What Things Cost in Vietnam: A Daily Spending Guide for Travelers

💰 Click here to see Vietnam Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: November, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₫25,797.29

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: ₫700,000 – ₫1,100,000 ($27.13 – $42.64)

Mid-range: ₫1,500,000 – ₫2,800,000 ($58.15 – $108.54)

Comfortable: ₫3,000,000 – ₫5,500,000 ($116.29 – $213.20)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: ₫120,000 – ₫470,000 ($4.65 – $18.22)

Mid-range hotel: ₫700,000 – ₫1,800,000 ($27.13 – $69.77)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: ₫40,000.00 ($1.55)

Mid-range meal: ₫150,000.00 ($5.81)

Upscale meal: ₫1,000,000.00 ($38.76)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: ₫10,000.00 ($0.39)

Monthly transport pass: ₫500,000.00 ($19.38)

You land in Vietnam, and within an hour you are holding a wad of banknotes with too many zeros. A coffee costs 30,000 VND, a hotel room costs 900,000 VND, and the street vendor next to you is pointing at a QR code you do not know how to use. In 2026, the confusion is not about whether you can pay. It is about choosing the right method at the right moment, so you do not lose money to bad exchange rates, stacked fees, or a 500,000 VND note nobody can break. This guide gives you real daily spending numbers and the payment steps that work.

The Dong and the 25,000 Rate

The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). For all calculations in this guide, I use an approximate rate of 1 USD = 25,000 VND. Real rates move, so check a live converter before you travel.

Banknotes are polymer, and they come in 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 500,000 VND. Smaller cotton notes of 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 VND are still around but are less common. Coins are rarely used and often not accepted, so do not expect change in coins.

The most useful habit is to keep small notes. Street vendors, small shops, taxis, and tipping all run on 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 VND notes. A 500,000 VND note (about 20 USD) can be hard to break at a small stall at 7 a.m. When you withdraw or exchange money, ask for smaller notes where you can. Count the zeros every time you hand over cash, especially when you are tired or the light is poor.

Daily Budget by Travel Style

These 2026 estimates are for one traveler making average choices in each category, at 1 USD = 25,000 VND.

Budget: 750,000 to 1,250,000 VND (about 30 to 50 USD) per day

• Accommodation: 150,000 to 300,000 VND (6 to 12 USD) for a hostel dorm bed or a very basic guesthouse.
• Food: 200,000 to 400,000 VND (8 to 16 USD) for street food, local eateries serving phở and bún chả, and cheap coffee.
• Local transport: 50,000 to 100,000 VND (2 to 4 USD) for Grab motorbike rides or local buses.
• Activities and entrance fees: 100,000 to 200,000 VND (4 to 8 USD) for temples and museums.
• Miscellaneous: 250,000 VND (10 USD) as a buffer.

Mid-range: 1,750,000 to 3,750,000 VND (about 70 to 150 USD) per day

• Accommodation: 750,000 to 1,500,000 VND (30 to 60 USD) for a 3 to 4 star hotel or boutique guesthouse.
• Food: 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND (20 to 40 USD) for good local restaurants plus the occasional Western meal.
• Local transport: 100,000 to 250,000 VND (4 to 10 USD) for Grab cars or taxis.
• Activities and entrance fees: 250,000 to 500,000 VND (10 to 20 USD) for guided tours and cooking classes.



• Miscellaneous: 500,000 VND (20 USD) as a buffer.

Comfortable (Luxury): 5,000,000+ VND (about 200+ USD) per day

• Accommodation: 2,500,000+ VND (100+ USD) for 5-star hotels or resorts.
• Food: 1,250,000+ VND (50+ USD) for fine dining and upscale restaurants.
• Local transport: 500,000+ VND (20+ USD) for private cars and airport transfers.
• Activities and entrance fees: 750,000+ VND (30+ USD) for exclusive tours and spa treatments.
• Miscellaneous: 1,000,000+ VND (40+ USD) as a buffer.

What Everyday Items Actually Cost

Daily totals are useful, but you spend money one purchase at a time. Here are the 2026 price ranges you will meet most often.

