I tracked every expense across six months in Vietnam. Here's the honest breakdown — by category, by region, and with the things I'd spend differently.
Six months, 22 provinces, one spreadsheet. Here's exactly what I spent.
The Total
$4,200 USD over 183 days = $22.95/day average.
This included: all accommodation, all food and drink, all internal transport, all activities and entrance fees, two border crossings, emergency motorbike repairs, and one trip to the clinic for stomach trouble.
It did not include: my international flights, travel insurance, or a $200 Halong Bay overnight cruise I consider a splurge.
By Category
Accommodation: $1,050 — 25% of total. Average $5.73/night. Mix of dorms ($4–6) and private rooms ($7–12). I splurged on a few guesthouses in remote areas that charged a premium for being the only place within 50km.
Food: $1,100 — 26%. Average $6/day. I ate three full meals most days. Street food breakfasts kept costs low; restaurants for lunch, market stalls for dinner. I only paid "tourist prices" for food a dozen or so times.
Transport: $850 — 20%. Biggest single expense: $350 for the motorbike (resold for $250, net cost $100). Night buses, trains, local buses for when I wasn't on the bike. Vietnam's long-distance trains are a joy — the Reunification Express from Hanoi to HCMC has sleepers from $40–80.
Activities: $620 — 15%. Caving, trekking, boat trips, cultural tours. Ha Long Bay overnight was $180 total (I split the cost with a travel mate). Phong Nha caving tours run $30–60. Ha Giang guided motorbike trip was $40/day with guide.
Beer & Coffee: $280 — 7%. Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá) costs $0.50–1.00 and is one of life's great pleasures. Local beer (Bia Hơi) is $0.25–0.50 a glass.
Misc/Emergency: $300 — 7%. SIM cards (changed three times), clinic visit, motorbike repairs, laundry, souvenirs.
What I'd Do Differently
I'd spend more on accommodation in Ha Giang and Hoi An — the nicer guesthouses there are worth the extra $5–8. I'd spend less time in expensive beach towns. The north gives you more per dollar by a significant margin.
