cuôn: A street food item consisting of steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork (banh cuon nhan thit), mushrooms (banh cuon thanh tri), or both (banh cuon Ha Noi).
- Banh Mi: A Vietnamese sandwich made up of various meats and seasonings.
Check this instagram post for pictures, as well as the first part of this destination report.
⇒ In total, for the length of our stay, the 2 of us spent $125.35 on restaurants + $35.82 on snacks for a total of $161.17. Our restaurant budget covered 24/44 meals (lunch or dinner). The average cost of our meals taken out was $2.61 /meal / person which is 1.31 times more expensive than eating at home (by doing the ratio between what a full day of eating out would cost vs a full day of eating at home as per our budget).
Activities: $6.20 / person / day (OR $377 / person / month)
During our stay in Hanoi we got to enjoy a 2 days / 1 night boat cruise in Ha Long Bay as well as a 3 days / 2 nights weekend getaway in the wonderful region of Nihn Bihn. Within Hanoi itself, we took on a free walking tour of the Old Quarters as well.
⇒ In total, for the length of our stay, the 2 of us spent $273.01 on activities.
Our Money Savings Tips
How did we save money for this trip?
- Avoid tourist peak season (from October to April) to get cheaper prices on accommodation and also any excursion to HaLong Bay or any neighboring regions.
- Use travel credit cards with sign-on bonuses to maximize free miles that you can apply towards your trip so you can travel for (almost) free.
- Use this amazing debit card to avoid hefty ATM fees.
- Use AirBnB (if staying one month or less). AirBnB is a website that allows homeowners, in destinations all over the world, the ability to rent private spaces (or entire apartments) for a fee. As nomadic long term travelers, we like to call AirBnB our home as it has helped us save a lot of money and provides us with really great places managed by wonderful hosts!
Our Bottom Line
During our 3-week adventure in Hanoi, we were blown away by the incredible food scene. Vietnam has secured its spot as one of our all-time favorite food destinations (next to Penang, Malaysia). Exploring the city on foot was eye-opening, giving us a glimpse into its rich history and vibrant culture. While we acknowledge that there is still room for improvement in terms of reducing poverty nationwide, we noticed that Hanoi has made significant progress, thanks in part to the flourishing tourism industry that has provided better life opportunities to many locals. However, it was a bit saddening to see the effects of over tourism on places like Ha Long Bay, which have started to impact the natural beauty of the site.
So that’s it folks! What did you think about our budget in Hanoi? Is it as affordable as you thought it was? Feel free to share your experience and ask questions by leaving a comment below.
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