• Bottled water (1.5L): 10,000 to 20,000 VND (0.40 to 0.80 USD).
• Local beer (330ml can): 20,000 to 35,000 VND (0.80 to 1.40 USD) at a shop, and 30,000 to 60,000 VND (1.20 to 2.40 USD) at a restaurant or bar.
• Vietnamese coffee: 25,000 to 50,000 VND (1.00 to 2.00 USD) at a local cafe.
• Street food meal: 30,000 to 70,000 VND (1.20 to 2.80 USD).
• Mid-range restaurant meal: 150,000 to 300,000 VND (6 to 12 USD) per person.
• Taxi or Grab, 5km: 70,000 to 120,000 VND (2.80 to 4.80 USD) by car, and 25,000 to 50,000 VND (1.00 to 2.00 USD) by motorbike.
• Train, Hanoi to Da Nang, soft sleeper: about 900,000 to 1,500,000 VND (36 to 60 USD) depending on class, season, and booking time. Harder seats are cheaper and private cabins cost more. Book through Vietnam Railways at dsvn.vn.
• Sleeper bus, Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne: 150,000 to 300,000 VND (6 to 12 USD).
• Scooter rental, daily: 100,000 to 200,000 VND (4 to 8 USD), fuel not included.
• Tourist SIM, 30-day, unlimited data: 150,000 to 300,000 VND (6 to 12 USD).

Cash: When You Need It and How Much to Carry

Cash is still important in Vietnam, though it matters less in big cities than it did a few years ago. You need it in these places:

• Local markets, including wet markets and night markets.
• Street food stalls and small local eateries (quán ăn).
• Small convenience stores (tạp hóa).
• Motorbike taxis (xe ôm) and some traditional taxis.
• Rural areas and smaller towns.
• Any purchase under 50,000 VND (about 2 USD).

A good daily cash amount is 500,000 to 1,500,000 VND (about 20 to 60 USD), mostly in small notes, for incidental costs. Use cards or mobile payments for larger purchases where they are accepted.

Exchanging Money: Airports, Banks, Gold Shops

Exchanging foreign currency is simple, but the rate depends on where you do it.

• Airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), and Da Nang International all have exchange counters. Rates are usually less favorable than in the city, but they are fine for getting initial cash.
• Banks: Vietcombank, Agribank, BIDV, and Techcombank offer competitive rates. Bring your passport. Waits can run from 15 to 30 minutes.



• Gold shops and jewelry stores: They often give the best rates, especially in tourist areas. Look for reputable shops licensed for foreign exchange, such as a “Tiệm Vàng” with an exchange sign. They typically charge no fees, but compare rates before you commit.
• Hotels: They generally give the worst rates. Use them only in an emergency.

The process at a bank or gold shop takes three steps:

1. Show your passport, which is required by law.
2. State the amount and currency you want to exchange.
3. Check the VND amount and the note denominations before you leave the counter.

ATMs: Fees, Limits, and Safe Use

ATMs are easy to find in cities and tourist centers. Vietcombank, Agribank, BIDV, Techcombank, Sacombank, and ACB all have large networks. Choose machines inside bank branches, supermarkets, or shopping malls for better security.

Fees come from two places:

• The local bank: usually 30,000 to 50,000 VND (about 1.20 to 2.00 USD) per international card withdrawal. Citibank or Shinhan Bank may charge less or nothing for their own cardholders, but their networks are smaller.
• Your home bank: often a foreign transaction fee of 1 to 3% of the amount, and sometimes a flat international ATM fee.

Most ATMs cap each withdrawal at 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND (about 120 to 200 USD). Taking out more means several transactions and several fees, so withdraw the largest amount allowed, less often. Some premium ATMs, such as those in luxury hotels, may allow more.

Here is how to use one:

1. Insert your card.
2. Select English.
3. Enter your PIN.
4. Choose “Withdrawal,” then “Savings Account” or “Credit Card,” depending on your card.
5. Enter the amount in VND.
6. Confirm, and accept the local bank fee if it is shown.
7. Collect your cash, card, and receipt.

Use ATMs in daylight when you can, and stay aware of your surroundings.

Cards and Contactless: Tap, Avoid DCC

Card acceptance has grown a lot since 2024. Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere cards are taken. JCB is accepted in many places, especially Japanese-affiliated businesses, while American Express has limited acceptance.

Where cards work well: hotels rated 3 stars and above, major restaurants, large shopping malls, supermarkets such as VinMart and Lotte Mart, department stores, and tour operators.

Where cash or QR is still preferred: small local shops, street food vendors, local guesthouses, and small family-run businesses.

Contactless “tap and pay” terminals have spread quickly. Most modern POS terminals in larger venues now support NFC, so you can tap a card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Your card issuer will likely add a 1 to 3% foreign transaction fee, so check with your bank before you leave.

Watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). When you pay by card, the terminal may offer to charge you in your home currency, such as USD. Always choose VND. The DCC rate is almost always worse, and it costs you extra.

