Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Halong Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Halong Bay or Vientiane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Halong Bay and Vientiane can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Halong Bay or Vientiane?
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
Vientiane
You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.
While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $59Vientiane $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $59, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $14. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Halong Bay and Vientiane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $29Vientiane $5.77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $58Vientiane $12
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Vientiane
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Vientiane? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Vientiane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $14Vientiane $2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Bus Transfer from Cat Ba island to Ninh Binh: $13
- Bus/Private Transfer Cat Ba Island to Ninh Binh/ Ninh binh to Cat Ba: $19
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- Halong Bay Full Day Cruise from Hanoi by Transfer Expressway: $42
- From Hanoi with Expessway Transfer to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip: $42
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi city hotels: $43
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Hanoi Airport (HAN): $43
- Halong Bay Day Tour Roundtrip Transfer by Expressway 2024 - 2025: $43
- Halong Day Tour: Islands, Cave, Kayak. Lunch. Transfers: $45
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $47
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong city hotels: $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
- Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
- Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Vientiane?
Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Halong Bay change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHalong Bay $16Vientiane $6.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Private Tour to Buddha Park include Evening Food Tour: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $17Vientiane $3.39
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Sightseeing Ha Long Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour : $19
- Sky Tour - Entertainment: $25
- Most favorite full day boat tour with kayaking in Lan Ha bay, Ha Long bay: $27
- Half-Day Lan Ha Bay Adventure: Boat Jumping, Kayaking, Sunset : $27
- Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore the Stunning Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba: $27
- Best Lan Ha Bay Sunset Tours 2024 with Swimming & Kayaking: $28
- Experience the Best Lan Ha Bay Sunset Tour from Cat Ba Island: $28
- From Cat Ba: Explore Lan Ha Bay with Amazing Sunset Boat Tour: $28
- Ha Long Bay Day Tour with Lunch, Cave Explore & Titop Island: $29
- Best love - Full Day Boat Tour to Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay: $29
- 1 Day Boat Tour: HaLong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Natural Beach and Full Moon Party: $29
- Experience Lan Ha Bay: Half-Day Boat Trip, Kayaking, and Sunset : $30
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- Vientiane ATV and Canopy Walking Experience: $48
- Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
- From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $63
- Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $69
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $70
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
- Vientiane : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $83
- Vientiane : Private Tour with a Local Guide: $85
- Vientiane City Day Tour and Buddha Park Visit with Lunch: $88
- Vientiane City Tour And Sunset View At Mekong River: $90
- Private Vientiane Tour - Buddha Park included: $100
- Private Tour: Full-day Vientiane's Must-See Sights and River Sunset with Lunch: $101
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $13Vientiane $2.25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Halong Bay and Vientiane, we can see that Halong Bay is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Halong Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Halong Bay than you might in Vientiane.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Halong Bay Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.