Vietnam is indeed one of the most beautiful places to visit. It is a country that has a long and rich history and continues to be a holiday destination that people flock to throughout the year. With its dynamic mega-cities and it’s equally exotic and mesmerising hill-tribe villages, it has the perfect balance for every type of traveller. One of the best things about Vietnam is that it’s one of the most budget-friendly countries which means it’s a backpackers haven! So, if you’re planning on travelling on a tight budget, here’s everything you need to know to plan out the best 7 days of your life, in under ₹ 1 lakh.
1. Travel
Travelling is probably the most important part of the trip. Here’s a break down of how much you’re going to need.
Visa Cost
The visa process for the country is rather easy. You can get a visa-on-arrival or a fast visa in just ₹ 700-800.
Airfare
A round trip to Vietnam would cost you roughly ₹ 35,000 ++. We suggest you book it in advance because it would be much cheaper.
Cities to Visit (Recommendation)
Some of the cities you must visit while you’re in Vietnam are; Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Hue and Dalat. There are the many more cities and each have their own unique appeal to them and if time permits, we recommend you check them out too. However, the cities mentioned are some of the best!
Internal Travel
Travelling within Vietnam is relatively cheap. For a 7 day trip, you would roughly spend ₹ 5000. This would go up or down, depending on how much you are actually moving around.
Total travel budget for 7 days: ₹ 40,000 ++.
2. Accommodation
Vietnam has a lot of options to choose from when it comes to staying somewhere. However, since we’re working on a budget, we will target cheaper accommodations. If you’re really looking to live on a dime, we recommend the hostel experience.
Ho Chi Minh City
Vy Khanh Hostel, ₹ 551 ++ per night and Long Hostel, ₹ 389 ++ per night.
Hanoi
Suki Hostel Hanoi, ₹ 648 ++ per night and Cocoon Inn, ₹ 518 ++ per night.
Hoi An
Seastar Homestay, ₹ 724 ++ per night and River Park Homestay And Hostel, ₹ 324 ++ per night.
Da Lat
Europe Town, ₹ 257 ++ per night and Cozy Nook Hostel, ₹ 453 ++ per night.
Hue
Jade Hostel, ₹ 583 ++ per night and IBIZA Guesthouse, ₹ 324 ++ per night.
Total accommodation budget for 7 days: ₹ 5500 ++.
3. Food
Food is also another essential part of the trip. Vietnam is home to some of the most drool-worthy food. The authentic Vietnamese food will leave you wanting more every step of the way. Here are some of the restaurants you need to put on your itinerary.
Secret Garden, Ho Chi Minh City
A meal at this lovely rooftop garden will cost you roughly ₹ 500-1000.
La Villa French Restaraunt, Ho Chi Minh City
This beautiful French inspired villa serves some of the best authentic food you will ever eat. A meal at this restaurant will cost you roughly ₹ 1500.
Red Bean Restaraunt, Hanoi
If you’re looking for a taste of some modern Vietnamese food, then this is the place to visit in Hanoi. A meal would cost you roughly ₹ 800.
Essense Restaraunt, Hanoi
With a wide variety of cuisines, this place is good for anyone looking for a range of continental food to choose from. A meal over here would roughly cost you ₹ 1000.
Street Food
While Vietnam has some of the finest restaurants, it is actually the street food that makes it so special. From delicious Pho and the scrumptious Bun Cha and even the savoury sticky rice called Xoi, Vietnam has some of the most epic street food. So while the fancy restaurants are worth a visit once, we recommend you eat the street food for a happy tummy. A drool worth bowl of Pho will cost you a measly ₹ 70!
Total food budget for 7 days: ₹ 8000.
4. Miscellaneous
After covering the 3 basics of any trip which are travel, stay and food, it’s time for the fun stuff! Here are a bunch of miscellaneous things that you might want to consider adding to your itinerary.
Shopping
Vietnam has some of the coolest flea markets and street shops out there. From stunning little handmade souvenirs to some really chic street fashion, there are tons of things to buy. Add the fact that everything is super cheap and you’ve got the perfect shopping spree. A quick heads up, you’re going to be buying a few extra bags and paying for excess luggage! A typical shopping spree would cost you about ₹ 2000-10,000 depending on how much you actually want to buy. However, if you wish to stay true to the ways of a backpacker, we recommend you spend more time on living the experiences as compared to shopping. After all, the true essence of a trip like this is to spend on the real things in life.
Sight-Seeing
This country has some of the most beautiful world-heritage sights. From the scenic Ha Long Bay to the Imperial City located in Hue, each city has something you have to see. We recommend you set aside a little time each day to visit all these places and soak in so of the rich culture Vietnam has to offer. While the travel expenses aren’t much (₹ 50 roughly), paying for a guide would cost you about ₹ 500-1000.
Nightlife
The nightlife scene in Vietnam has changed drastically. Bigger cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are now full of lively pubs and bars. Other tourist destinations are also pretty lively. The best news? Vietnam brews some of the cheapest draft beer in the world! A typical night around the town would cost you roughly ₹ 3500.
The total budget for 7 days: ₹ 5000-8000.
Total amount spent on the trip: ₹ 58,500! The cost would vary depending on your preferences.
So there you have it! What are you waiting for? Start packing and head over to have one of the best experiences of your life!
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