Hanoi
I just did a week in Hanoi for under $190 total. That's $27/day all-in for one of the most insane food cities on earth. Not even joking, this place is a budget traveler's dream. Like, your grocery bill back home is probably more than a week of eating here. Let me break it down because this trip was UNREAL.
Daily Budget Breakdown:
| Category | Cost/Day |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $9 |
| Food | $10 |
| Transportation | $3 |
| Activities | $3 |
| Misc | $2 |
| TOTAL | $27/day |
The Breakdown:
ACCOMMODATION: $9/day
Hanoi Buffalo Hostel — $9/night for a dorm. Just verified this pricing for March/April 2026. It's got a 9.2 rating on Hostelworld and the location is clutch—right in the Old Quarter near Beer Street. Best part? It includes a free breakfast buffet and has a swimming pool. The social vibe here is elite if you're looking to meet people.
Alternative: Mad Monkey Hanoi ($10/night) if you want to party harder and start the Ha Giang Loop.
FOOD: $10/day
Street food is the move here. Pho and Banh Mi are everywhere and they're better than anything you'll get in a sit-down spot. Restaurants will double your budget, but why would you go there when the street carts are this fire?
- Breakfast: $0 (Hostel breakfast)
- Lunch: $2.50 (Pho Bo from a random street cart)
- Dinner: $3.50 (Bun Cha and spring rolls on plastic stools)
- Snacks/Coffee: $4.00 (Vietnamese egg coffee is life-changing, plus random street snacks)
TRANSPORTATION: $3/day
Walkable chaos. You can walk most of the Old Quarter easily. When you need to go further, just use the Grab app for motorbike taxis. A 10-minute ride is like $1-2. Do NOT try to haggle with random taxis on the street—just use Grab.
ACTIVITIES: $3/day
Walking around Hoan Kiem Lake on the weekend (when they close it to cars) is free. The Temple of Literature is about $1.50 entry. Free walking tours are everywhere (just tip your guide a few bucks). Honestly, just sitting at a cafe watching the street energy is the real activity here.
MISC: $2/day
Bia Hoi (fresh local draft beer) is literally $0.20 a glass on Beer Street. Two bucks goes a long way.
The Honest Review:
What was great: The food is undefeated. Period. Best street food culture I've ever seen, and the prices make you feel like you're robbing them.
What sucked: Real talk, the traffic is sketch. Crossing the street is highkey terrifying for the first two days—you just have to walk slowly and let the motorbikes flow around you. Also, the air quality can be rough depending on the day.
Would I go back: In a heartbeat. The value for money is unmatched.
Total Trip Cost:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Flight (from SFO) | $604 |
| 7 Days @ $27/day | $189 |
| E-Visa | $25 |
| SIM card | $8 |
| Travel insurance | $25 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $851 |
How to Book This Trip:
- Book your flight: Set Google Flights alerts for SFO or JFK to HAN (expect $600-$750 RT if you book 2-3 months out). Just checked and late April 2026 is showing $604 RT from SFO. That's a steal.
- Book hostel: Hit Hostelworld, read the reviews, but book direct or via Hostelworld if prices match. Cash is king in Vietnam, so bring crisp USD or use a debit card with no foreign transaction fees (like Wise) to pull VND.
- Arrive and get Grab: Download the Grab app before you land. Use it from the airport to avoid taxi scams.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend stuff I'd actually use (and have used).