Last updated on April 18th, 2025 at 04:29 pm
Reading Time: 5 minutesI’ve planned a 6-day trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, and wanted to keep the Vietnam trip cost as low as possible.
Whenever I consider traveling, budget is always the first thing I focus on.
So, I looked for affordable options for stays, flights, food, and activities.
While I didn’t set a fixed budget, I did try to keep my spending as tight as possible.
And guess what?
6 days. Under 60k. Mind-blowing experience. Here’s how I made it happen, and you can also do a budget Vietnam trip.
Table of Contents
Flight Options
Flights are the only thing where you won’t find huge price variations, but you can still check on Skyscanner for slight price differences.
I prefer to book from Make My Trip. However, when I checked on Skyscanner, the price was almost the same, so I booked from MMT.
The Delhi to Hanoi flight cost Rs. 13,000, and the return ticket for Rs. 15,000.
Usually, the late night and very early morning flights are cheaper, so, you can keep that in mind while booking.
For the Hanoi trip, the flights I booked were both direct night flights. Thus, when I compared it with other times of the day, it was less expensive.
E-Visa
I ended up spending more on the Vietnam e-Visa because, unknowingly, I applied for it twice.
Due to a mistake, the e-visa cost me around ₹7,000. It was an unexpected mishap that added to my expenses.
You can read about my e-Visa mishap and other important details here.
However, if you fill in all the details correctly, the Vietnam e-Visa will cost you only around ₹3,000—Just make sure to apply through the official government website only.
Once submitted correctly, you’ll receive your e-visa within 3–4 working days.
Budget-Friendly Stay in Hanoi Vietnam
I stayed in an Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel, which offers dorm beds.
Anywhere you go, hostels are the most affordable option you can choose.
I know people who are not used to seeing strangers in their rooms. It feels a little awkward. But, it’s fine as they also feel the same. Moreover, you get to meet different people during your stay and make friends.
Indeed, it’s not every time you meet someone to travel around the city.
Likewise, happened to me, I stayed in a 6-bed, 8-bed, and 10-bed mixed dorm during my 6-day stay in Vietnam.
But I couldn’t find anyone to travel around the city as they seemed busy with their own company. So, that’s okay—you shouldn’t hold any expectations, especially when traveling.
So, for the 5-day stay in the hostel. I paid Rs. 4586.
Hanoi’s Old Quarter is known as a backpacker’s paradise, so you’ll find plenty of hostel options here.
In fact, you can even find places cheaper than where I stayed—helping you cut down your Vietnam trip cost significantly when it comes to accommodation.
I’d recommend checking Hostelworld to book your stay easily.
Places to Eat in Hanoi Vietnam
Honestly, I faced difficulty in finding vegetarian food in Hanoi Old Quarters.
However, I keep myself confined to eating till the Omelette.
But the options for Non-Veg are very high as compared to Veg. When you go to the street and search extensively, the chances are that you get good Veg meals.
For Breakfast
Luckily, I managed breakfast at the hostel restaurant. They served a delicious—bread omelette, bananas, and fruits—which I had every morning.
For Lunch
Even for lunch, I usually ate at the hostel. They offered just one rice-based option, or I’d repeat the breakfast meal—both were quite satisfying. Sometimes, I only ate fruits.
For Dinner
For dinner, I often had Banh Mi—a Vietnamese sandwich roll I absolutely loved. It’s similar to Subway but with fewer veggies, so one was never enough—I usually had two!
You can get Banh Mi for Rs. 90-100. Usually, the street vendors sell them.
Including other small expenses on food throughout the day, my daily food cost came to around ₹500. So, for 6 days, it totaled approximately Rs. 3,000.
Food is indeed very affordable in Hanoi Vietnam.
Roti
Furthermore, I liked “Roti” as well—Roti is a sweet Bun in Vietnam. Bun comes in flavors such as Vanilla, and Matcha, which cost 20,000 VND – Rs. 66. You can take it as an evening snack.
Generally, I love the Vanilla flavor.
To have a taste of it, you can go to Ring Roti in Old Quarter, near the Hoan Kiem Lake.
Circle K
Circle K is a 24/7 convenience store offering daily usage items. So, from there, I sometimes used to eat sandwiches.
It’s like a general store, and you’ll easily find Circle K in Hanoi streets.
Circle K is another great option when you’re on a budget, and want to minimize the Vietnam trip cost.
Places to Visit
For the first few days, I explored Hanoi Streets and was mesmerized by its attractiveness.
Since, it was the time of Tet in Vietnam. Hence, the streets are decorated. Also, many people shut their shops during this time of the year. But, I consider it’s also the best time to see around with less crowd and more energetic vibes around.
I had visited 2 places outside Hanoi during my 6 days in Vietnam.
First was Ninh Binh:
To visit Ninh Binh, I’ve enquired offline and decided to book the day tour from a local operator.
From climbing Hang Múa for breathtaking views to a peaceful boat ride in Tràng An and exploring the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, this trip had it all!
The Ninh Binh tour cost Rs. 3,395.
Second was Lan Ha Bay and the Cat Ba Island cruise tour:
The decision to choose Lan Ha Bay immediately came to me on a bus ride to Ninh Binh.
While sitting on a bus, I made a last-minute decision to visit Lan Ha Bay—and I’m so glad I did!
If I had missed that moment, I might have never seen this jaw-dropping paradise—a place filled with emerald waters, towering limestone cliffs, and unforgettable experiences.
From cycling through quiet villages to watching kayakers from my drone’s view, every moment was magical!
Furthermore, visiting Cat Ba Island, “Many Women Island”, was the highlight of this journey.
I booked the Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island tour on Klook. It cost Rs. 6,125 and was totally worth it for the experience!
On other days, I’ve explored the city by foot.
Thus, places to visit roughly cost Rs. 10,000.
Also read, Is a Solo Trip to Vietnam Safe—My Honest Experience
My Vietnam Trip Cost from India
Including flights, stay, food, and sightseeing, my 6-day trip to Hanoi, Vietnam cost me less than ₹60,000 in Indian rupees.
I chose to explore only Hanoi and nearby places, and honestly, I’m glad I didn’t rush through multiple destinations.
I returned with a lot of valuable experiences, especially around the e-Visa process, where I realized I could have saved a bit more. But it was all part of the learning, and totally worth it.
I must have visited Vietnam instead of Gao in this much money.
Hi Rajat, you can visit Vietnam for even less than what I spent. I made a few mistakes along the way, and if you avoid those and plan a bit more wisely, you can easily do it at a lower cost.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.