QR Payments with MoMo, ZaloPay, and VietQR

QR payments are the biggest shift in how Vietnam pays. The main players are:

• MoMo: the largest e-wallet, widely accepted.
• ZaloPay: built into the popular Zalo messaging app.
• GrabPay: used inside the Grab app for rides and food delivery.
• VietQR: a unified QR standard that lets different banks and e-wallets work together.

MoMo and ZaloPay increasingly let foreign tourists link an international Visa or Mastercard directly. This matters because tourists used to need a local bank account or a local friend to top up. That is becoming less necessary for daily spending.

The steps are simple once your card is linked:

1. Open MoMo or ZaloPay.
2. Tap “Scan QR.”
3. Scan the merchant’s VietQR code.
4. Enter the amount in VND.
5. Confirm. The payment is charged to your linked international card and converted at your card issuer’s rate.

You will see QR codes everywhere in cities, from large supermarkets and chain cafes to small shops, street food vendors, and market stalls. Acceptance is also growing in smaller towns thanks to VietQR. One caution: plain bank transfers are not practical for tourists. They need a local bank account and internet banking, so they are mostly for long-term stays or large tour packages from specific agencies.

Tipping Without Awkwardness

Tipping is not mandatory in Vietnam, and it is not deeply rooted in the culture. Staff are paid wages. Still, tipping for good service is becoming more common, especially in tourist-focused businesses.

• Restaurants with a service charge: many mid-range and high-end places add 5 to 10%. No extra tip is expected, though you can give one for exceptional service.



• Restaurants without a service charge: round up the bill or leave 5 to 10% for good service.
• Tour guides: 100,000 to 250,000 VND (about 4 to 10 USD) per person per day for a full-day tour.
• Drivers: 50,000 to 100,000 VND (about 2 to 4 USD) per person per day, or round up taxi and Grab fares.
• Hotel porters and housekeeping: 20,000 to 50,000 VND (about 0.80 to 2.00 USD) for good service.
• Spas and massage: 50,000 to 100,000 VND (about 2 to 4 USD) or 10 to 15% of the service cost.

Always tip in cash and hand it directly to the person who served you.

What Changed Since 2024

• VietQR everywhere: QR payments are now ubiquitous, even in smaller establishments, because different banks and wallets work with one standard.
• More contactless terminals: more POS machines, including at mid-sized merchants, now accept tap-and-pay.
• Easier wallet linking: MoMo and ZaloPay have improved how tourists link international Visa and Mastercard cards.
• Slightly higher ATM fees: typical fees rose from 20,000 to 40,000 VND up to 30,000 to 50,000 VND.
• Stable exchange rules: regulations for tourists are largely unchanged, with more licensed exchange points in tourist-heavy areas and slightly clearer rate displays.
• No lost options: cash, cards, and ATMs all still work. The change is a stronger push toward digital payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to pay for things in Vietnam?

Use a mix. Carry cash in small notes for markets, street food, and xe ôm rides. Use a Visa or Mastercard, ideally contactless, for hotels, malls, and big restaurants. Scan VietQR codes with MoMo or ZaloPay if your international card is linked. Always choose VND when a terminal asks.

How much money do I need per day in Vietnam in 2026?

Budget travelers spend about 750,000–1,250,000 VND (30–50 USD) a day. Mid-range travelers spend 1,750,000–3,750,000 VND (70–150 USD). Comfortable or luxury travel starts around 5,000,000 VND (200 USD) and up. These figures cover accommodation, food, local transport, activities, and a small buffer, using 1 USD = 25,000 VND.

Do I need to tip in Vietnam?

No, tipping is not mandatory, and many mid-range to high-end restaurants already add a 5–10% service charge. Rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% at local eateries is a kind gesture. Tour guides typically receive 100,000–250,000 VND (4–10 USD) per person per day. Always tip in cash.

Can tourists use MoMo or ZaloPay in Vietnam?

Increasingly, yes. MoMo and ZaloPay now let many foreign visitors link an international Visa or Mastercard directly, so a local bank account is less necessary. Scan a merchant’s VietQR code, enter the amount in VND, and confirm. Your card issuer converts the payment at its own rate and may add its foreign transaction fee.

How much do ATMs charge foreigners in Vietnam?

Most Vietnamese banks charge 30,000–50,000 VND (1.20–2.00 USD) per international card withdrawal. Limits are usually 3,000,000–5,000,000 VND (120–200 USD) per transaction, so multiple withdrawals mean multiple fees. Your home bank may add a 1–3% foreign transaction fee or a flat fee on top.

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📷 Featured image by Andre Blanco on Unsplash.