Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi can help you decide which place is right for you.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It previously served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The metropolitan area, including Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa, and other surrounding towns, has a population of more than 9 million people and continues to grow.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $70, while the average daily cost in Hanoi is $41. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $86 in Ho Chi Minh City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Hanoi is $44. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The average traveler spends about $12 per day in Ho Chi Minh City for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The price of a meal in Hanoi can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $11 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $4.40 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ho Chi Minh City $12
Hanoi $11
Typical Food prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Ho Chi Minh Private Half Day Street Food Tour with Local Students:
$18
-
SaiGon Street Food Tour By Scooter With Student:
$22
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Walking Food Tour With Local Student:
$26
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Private Street Food Tour on Motorbikes:
$28
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Private Half-Day Ho Chi Minh Food Tour with Local Students:
$28
-
Saigon Food Tour by Motorbike with Local Students:
$30
-
Walking market food tour by night in Ho Chi Minh city - private groups:
$32
-
Small Floating Market & Mekong Delta Tour with Kayak, Boat, Bike, Cooking Class:
$35
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Private Street Food Tour by Scooter in Ho Chi Minh City:
$35
-
Street food Tours:
$35
-
Half-Day Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour By Motorbike:
$36
-
Private Walking Saigon Food Tour with Ao Dai Girl by Night:
$38
Typical Food prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
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Hanoi Old Quarter Walking Street Food Tour - Small Group:
$5.00
-
(Private) Hanoi Street Food Tour By Volunteer Guide:
$5.13
-
Hanoi Street Food Tours with Volunteer Guide ($5 / Group):
$5.13
-
(Small Group) Hanoi Street Food Tours with Volunteer Guide:
$5.13
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Dinner with a Local Family in Hanoi:
$13
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Street Food Tour + Old City sightseeing Ticket:
$15
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3-Hours Hanoi Street Food Tour with Guide and Meal:
$16
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Lunchtime Street Food Tour of Hanoi:
$21
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Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour:
$21
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Small Group: Ha Noi Walking Street Food Tour With Professional Tour Guide:
$22
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(Small Group) Hanoi Local Street Food Tour with a Real Foodie:
$25
-
Hanoi street food tour:
$25
Local Transportation
Ho Chi Minh City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $13 per person, per day on transportation in Ho Chi Minh City.
The average price of local transportation around Hanoi is $5.92 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
-
Short Taxi Ride
$1.52
-
Taxi From Airport
$8.68
-
Cyclo Ride (One Hour)
$1.74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
2-Days Cu Chi Tunnels-Mekong Delta with Airport Transfer Small Group Tour:
$69
-
Airport Transfer:
$85
-
Airport Transfer (From Airport - Ho Chi Minh City (Private 16 Seats Car):
$54
-
Airport Transfer (From Hotels in Ho Chi Minh to Airport) Private 4 Seats Car:
$28
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Airport Transfer (From Hotels in Ho Chi Minh to Airport) Private 7 Seats Car:
$34
-
Airport Transfers (Airport - Ho Chi Minh,Private 16 Seats Car):
$52
-
Airport Transfers From Airport to Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City 7 seat Car:
$46
-
CONVENIENT AIRPORT TRANSFER by PRIVATE CAR or SCOOTERS | Kiss Tours:
$28
-
Cu Chi Tunnels VIP Tour from Ho Chi Minh with Transfer by Limo including Lunch:
$48
-
From Phu My Port: Ho Chi Minh City Tour and Transfers:
$46
-
Ho Chi Minh Airport Transfer: Hotels to Tan Son Nhat Airport:
$35
-
Ho Chi Minh City Private Airport Arrival Transfer:
$19
Typical Local Transportation prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
-
HaLong-LanHa Bay Day Trip: Lunch, Beach, Kayak, high-way transfer, luxury boat:
$1,250
-
Hanoi GOLF TOUR 4Days 3Rounds: Transfer, Hotel, Green & Caddie, Golf Cart, Guide:
$687
-
Private Transfer: Hanoi to Hanoi Airport (HAN):
$622
-
Luxury Private Halong Day Tour with 2 Way Expressway Transfer:
$376
-
Sapa terrace trek train transfer 2 days 1 night:
$364
-
From Lan Ha Bay 2-Day Cruise with Luxury Transfer:
$358
-
3 Days 2 Nights Mai Chau Pu Luong Ethnic Trail E-Bike Tour Private Transfer:
$344
-
3-Day Halong Bay Cruise including Swimming and Kayaking with Round-Trip Transfer from Hanoi:
$285
-
Over night Signature Cruise Luxury Halong Bay Transfer service & Kayak,:
$267
-
2 Days 1 Night Mai Chau Pu Luong Ethnic Trail E-Bike Tour Private Transfer:
$255
-
Halong Bay Cruise 3D2N - Kayaking Explorer & Round-trip transfer from Hanoi:
$245
-
3-Day Halong Bay Cruise with Classes and Transfer From Hanoi:
$245
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Ho Chi Minh City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $17 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Hanoi's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $7.39 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
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The Bachelorette Full Day Private Tour with Pickup:
$3.24
-
Bitexco Financial Tower: Saigon Skydeck General Admission Ticket:
$9.00
-
Small-Group Half-Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour from Ho Chi Minh City:
$9.24
-
The Insider's Saigon - Private and Custom Motorbike Tour:
$12
-
Exploring Cu Chi Tunnel with Pioneer Travel Tour Guide:
$12
-
Water Puppet Show Ticket in Ho Chi Minh City with Hotel Delivery:
$15
-
Skip the Line: Golden Dragon Water Puppet Tickets:
$17
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Skip the Line: Golden Dragon Water Puppet Tickets:
$17
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Golden Dragon Water Puppet Entrance Tickets:
$17
-
Private Ho Chi Minh Sightseeing by Motorbike with Local Students:
$19
-
Private City Tour Half Day By Scooter:
$19
-
Cu Chi Ben Duoc Tunnel Tour:
$20
Typical Entertainment prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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(Evening) HANOI CUSTOMIZED Walking Tour:
$5.00
-
(Half Day) Hanoi Old Quarter Walking Tour:
$5.13
-
(Official) Halong Sen luxury cruise - One day tour:
$77
-
(Small Group) Hanoi City Insight Motorbike Tour - 4,5 hours:
$29
-
(Small Group) Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour:
$29
-
04d 03n Hanoi Sapa Valley Tour Cat Cat Village & Ham Rong Mountain:
$367
-
1 Day Tour of Lan Ha Bay with Luxury Day Cruise from Hanoi:
$99
-
1 Night LeTheatre Cruise Exploring LanHa-HaLong Bay:
$250
-
1 day Private tour Sapa Off The Beaten Path trekking start from Sapa:
$58
-
1 day Private tour Sapa trekking Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van (start from Sapa):
$59
-
1-Night Signature Royal Cruise on Halong Bay:
$238
-
1-day Halong Bay Cruise private tour from Hanoi:
$163
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Ho Chi Minh City, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $6.94.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Hanoi may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $6.69 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ho Chi Minh City than you might in Hanoi.
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