Travelers who want to save money need to understand “how things work” in Vietnam to plan the most reasonable spending for their journey.
For travelers who want to make the most of their precious money, Vietnam is the place to make their dreams come true, commented Matthew Pike of The Culture Trip travel guide.
To do that, travelers looking to save money need to understand “how things work in your new home where you’ll be temporarily staying for a while”.
“If you work hard and are willing to find cheap services and eat like a local, you can easily live here for less than 20 USD / day,” Mr. Pike wrote.
The following is a guide to “saving Vietnam travel” that this writer has concluded after a long time of experiencing life in Vietnam.
1. Move
Two vehicles that Pike suggests for tourists who want to save money in Vietnam are motorbikes and passenger cars.
According to Pike, motorbikes are everywhere in Vietnam. Because of such a large number, you can find yourself a motorbike at a super cheap price all over Vietnam. However, the easiest and most convenient transaction is that you can buy back an old motorbike from a foreigner who is about to leave Vietnam, in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Finding a car seller through Google is very easy, you just need to spend a little bit of searching to buy yourself a suitable motorbike for under $ 400, and add a small amount of money to repair. You can resell it for almost the same price after you no longer need it.
Note: buy a good helmet and travel insurance, just in case.
Motorcycles are very convenient, but many people may not want to experience that in Vietnam. If traveling long distances, you can choose by plane or train, and bus is also a good choice.
Passenger car is a vehicle that can meet the requirements of comfort, experience and budget saving, bringing satisfaction to customers. The bus is air-conditioned, and the tourist destinations all have daily trips. Locals also use this vehicle, so the price is very reasonable.
Cheap local eateries.Photo: shankar s./Flickr
2. Accommodation
Travelers have a wide range of options from low to high prices in Vietnam. Nowadays, it’s easy to find a place that suits your budget in your destination, but to really save money, you should proactively book in advance and keep track of your transactions.
The cheapest option will always be large rooms with bunk beds, like dorm rooms. This can be a lot of fun when you get the chance to make interesting new friends, but it can also be frustrating if you’re unfortunate enough to run into drunk or insensitive people. Carry high-quality earplugs with you.
Many motels have dorm-style bunk beds for travelers who want to save money.Photo: Hans/pixabay
Even if you choose a hotel, the rent here is cheaper than the rent in more developed countries. Many hotels offer free breakfast, so you can save a bit more money. Note: Cheaper hotels are usually a bit further from the city center, and places with a lot of foreigners are usually more expensive.
Also, if you plan to go backpacking through Vietnam, consider bringing a good hammock. It may be a bit difficult in urban centers, but in the countryside you can find restaurants and families that will let you hook up in a hammock for free.
Hammock is definitely the most economical “accommodation” when traveling. Popular travel bloggers have done this and reduced their spending to less than 10 USD/day this way.
Sleeping in a hammock on the way will save you a lot of money.Photo: vincent hundry/Flickr
3. Food and shopping
You can easily find delicious, cheap food at local eateries. Pho is so famous, but there are many other delicious Vietnamese dishes, and it’s only as cheap as a bottle of beer.
Note: Restaurants for foreigners often sell quite expensive food. Don’t worry if you don’t know Vietnamese, you can just point to the dishes you want to order. Also, English is now taught in high schools, so many locals can communicate with you in English.
When shopping, choose places with public price lists. If you buy things at the market, try to bargain to get the best price.
4. Entertainment
– Museums: Admission to museums and historical sites is very reasonable, because the price must be balanced with the locals. You can visit the most famous places in Vietnam, such as the Ancient Capital in Hue, the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, and the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, for just a few USD.
Excursions: Even if you don’t plan to go on a trip, you should still consider renting a motorbike at your destination, because driving by yourself is the best and cheapest way to see the sights and experience the local area. . Guided tours are more efficient, but also much more expensive.
– Nightlife: Hotels and motels with many tourists are often near expensive bars and pubs. If you want to save money, you can search for restaurants in advance on Google, or find a beer shop – with very affordable prices even if you drink all night.
5. Contact
You can bring a personal phone, or you can also buy a cheap smartphone in Vietnam – some for less than 50 USD. SIMs and 4G plans are also super cheap, while wifi is everywhere, even in rural areas. If you use maps and other data-intensive apps, you might end up spending around $5/week.
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