In our data, the cheapest well-rated stays in Hanoi (rating 4.0 or higher) start at about 7 euros a night for two guests, and in Ho Chi Minh City at about 5 to 7 euros (Thinh Khang Hotel, Hải Anh Hotel, The Sim Hotel). Travel cost guides report pho at about 1.50 to 2.80 US dollars.
Hanoi wakes up with steam. Before sunrise, women set up low plastic stools on the pavement, a pot of broth starts to bubble, and the first bowls of pho go to the motorbike riders who are already late for work. A few hundred kilometres to the south, Ho Chi Minh City runs on iced coffee and the noise of millions of scooters. Vietnam is one of those countries where the everyday life of the locals is itself the attraction, and a visitor can join in for the price of a sandwich.
The cheapest well-rated stays right now
We kept only places with a Google rating of at least 4.0. Prices are for two guests, 25 to 28 November 2026, read from Google Hotels on 21 October 2026, lowest price we found for that offer.
Hanoi
| Hotel | From per night | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| AprilBox Trackside Hostel | about 7 € | 4.1 (201 reviews) | 2 sites |
| Banana Inn Hostel | about 7 € | 4.3 (261 reviews) | 2 sites |
| Hanoi Train Street Hostel & Spa | about 9 € | 4.3 (199 reviews) | 3 sites |
| Hotel Majestik | about 11 € | 4.6 (391 reviews) | 5 sites |
Ho Chi Minh City
| Hotel | From per night | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thinh Khang Hotel | about 5 € | 4.4 (179 reviews) | 3 sites |
| Hải Anh Hotel | about 6 € | 4.2 (272 reviews) | 1 site |
| The Sim Hotel | about 7 € | 4.9 (347 reviews) | 5 sites |
| Chu's Hotel & Homestay | about 7 € | 4.8 (166 reviews) | 1 site |
Good to know: Some of these are hostels where the cheapest offer may be a dormitory bed. Open the hotel page and check what the offer includes. A 4.9 rating from a few hundred reviews is a good sign, but read recent reviews too.
Why people love Vietnam
- The food. Pho, bún chả, banh mi, fresh spring rolls and egg coffee are cheap, fresh and different in every city.
- The street life. Life happens outside: tiny stools, noisy markets, cafés on the pavement.
- Variety. Old temples and lakes in Hanoi, French colonial buildings and a vibrant food scene in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Value. Even private rooms are often cheaper than a dorm bed in Europe.
What to experience
- A pho breakfast on a street corner in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
- Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn, when locals do tai chi and jog around it.
- Bia hoi corner: fresh draught beer in a small glass on a plastic stool, one of Hanoi's classic evenings.
- Ngoc Son Temple on the lake island, reported at about 50,000 dong entry.
- In Ho Chi Minh City: the Ben Thanh market, the old post office and a motorbike food tour.
How cheap is the food?
Travel cost guides report that fresh draught bia hoi costs about 5,000 to 10,000 dong a glass (roughly 0.20 to 0.40 euros), a bowl of pho about 1.50 to 2.80 US dollars and bún chả about 1.40 to 2.40 US dollars. They also put dorm beds at about 5 to 10 dollars and the total budget of a backpacker at about 25 to 40 dollars a day. These are guide estimates, not our own measurements, and tourist restaurants charge more.
How to save even more
- Compare the total price with taxes, see taxes and fees explained.
- Check smaller booking sites too, see cheapest way to book a hotel.
- Choose free cancellation when your plans might change.
Questions
Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand? In our data, the cheapest rated stays in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City cost about the same as in Bangkok (5 to 8 euros). Food guides suggest it is similarly cheap.
Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City? Hanoi is older and more compact. Ho Chi Minh City is bigger, hotter and more modern.
Are these prices permanent? No. They are a snapshot for late November 2026. Compare your own dates.