A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hanoi vs. Siem Reap for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Hanoi or Siem Reap?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hanoi and Siem Reap 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: Hanoi or Siem Reap?

Hanoi

Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.

Siem Reap

Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap.


Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap or Hanoi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $57, while the average daily cost in Siem Reap is $94. 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 Hanoi and Siem Reap in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hanoi $25
    Siem Reap $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hanoi $50
    Siem Reap $104
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and Siem Reap

Looking for a hotel in Hanoi or Siem Reap? 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.

Hotels in Hanoi


Hotels in Siem Reap


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: Hanoi Hotel Prices and Siem Reap Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hanoi $6.56
    Siem Reap $8.82
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:


  • Taxi to Bus Station
    $1.14
  • Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)
    $3.04
  • Local Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.38
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.29
  • Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)
    $0.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:

  • 1 Day Halong Cruise Tour with Transfer and early return to Hanoi: $41
  • 1 Day Tour to Halong Bay Cruise from 3 - 5 star Cruise & Transfer: $32
  • 2 Days 1 night Ba Be Lake BEST ADVENTURE: transfer,homestay,boat,kayak,swim,cave: $153
  • 2 Days Halong Bay With Budget Cruise - Including Transfer From Hanoi: $148
  • 2-Day Adenture Pu Luong Motorbike Tour with Transfer from HANOI: $125
  • 2-Day Halong Bay & Ninh Binh Tour With Transfer - Best Seller: $120
  • 2-Day Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay With Transfer: $190
  • 2-Day In Halong Bay Cruise With Transfer From Hanoi: $200
  • 2-Day Ninh Binh & Ha Long Bay With Transfer, Meals, Guide: $210
  • 2-Day Sapa Package Tours & Limousine Transfer: $150
  • 25 Minutes Scenic Halong Seaplane from Hanoi Transfer Expressway: $280
  • 3-Day Pu Luong Jungle Ride Motorbike Tour Transfer from Hanoi: $200

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $13
  • Bike Rentals
    $1.94

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:

  • Airport pick up and Transfer (SIA): $35
  • Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers :Siem Reap: $10
  • Angkor International Airport (SAI) Private/Shared Transfers: $9.00
  • Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium with Private Transfer: $45
  • From Siem Reap Airport: Tuk Tuk Transfer to Your Hotel: $38
  • From Elephant Sanctuary Experience with Transfers: $99
  • From Private Transfer to Mondulkiri: $395
  • Kulen Elephant Forest & Tonlesap Lake Include boat /Transfer: $124
  • Phnom Penh: Private Taxi Transfer to Siem Reap: $121
  • Phnom Penh: To/From Siem Reap Private Transfer: $72
  • Private One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $50
  • Private Overland Transfer Siem Reap - Bangkok: $125

Is it cheaper to fly into Hanoi or Siem Reap?

Prices for flights to both Siem Reap and Hanoi 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hanoi $23
    Siem Reap $28
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:


  • High End Dinner (for Two)
    $11
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $4.18
  • Bowl of Pho
    $0.76
  • Italian Dinner (for Food)
    $5.89

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.

  • Private Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food Tour with Student Guide: $1.87
  • Private Hanoi Cycling Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By Bike: $1.87
  • Private Sapa Cooking Class With Ethnic Minorities Chef From Sapa: $1.87
  • (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR: $5.13
  • Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour with Train-Street Visit: $18
  • Hanoi Cooking Class: Pho/Bun Cha/Banh Xeo...+Free Egg/Salt Coffee: $19
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $20
  • Hanoi local street food tour: $20
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour with egg coffee making: $20
  • Walking food tour & Train Street visit small group: $21
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour: Hidden Local Eats & Full Meal Experience: $22
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $22

Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:


  • Breakfast for Two
    $5.61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.

  • A Spectacular Show with Optional Dinner: $18
  • Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $19
  • Apsara Performance with Dinner include Pick up & Drop off: $22
  • Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $22
  • Buffet Dinner Apsara Show with hotel transfers: $22
  • Apsara Dance Show and Dinner with Hotel Pickup: $22
  • Apsara Show Including Dinner & Hotel Pickup: $23
  • Dinner and Traditional Show with Hotel Transfer: $24
  • Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner & Tuk-Tuk...: $26
  • A Night To Remember: Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner: $27
  • Dinner Show Apsara Dance, Pickup round trip included: $27
  • Apsara Theatre Performance include Dinner & hotel pick up: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hanoi $8.10
    Siem Reap $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi

Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Puppet Theater
    $1.52
  • The Hanoi Hilton Entrance
    $1.52
  • National History Museum
    $1.52
  • Puppet Theater Ticket
    $2.66

Tours and Activities in Hanoi

Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Hanoi Old Quarter City Sightseeing Cycling Private Tour By Cyclo: $1.79
  • Sapa Motorbike Tour: Cat Cat Village, O Quy Ho Pass, Waterfall: $1.87
  • Ninh Binh Private Tour: Tam Coc, Bich Dong, Thung Nham Bird Park: $1.87
  • Hanoi Highlights & Shopping Shore Excursion Tour from Halong Port: $1.87
  • Hanoi City Private Tour with Bat Trang Village, Water Puppet Show: $1.87
  • Ha Long Bay Cruise Tour with Canoe, Kayaking, Titov Island: $1.87
  • Ha Giang Loop Motorbike Adventure with Easy Rider, Round-Trip Bus: $1.87
  • Cat Ba National Park & Lan Ha Bay Cruise 2-Day Adventure Tour: $1.87
  • 2-Day Ninh Binh Tour: Cuc Phuong, Van Long, Bai Dinh, Trang An: $1.87
  • Full-Day Mai Chau Valley Tour from Hanoi with Cycling, Culture: $1.87
  • Hanoi Old Quarter Customized City Sightseeing Private Tour: $1.87
  • Hanoi Old Quarter Sightseeing Tour by Traditional Cyclo Rickshaw: $1.87

Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap

Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Angkor Tour Guide
    $8.27

Tours and Activities in Siem Reap

Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • FREE Market & Local Temple Tour: $1.00
  • Satcha: Workshop Tour Guide incl. Free Soft Drink: $5.50
  • City Walking Tour: $6.00
  • Siem Reap Motorbike Rental - Temple and City Tours own drive: $9.00
  • Angkor Wat: Full-Day Guided Sunset Tour: $10
  • Siem Reap Lotus Silk Farm Tour with Pick Up downtown: $10
  • Small-Group Full Day Angkor wat Guide tour with Sun set: $11
  • Angkor Wat Sunrise for Group or Private Tours: $12
  • Angkor Wat 1 Day with Sunrise Combined tour with (Tuk Tuk): $12
  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Small Tour with Tours Guide: $12
  • Angkor Wat Sunrise and Full-Day Sightseeing Tour: $13
  • Angkor Wat: Small-Group Sunrise Tour: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hanoi $7.32
    Siem Reap $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi

Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Hanoi Night Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Free Shots: $40

Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:

  • Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $12

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hanoi and Siem Reap, we can see that Siem Reap is more expensive. And not only is Hanoi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hanoi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hanoi 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 Siem Reap would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Siem Reap than you might in Hanoi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hanoi Expensive? and Is Siem Reap Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hanoi or Siem Reap?

Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi and Siem Reap, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

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.
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